July 19, 2006

1. Welcome! West Valley-Taylorsville Transit CorridorDraft Environmental Impact StatementPublic Open House/Hearing July 19, 2006

2. Meeting Purpose We are here to: • Help the public learn more about the choices for improving the West Valley Transit Corridor • Show Features and Next Steps of the Preferred Alternative for Light Rail • Discuss the Draft EIS and its findings • Gather public comments on the Draft EIS Please Note: All Draft EIS comments submitted this evening, or from June 25 through August 9, 2006 will be addressed in the Final Environmental Study

3. Open House/Public Hearing Format • Panel displays show the project corridor and the Build Alternatives for light rail • Project staff are here to answer questions about the project, its impacts, and the planning process • You may submit comments by: • Leaving oral comments on the recorder • Writing comments on the Comment Form • Sending comments postmarked by August 9 to UTA or via the website (see handout for address or URL)

4. Project History • The Wasatch Front Regional Council’s (WFRC) 1996 Long Range Plan outlined the corridor’s need for transit improvements • WFRC’s 2000 West Valley City Transportation Corridor Major Investment Study identified the most promising routes for light rail • In 2001, UTA and WFRC began environmental planning and engineering work on light rail alternatives • From 2002-2006, UTA and WFRC prepared a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (Draft EIS) and studied the project’s funding and implementation needs • In 2002, West Valley City, UTA and WFRC recommended a Preferred Alternative for light rail • UTA and WFRC released the Draft EIS in June 2006

5. Project Overview • Part of 30-year transportation plan • Brings high capacity transit to Utah’s second largest city, tying into regional system • Better serves current and future jobs, housing and civic centers • Supports regional transportation, land use and environmental goals

6. Who is Proposing This Project? • WFRC identified need in long range plan • WFRC, South Salt Lake City, West Valley City, and UDOT are project partners with UTA • UTA would build and operate the light rail line • Current plan is to use only local funding to develop the project • No federal funds are currently being pursued, and the Federal Transit Administration is not currently involved • Most of the decisions and permits for the project will be local, made by the UTA Board and the project partners, working with the public • Funding and timing of the project remain to be decided, but could be made through a public referendum

7. Why is This Project Needed? • Project Purpose:Improve travel between the West Valley, downtown Salt Lake City, the University of Utah and other regional centers • Project Need: • West Valley is Utah’s second largest population and employment area, but is not yet served by high capacity transit • 70% regional population growth is projected by 2030, and up to 60% growth is projected in parts of the West Valley • Our ability to expand highways is limited • Faster and more convenient transit service is needed to serve current and future riders and to help reduce congestion and pollution

8. What’s in the Draft EIS? • Draft EIS explains: • Why the project is needed and what its purpose is • What UTA proposes to build and operate • Likely Environmental Impacts and Benefits • An Executive Summary highlights key facts and findings • Other chapters with more details: • 1 – Purpose of and Need For Action • 2 – Alternatives Considered • 3 – Affected Environment • 4 – Environmental Consequences • 5 – Transportation Impacts • 6 – Evaluation of Alternatives • 7 – Local Financial Commitment • 8 – Impact Assessment for Recreational and Historic Properties

9. What Alternatives Are Studied in the Draft EIS? • No-Action Alternative: Existing & Funded transportation projects in the Long Range Plan without West Valley Light Rail • Enhanced Bus Alternative: Existing & funded transportation projects including low-cost transit improvements beyond the No-Action, but still without West Valley Light Rail • Build Alternative: Existing & funded transportation projects in the Long Range Plan withWest Valley Light Rail • The Preferred “Build Alternative” for Light Rail • Variation “E” for a section between the Jordan River and Redwood Road is not the preferred alignment

10. What is the Recommended Preferred Alternative? • Approximately 5 miles of ballasted double-track light rail, along streets and in new right-of-way • New line starts just south of 2100 South TRAX station • Ends at West Valley City Center; site of proposed Intermodal Transit Center • Four new stations: Chesterfield, Decker Lake, E Center, West Valley City Center • Ties into North-South TRAX line to allow a direct trip to south end of downtown and the University of Utah • Trains run every 15 minutes each way • Local bus service refocused to serve stations

11. * * ? * 2018-2021? *Blue Boxes reflect schedule assuming funding referendum passes *Red Boxes reflect schedule if funding referendum does not pass Project Schedule Publish Draft EIS: June 25, 2006 Draft EIS Public Hearing July 19, 2006 Public Comment Ends August 9, 2006 Review public comments and continue design/planning for Preferred Alternative Final Environmental Study Spring 2007 Adopt Project and Begin Final Design and Construction

12. What Environmental Topics are in the Draft EIS? • Water Resources & Drainage • Ecosystems & Wetlands • Utilities • Energy & Mineral Resources • Historic & Archaeological Resources • Parklands & Open Space • Visual Resources • Safety & Security • Construction Impacts • Cumulative & Indirect Effects • Land Use & Socioeconomic Conditions • Property Acquisition & Displacements • Neighborhoods and Populations, including Low Income and Minority Groups • Transportation Considerations • Air Quality Analysis • Noise & Vibration Analysis

13. Other Key Findings • Compared with bus service (No-Action Alternative), light rail would provide: • a 9-minute travel time savings for a typical trip to downtown • a 12-minute savings to the University • Light rail would make transit competitive with automobile travel • Light rail travel times would be more reliable than buses on congested roads • The line would attract nearly 9,500 daily transit boardings in 2030 and would contribute to higher ridership throughout the TRAX system.

14. Findings About Environmental Impacts • The mostly industrial eastern part of the corridor has fewer impacts • More impacts are found where light rail would pass west of the Jordan River; land uses include residential, park/open space and commercial properties, including: • Noise and Vibration • Traffic delays, safety, access • Property acquisitions • Construction • Visual change • Wetlands • Parks and trails impacts • Floodplain impacts

15. Next Steps: After the Public Comment Period • Review of public comments by project team • UTA Board to revalidate selection of the Locally Preferred Alternative • Continue environmental, engineering and public outreach efforts, focus on Preferred Alternative • Identify appropriate mitigation commitments and other project measures to maximize benefits • Release Final Environmental Study, including project team responses to public and agency comments on the Draft EIS • Secure a Decision Document approved by UTA and federal/local agencies • Complete final design and begin construction • Open West Valley Line for revenue service

16. West Valley - Taylorsville Transit Corridor Draft EIS Public Comment Period June 25, 2006 - August 9, 2006