Bob Mickelson
FARMINGTON — Having already run their report past the city/county, traffic engineers Ron Mortimer and Jason Club tried out their take on future Farmington transportation needs on members of that community’s planning commission Thursday night.

Mortimer, representing Hor- rocks Engineers, did all the talking this time, reminding commission members the new proposal was spurred by the coming of commuter rail to the area. The Master Transport-ation Plan also takes advantage of new 2030 traffic projections.

Five different regions in Farmington were addressed, beginning with the North Main and Shepard Lane to Cherry Hill area. A traffic signal at Somerset and Main has been suggested along with a round-about at Northridge Road and Main.

Mortimer added good news about access from northbound U.S. 89 frontage road into the proposed Old Town Village area. He believes the Utah Department of Transportation will permit a right-in/right-out access into the west side of the property.

When asked by members of of the commission if he thought the state might allow for two access points, Mortimer answered, “I don’t know if we should push the point.”

Further traffic calming has been proposed for the intersection of Main and Shepard Lane. This might entail a traffic signal and/or some new configuration for the intersection itself.

Mortimer next discussed the connection to North Legacy from I-15, stressing the need to preserve that corridor. The latest alternative employs CD or collector-distribution roads and a flyover crossing above I-15 just south of Shepard Lane.

There would be no connection to Shepard as the new collector roads would take traffic north from the Park Lane interchange to the structure, while southbound traffic would merge off a ramp to I-15.

Two “jug handle” loops would provide local access to-and-from Legacy North. These “poor man’s interchanges” would be right-on/right-off only.

A proposal to run a West Farmington collector road along the eastside of the old D &RG railroad right-of-way has apparently run into a road block. Farmington had briefly considered the idea as an alternative to expanding 1100 West.

But the road would have run both past and through part of the Davis County FairPark and the county stated, flatly, there just isn’t enough room.

Commission members were intrigued with the call for an “at grade” intersection that would connect the frontage road and west State Street just before the latter crosses over I-15. According to Mortimer, it would require bringing the frontage road up to the same level as State, a difficult, but doable job.

He did admit the intersection, with traffic signal, would present some impediment to northbound Lagoon traffic which has enjoyed a straight run into the amusement park’s gate.

A similar impediment would be created with a new intersection linking the I-15 northbound off-ramp and frontage road with 200 West in Farmington. A signal would be needed there as well. Traffic headed southbound to I-15 from Lagoon would not be affected even though Horrock’s plan suggests replacing the current overpass when I-15 is rebuilt.

Finally, Mortimer introduced the latest option for BRT or Bus Rapid Transit’s arrival in Farmington. BRT vehicles would still use 200 East and State Street, but run on existing lanes only. Ultimately, the line would end up at the planned commuter rail station west of I-15 near Clark Lane.

“We are looking at a leg to feed Lagoon during the season,” Mortimer added, “and possibly another BRT station in the Glover Lane area.”

A public hearing on the concepts enclosed in the proposed plan will be held April 28 at the Farmington Com-munity Arts Center in Main Park. It will begin at 6 p.m. Maps depicting each of the options will be available on the city Web site beginning April 18.

Davis County Clipper