Commission accepts federal grant to build coordinated adaptive ramp metering on I‑15
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Summary
UDOT will use a federal congestion relief discretionary grant (80%) plus state match (20%) to build a coordinated adaptive ramp metering system on I‑15 southbound from I‑80 to Point of the Mountain. The commission approved adding the project to the STIP after staff described sensor and software requirements.
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.