UDOT Update To County Commission

Reported by Bess Huefner

Rich Civic Times

RANDOLPH, Utah. April 30, 2013.  UDOT held their annual local government visit at the Rich County Courthouse.

Their presentation included “Zero Fatalities”, a UDOT program to reach out to people throughout Utah to be more aware of their driving distractions. They will present the program to the Rich County High School.

They reviewed the New Federal Transportation Bill (MAP 21) and how it impacts funding and programs in Utah. The “Buy America” program was reviewed, and despite the extra cost to us, Garden City will be able to use the book prepared by Sunrise Engineering to prove that our restroom was built  following the correct procedures.

There was information about Flexible Match Programs, Transportation Alternative Programs (may be used for trails), Highway Safety Improvement Programs (the county would need data of accidents to use this one), and the Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) which is road, school and other programs.

Updates on various UDOT Local Government Programs were presented. B&C Road Funds, State Infrastructure Bank (the City could get a loan for several million for .05 interest to use as a match for anything to do with roads), and Funds Exchange Programs (an interesting way to get around “Buy America”). Garden City will need to conform to “Buy America” when 3^rd West monies come through.

Kris Petersen (Region 1 Director) answered questions about signs, road shouldering, and chip seal partnering. The State will be chip sealing from the Logan Road Bear Lake Blvd. intersection to the Idaho line this summer. The question was asked if that would be during Raspberry Days. They said perhaps……(They were teasing). If Garden City needed any place chip sealed, the City could partner with them.  Riley Argyle and Bess Huefner are thinking that slurry is the best way to go for now.  The question was posed if the City should ask for curb and gutter while the State is chip sealing.  The City representative was told the city would have to pay for it.

Peterson also talked about the “Flexible soft match” of donated land, reminding Garden City to always write up a MOU (memorandum of understanding) about the land being priced at fair market dollars. Garden City has been doing this.

Those in attendance learned that there are several ways to say “use of money for roads”. One is called “Betterment” but Bess Huefner, Garden City Council, noted that she really don’t know how it works.

Peterson asked that the City send a letter to Darin Fristrup asking for the brown fishing signs. The state will put them up in about six weeks. He also asked that the City request permission through a letter to use the orange flags that were put up last year.  The City needs to write a letter showing that the City completed “Buy America” when completing the bathrooms.  The State will then put up the bathroom information signs.

Peterson also thought that UDOT had sprayed US 89 & SR 30 roadsides with broadleaf, but Council Member Huefner  will double check that item.

It looks like crosswalks are out until the City has accident data. The City may replace the sidewalks without UDOT’s ROW permission. The City may blade the ditch that runs along US 89 from the cemetery to 1^st West.

Council Member Huefner will work on a drainage plan for the bike path to present to UDOT for approval and next fall perhaps Danny and Council Member Huefner could work on a Safety Corridor Plan for Transportation.