Wasatch Blvd and the New Digital Sign – A Missed Opportunity by Our Leadership

Dear Save Not Pave Members,

We wanted to bring to your attention a critical development on Wasatch Blvd that is not only reshaping our scenic boulevard into something more akin to a freeway but also contributing to growing traffic and parking issues in our community.

Recently, a 30-foot Variable Messaging Sign (VMS) was installed on Wasatch Blvd, just north of the Bengal Blvd intersection. This sign, designed to direct ski traffic during the upcoming season, should have been a tool to manage congestion more effectively. However, Cottonwood Heights leadership failed to adequately address our community's needs during their talks with the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), and now we are left with a poorly thought-out solution.

Instead of positioning the sign in a strategic location where it could divert traffic to more suitable areas, like Fort Union Blvd, UDOT’s decision to place the sign far south has only compounded our parking problems. The Swamp Lot at 3500 East, already crowded with employee parking starting as early as 6 AM, is now being directed to serve even more skiers. This leaves little to no space for additional parking during peak ski season.

Wouldn't it have been more logical to direct ski traffic to Fort Union Blvd, where businesses could benefit from the increased foot traffic and drivers could wait comfortably in coffee shops or empty lots until the canyon opens? Unfortunately, this reasonable alternative was overlooked.

In discussions with Councilwoman Birrell, we learned that UDOT refused suggestions to install the sign north of Fort Union or take measures to mitigate its visual impact on nearby residents. Despite efforts to address concerns about traffic in our neighborhoods, particularly during ski season when tolling or traction control measures come into play, UDOT only agreed to minor adjustments, such as limiting the brightness of the sign and its messaging at night. While Birrell has built relationships with UDOT leadership, communication channels for new projects remain between agency staff and city staff, often excluding elected representatives. This exclusion is a pervasive problem across many fronts in Utah. When publicly elected representatives are left out of the conceptualization process and decision-making, the needs of the public are too often diminished in favor of a 'build, build, build' mentality that overlooks the unintended consequences best understood by locally elected officials.

But these changes do little to fix the core issue: Cottonwood Heights leadership dropped the ball, leaving us with a freeway-like boulevard, no real solution for skier parking, and more traffic infiltrating our local streets. We continue to push for better planning and communication between UDOT and our city officials, but we need your support.

Our vision is clear: direct traffic north to Fort Union, where skiers can park and spend time at local businesses, not clog our residential streets and parking lots. We can do better, and it's time our leaders listen to the community's voice. If you're ready to see real change, take a moment to urge the city to appoint leadership who will actively engage in these critical UDOT meetings. We need someone who genuinely cares about our community, will pay attention, and stand up for the residents of Cottonwood Heights—someone who won’t let issues like this slip through the cracks.

Stay tuned for further updates, and thank you for your continued advocacy for safer, smarter development on Wasatch Blvd.

Micki Harris 
Save Not Pave