The Transportation Coordinating Committee (Transcom) voted to recommend a slate of projects to include in the draft 2026'031 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).

Ben Withrich, who led the committee's presentation on the TIP and draft programs, summarized recommendations from the Technical Advisory Committee and field reviews. Transcom members voted to forward recommendations for the Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) and 2027 Carbon Reduction Program (CRP) projects, the 2027 Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) projects, and the 2026'031 Surface Transportation Program (STP) projects to the Wasatch Front Regional Council for inclusion in the draft TIP.

Why it matters: The TIP is a six-year, fund-constrained list of highway, transit and active-transportation projects that implements the region's long-range transportation plans. Funding recommendations guide which projects can advance to design and construction with federal formula and discretionary funds.

What was recommended and where
- CMAQ and CRP: In the Ogden-Layton urban area the committees recommended about $4.0 million in CMAQ funds and about $1.4 million in CRP funds. In the Salt Lake urban area they recommended roughly $5.4 million in CMAQ funds and about $2.4 million in CRP funds. Specific recommended CMAQ projects included pedestrian and bicycle facility work on 9th South (Weber County), an intersection-to-roundabout conversion in North Ogden (2100 North and Fruitland Drive), UTA operating support for the 5600 West bus route, Shields Lane multiuse improvements in South Jordan, an intersection safety project in Sandy, and a roundabout near Highland High in Salt Lake City. CRP recommendations included additional funding to the 9th South pedestrian project, a Far West City pedestrian/bicycle facility, vanpool vehicle purchases, and operating support for the Davis'Salt Lake connector.

- TAP: The committee recommended TAP programming that included sidewalk and Safe Routes to School projects in Roy City and Murray City, two HAWK beacon installations in North Ogden (to be prioritized by warrant), a SR-39 shared-use path in Ogden, multiuse-path work on Shields Lane in South Jordan and capital repair to Salt Lake City's Greenbike system (12 docks and 58 bikes). Recommended TAP totals were about $1.2 million in Ogden-Layton and $2.1 million in Salt Lake.

- STP: The Surface Transportation Program recommendation included six Ogden-Layton projects totaling about $10 million and 10 Salt Lake-area projects totaling roughly $22.0 million. Notable STP recommendations ranged from street reconstruction and minor widening projects across smaller cities (Clinton, Centerville, West Point, Marriott-Slaterville, Brigham City) to larger corridor work in Salt Lake County including Highland Drive improvements, a 3900 South shared-use path in Taylorsville, West Jordan bicycle corridor work on 1300 West, and a UDOT I-15 northbound on-ramp safety improvement at 7200 South. The committee also recommended partial funding for additional low-floor light-rail vehicles.

How projects were evaluated: With scores from project concept reports, emissions analyses (for CMAQ/CRP), and field reviews, the technical committees combined quantitative scores with "other relevant professional considerations" such as sponsor delivery history, geographic distribution, project synergy with other planned work, and observed on-site safety issues.

Committee motions and votes (at a glance)
- Motion: Recommend the CMAQ (2026'031) and CRP (2027) project lists to the regional council. Moved by Joe Schmolka; seconded by Carlton Christensen. Outcome: approved (unanimous among members present).
- Motion: Recommend the 2027 Transportation Alternatives Program projects to the regional council. Moved by Kevin Van Tassel; seconded by Joe Schmolka. Outcome: approved (unanimous among members present).
- Motion: Recommend the 2026'031 Surface Transportation Program projects to the regional council. Moved by Rob Daly; seconded by Carlton Christensen. Outcome: approved (unanimous among members present).

Next steps: Transcom's recommendations will be presented to the Wasatch Front Regional Council in May for inclusion in the draft TIP. The draft TIP will be released for public review and comment in July, with final regional approvals expected in August and federal submission for an October 1 effective date of the new TIP cycle.

The committee recorded no substantial opposition during the votes taken at the meeting.