Consultants preview county transportation master plan, recommend connectivity and UDOT coordination
May 08, 2025 | Carbon County Commission, Carbon County Commission and Boards, Carbon County, Utah
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Consultants from Jones & DeMille on Wednesday presented a draft transportation master plan to the Carbon County Commission, outlining traffic counts, crash data and a recommended future-road network intended to improve safety and to position the county for state funding.
Matthew Lenhart of Jones & DeMille said the county’s grant from the Utah Department of Transportation covered most of the plan and that an online story map and a 90-page report will be published on the county’s GIS site when the plan is finalized. “It’ll be on the county’s website,” Lenhart said when asked how the public would access the materials.
The consultants reported they collected traffic counts, speed and truck data last year, mapped crash locations and found a slight multi-year increase in crashes and fatalities, with a concentration on Highway 6. The plan recommends minor classification updates to align county road designations with UDOT funding eligibility and a set of prioritized projects with rough cost estimates and inflation-adjusted projections for a 10-year horizon.
A central recommendation is to improve road connectivity and discourage additional dead-end roads. The consultants said better connectivity reduces maintenance costs and improves emergency access. They also proposed standards for developer-required traffic impact studies so new development pays for off-site improvements such as turn lanes or signals when projects materially affect capacity or safety.
Lenhart said the project list includes local and county-managed projects and notes coordination needs where state highways are involved. He said a public open house and a public hearing will be scheduled before the commission adopts the plan.
Commissioners and staff asked about coordination with city road plans and the consultants said they would further align county recommendations with city plans where appropriate. Lenhart said the final deliverables will include maps showing traffic counts, speeds, crash clusters and a searchable project list.
The commission thanked the consultants for the forward-looking plan and suggested hosting the public open house at a larger venue to maximize public participation.
Matthew Lenhart of Jones & DeMille said the county’s grant from the Utah Department of Transportation covered most of the plan and that an online story map and a 90-page report will be published on the county’s GIS site when the plan is finalized. “It’ll be on the county’s website,” Lenhart said when asked how the public would access the materials.
The consultants reported they collected traffic counts, speed and truck data last year, mapped crash locations and found a slight multi-year increase in crashes and fatalities, with a concentration on Highway 6. The plan recommends minor classification updates to align county road designations with UDOT funding eligibility and a set of prioritized projects with rough cost estimates and inflation-adjusted projections for a 10-year horizon.
A central recommendation is to improve road connectivity and discourage additional dead-end roads. The consultants said better connectivity reduces maintenance costs and improves emergency access. They also proposed standards for developer-required traffic impact studies so new development pays for off-site improvements such as turn lanes or signals when projects materially affect capacity or safety.
Lenhart said the project list includes local and county-managed projects and notes coordination needs where state highways are involved. He said a public open house and a public hearing will be scheduled before the commission adopts the plan.
Commissioners and staff asked about coordination with city road plans and the consultants said they would further align county recommendations with city plans where appropriate. Lenhart said the final deliverables will include maps showing traffic counts, speeds, crash clusters and a searchable project list.
The commission thanked the consultants for the forward-looking plan and suggested hosting the public open house at a larger venue to maximize public participation.
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