Legislators holding I-15 community meeting on west side

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SALT LAKE CITY — Democratic lawmakers representing Salt Lake City's west side are holding a listening session Wednesday night about a proposed expansion of I-15.

The meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. in the Zions Building at the Utah Fairpark, 155 N. 1000 West in Salt Lake City. It's not the first such meeting Sen. Luz Escamilla and Reps. Angela Romero and Sandra Hollins have hosted regarding the project. The Utah Department of Transportation has also participated in a number of public sessions, including a number at west-side locations like Mestizo Coffeehouse.

A listening session with lawmakers in December drew a crowd of about 60 residents who voiced their opposition to the project. And another UDOT session at Mestizo Coffeehouse in May drew about 90 people. At both meetings, residents expressed concern that UDOT was not adequately considering west-side residents and that their public comments would do little to sway the final outcomes of the project.

"Our neighborhoods are tired," Romero said during the December meeting. "It's really important for them to hear from our neighborhoods because there have been a lot of promises made to us and then it doesn't happen. That's why we wanted to start these conversations now, because we feel like it's really important that we're listening and truly representing the voices of the people who live in our neighborhoods."

UDOT is still in the planning process of the project and expects to complete an environmental impact study, which would shed light on the specifics like impacts on air quality and noise pollution, in fall 2023. The project would cost about $1.6 billion, which the Utah Legislature has already approved.

UDOT recently narrowed the project alternatives and said it no longer expects to displace homes. However, a number of homes and buildings would still be impacted during the project.