Application Deadline: July 13, 2018

• Salt Lake County Corridor Preservation Fund Application
• Corridor Preservation Fund Application Prioritization Criteria
• Offer to Purchase
• Right of Way Contract
• Sample Letter from City Requesting Funds
• Salt Lake County Attorney's Opinion Regarding the Use of Corridor Preservation Funds

There are a variety of planning tools that can be used by local governments.  These tools basically fall into three categories: (1) acquisition; (2) exercise of planning and zoning powers; and (3) voluntary agreements and governmental inducements.  The latter two offer some distinct advantages from a monetary standpoint, as they may not require outright fee simple acquisition of properties.  Some examples of tools that offer interim corridor protection are: option to purchase, official map, General (Master or Comprehensive) Plan designation, concurrency ordinances, zoning and subdivision controls; development agreements, annexation agreements, voluntary developer reservation, access management and control, and density transfers within the parcel for which development is proposed.  Some examples of permanent preservation tools are: fee simple acquisition, development easements, landowner donation, exchange of property, private land trusts, impact fees, exactions, recoupment ordinances, set-back ordinances, transfer of development rights, and development agreements.

All projects within phases one, two, and three of the current  RTP  have been approved by the COG for property acquisitions to be funded from the Corridor Preservation Fund.

Process List

• Corridor Preservation Application Process List

Policies

• Corridor Preservation Application Policy March 2010
• Corridor Preservation Policy Surplus Property

Regionally Significant Definition

Regionally significant project means a transportation project that is on a facility which serves regional transportation needs, such as access to and from the area outside of the region, major activity centers in the region, major planned developments such as new retail malls, sports complexes, etc., or transportation terminals, including at a minimum all principal arterial highways.

The Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), acting as the Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC), plays a leadership role in corridor preservation through its long range planning and programming activities.  Federal transportation law requires metropolitan transportation plans to address corridor preservation and to identify corridors in most need of action to prevent destruction or loss.  Also, the MPOs are directed to work toward greater consistency between  transportation plans and local land use plans.  The MPOs address the need for corridor preservation and measures to be pursued in the respective Regional Transportation Plans.  They provide technical assistance to local governments on corridor preservation and facilitate state and local coordination.Local Governments establish the foundation for corridor preservation in their general, or master plans.  This can be accomplished by designating corridors in the transportation element of their general plans; enacting goals, objectives and policies that advance corridor management; and including future transportation maps that depict the location and width of designated corridor rights-of-way.  The Plans should include local corridors as well as corridors identified by the WFRC.  If a designated corridor is part of the Regional Transportation Plan, the local government should notify the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) and/or the WFRC before approving any rezoning, building permit, subdivision change, or other permitting activity that would substantially impair the future viability of the corridor for transportation purposes.  Timely communication on these issues is important to the success of corridor preservation efforts.The Utah Department of Transportation has responsibility for the Corridor Preservation Revolving Loan Fund, which can be used for the acquisition of properties within a corridor, the development of which have the potential to substantially impair the viability of the corridor for transportation purposes.  These financial resources are made available for hardship and pre-emptive acquisitions only if there is a willing seller.  Eminent domain cannot be used for corridor preservation property acquisition.  UDOT and the WFRC are responsible for working cooperatively in providing local governments with specific corridor information, the criteria used for prioritizing the use funds from the Revolving Loan Fund, as well as information on the use of planning tools and techniques.

If you have questions regarding the Corridor Preservation Fund, contact Helen Peters at hpeters@slco.orgor 385-468-4860.