Commission accepts federal grant to build coordinated adaptive ramp metering on I‑15

The Transportation Commission voted to add a coordinated adaptive ramp metering project on southbound I‑15 (I‑80 to Point of the Mountain) to the STIP after UDOT said the department secured a federal congestion relief discretionary grant covering 80% of project costs.

UDOT said FHWA awarded about $39.6 million and the department will fund the 20% match (approximately $9.9 million). The project will install high‑accuracy mainline sensors at approximately one‑third mile spacing, deploy coordinated ramp meters (including several freeway‑to‑freeway ramps), and install a software system to process data and change ramp timing as often as every 20 seconds across the network.

Commissioners described the effort as a cost‑effective way to preserve freeway capacity by keeping traffic flowing rather than adding lanes. Commissioner Kevin Adams called the project “brilliant” and urged approval; the commission voted to add the project to the current step of the STIP.

What happens next: UDOT will proceed with project development and contract work under the federal grant agreement and will coordinate ramp meter operations with traffic operations staff and law enforcement.