Activities and Accomplishments Report FISCAL YEAR 2019 FISCAL YEAR 2019 Table of Contents 1 Executive Summary The Wasatch Front Regional Council achieved several important milestones this past year and accomplished the goals and priorities adopted by the Council. 6 Goal Number One Collaboratively develop and implement the Wasatch Choice 2050 Vision for regional transportation, land use, and economic development. 19 Goal Number Two Advance transportation, land use, and economic development policy-making and projects. 30 Goal Number Three Strive for organizational excellence. PAGETABLE 2 OF CONTENTS ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS REPORT Goals and Priorities FISCAL YEAR 2019 GOALS Collaboratively develop and implement the Wasatch Choice 2050 Vision for regional transportation, land use, and economic development. Goal Number One • Adopt the 2019-2050 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP), including the Collaboratively develop and prioritization of road, transit, and active transportation projects by phase, financial implement the Wasatch constraints, and land use and development assumptions (adopt spring/summer Choice 2050 Vision for 2019). regional transportation, • Develop the 2019-2050 Utah’s Unified Transportation Plan, in collaboration land use, and economic with transportation agency partners (adopt summer/fall 2019). development. • Develop the 2020-2025 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), compiling prioritized road, transit, and active transportation projects (adopt summer 2019). Goal Number Two • Adopt an updated regional Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS), working through the Wasatch Front Economic Development District Advance transportation, (WFEDD) (adopt spring 2019). land use, and economic • Implement Wasatch Choice 2050 Vision by providing resources and development policy-making technical support to communities through programs, including Surface and projects. Transportation Program (STP), Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Program, Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), Community Development Goal Number Three Block Grant (CDBG), and Transportation and Land Use Connection Program (TLC) Strive for organizational (approve awards spring/summer 2019). excellence. • Refine the performance-based approach for WFRC plans and programs, including measures, targets, progress monitoring, and reporting, based on the adopted Wasatch Choice 2050 goals. » Enhance use of “access to opportunity” as a measure for planning and programming. Advance transportation, land use, and economic development policy-making and projects. • Provide subject-matter expertise to federal, state, and local officials and policymakers regarding transportation funding and policy, as well as related land use and economic development considerations. Promote approaches and outcomes that are consistent with WFRC’s organizational mission, e.g., collaboration; multi-modal solutions; integration of transportation, land use, and economic development; and strong local and regional voice in decision-making. Key subject areas include the following. » Impacts of growth on transportation and housing. » Implementation of Senate Bill 136. » Reauthorization of federal transportation funding and policies. » Potential timing and impact of disruptive trends (e.g., demographics, land use, and markets) and technologies (e.g. connected, autonomous, shared, and electric mobility options). • Engage and inform stakeholders regarding the challenges and opportunities of growth. Convene communities and partners, provide high-quality data and analysis, collaboratively develop strategies, and support communities with technical and financial resources. • Participate in transportation-related projects and studies including, but not limited to, the Point of the Mountain Development Commission, Central Wasatch Commission, Box Elder Transit Analysis, Ogden BRT/TOD, Davis-SLC Bus Rapid Transit, and Northwest Quadrant/Inland Port. • Improve air quality by assisting communities and partners in their efforts to reduce mobile source emissions. Strive for organizational excellence. • Move WFRC offices to a more central, accessible location (fall 2018). • Create a work environment that maximizes the job satisfaction, productivity, and retention of an excellent staff. Ensure that the employee performance evaluation process provides meaningful constructive feedback to employees and identifies priority professional development opportunities and expectations. • Continuously improve the quality, impact, and awareness of WFRC’s technical and analytical capabilities, and utilize those capabilities to help our region and communities. • Maintain budget stability and use resources prudently and efficiently. • Ensure compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and best practices. 2020 PAGEGOALS 3 FISCAL YEAR 2019 Executive Summary Mission: The Wasatch Front Regional Council builds consensus and enhances quality of life by developing and implementing visions and plans for a well-functioning multi-modal transportation system, livable communities, a strong economy, and a healthy environment. Transportation planning in the region is a collaborative effort. As the designated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for the Wasatch Front, the Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC) is responsible for coordinating this transportation planning process. WFRC achieved several important milestones this past year and accomplished the goals adopted by the Council. FY19 GOAL 1: COLLABORATIVELY DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT THE WASATCH CHOICE 2050 VISION FOR REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION, LAND USE, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. WFRC has a strong track record of collaboratively developing long- and short- range plans and programs with its transportation partners, local governments, and stakeholders. Additionally, the organization works hand-in-hand with local communities to develop and implement those plans and programs. Developed the Wasatch Choice 2050 Vision Utah is growing… and we have a plan. Our future quality of life depends on the choices we make today. The Wasatch Choice 2050 Vision is our communities’ shared vision for transportation investments, development patterns, and economic opportunities. The Wasatch Choice 2050 Vision and key strategies show how advancing the Vision can enhance quality of life even as we grow. The Vision is rooted in these four key strategies: 1. Provide transportation choices 2. Support housing options 3. Preserve open space 4. Link economic development with transportation and housing decisions In FY19, WFRC continued to work closely with key partners to develop the Wasatch Choice Vision, including the local governments in the WFRC area along with the Utah League of Cities and Towns and the Utah Association of Counties; transportation agencies including the Utah Department of Transportation, PAGE 1 ACTIVITIES AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS REPORT the Utah Transit Authority, and the Mountainland Association of Governments; academic institutions including the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute and the Metropolitan Research Center at the University of Utah; and other private and community based organizations such as Envision Utah and the Chambers of Commerce. Adopted the 2019-2050 Regional Transportation Plan The Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) is where the Region’s future transportation system is born. The 2019-2050 RTP is a long-range blueprint that sets forth the strategy for regional transportation investments for all modes of transportation. The 2019-2050 RTP is the transportation element of the Wasatch Choice 2050 Vision, the region’s shared blueprint for regional transportation, local land use, and economic development. WFRC developed the 2019-2050 RTP over a four-year period in partnership with cities and counties, transportation agencies, community organizations, local stakeholders, and residents. The 2019-2050 RTP is informed by technical modeling and forecasting to help us understand how the RTP will help us collectively achieve regional quality of life goals. This planning process is coordinated with statewide transportation partners to develop common goals, planning time horizons, performance measures, and financial assumptions, which collectively form Utah’s Unified Transportation Plan, which will be updated and finalized in Fall 2019. Updated every four years, the 2019-2050 RTP lives within an anticipated budget. Against these constraints, particular transportation projects are prioritized to build the most important projects first. The 2019-2050 RTP prioritizes approximately $50 billion in transportation spending between now and 2050, in order to keep our existing roadway and transit system in a state of good repair, and to construct and operate new roadways, transit services, and active transportation facilities. Developed the 2020-2025 Transportation Improvement Program Totaling more than $4 billion in vital transportation funding, the 2020-2025 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) identifies investments in roadway, transit, and active transportation infrastructure needed in the urbanized areas of Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, and southern Box Elder Counties. Throughout the year, WFRC worked in close collaboration with UDOT, UTA, cities, and counties across the Wasatch Front to develop the TIP. The TIP helps the region meet current transportation needs while simultaneously addressing critical future priorities. Finalized the 2018-2023 Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy In FY19, the Wasatch Front Economic Development District (WFEDD) finalized the 2018-2023