Study Overview
The Utah Department of Transportation’s (UDOT) mission is to keep Utah moving while enhancing quality of life through transportation improvements in our state. UDOT is conducting an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to improve regional and local mobility on US-40 from SR-32 to US-189 and provide opportunities for non-motorized transportation while allowing Heber City to meet its vision for the historic town center.
Project Update
Revised Date: 10/02/25
Recent activities include updates to local councils, conducting field surveys, and responding to stakeholder questions. Ongoing efforts focus on evaluating project alternatives in depth, identifying the preferred alternative, and compiling the Draft EIS. Monthly meetings with local governments continue, with an update scheduled in October. The community will be invited to review and comment on the Draft EIS once it is published later this year.
Study Area
The Heber Valley Corridor EIS project team will be working with the stakeholders to evaluate improvements to address and enhance mobility through the Heber Valley and improve the operation of Heber City Main Street (US-40).
Through this process UDOT will develop transportation alternatives that could include a variety of solutions including reconfiguration of Main Street, improvements to other area roads, constructing new roads, and other options identified by the public.
Alternatives Being Studied in the Draft EIS
The map below shows the similarities and differences between the final two alternatives in the study. Our team is currently refining these alternatives and performing additional analysis ahead of releasing the Draft Environmental Impact Statement later this fall. At that time, the public will have an opportunity to review the alternatives more closely and provide feedback to our team.
Current Phase
Revised Date: 10/02/25
PROJECT UPDATE
A status update of activities on the EIS through September and what to expect in coming months.
Completed activities
Local Government Coordination
- Updated Daniel Town Council on Sept. 8 (UDOT update timestamp: 25:48)
- Updated Wasatch County Council on Sept. 10 (UDOT update timestamp 12:55)
- Updated Heber City Council on Sept. 16 (UDOT update timestamp 2:34:50)
Detailed Alternatives Analysis
- Conducted field surveys in areas that haven’t been surveyed previously
Public Outreach
- Responded to property owner inquiries and met with owners as requested
Ongoing activities
Local Government Coordination
- Meeting with Heber City and Wasatch County staff on a monthly basis
- Will meet with other local governments, if requested
Detailed Alternatives Analysis
- Evaluating the project alternatives in depth, including benefits and impacts
- Identifying the preferred alternative
- Compiling Draft EIS
Public Outreach
- Coordinating with potentially impacted property owners, as requested
What to expect next
Local Government Coordination
- Update at Wasatch County Interlocal Meeting on Oct. 8
- We are happy to provide updates to other local governments if requested
How your comments will be used
- Once the Draft EIS is published, there will be a 60-day formal public comment period (this is the maximum amount of time allowed by law)
- Public comments submitted during the public comment period are not considered a vote.
- Comments are one input among many that we will use to make final updates and decisions regarding the project.
- Comments will be used to consider things that may have been overlooked, such as property or environmental impacts.
- Guidelines to submitting a comment:
- Clearly identify the issue or resource you’re concerned about.
- Reference specific sections or topics in the Draft EIS.
- Include data, citations, observations, or personal experiences that support your comment.
- Comments like “I don’t like this project” or “This will ruin Heber City” are noted but are more helpful if they include specific reasons based on the analysis. A better comment could be “I don’t like this project because it impacts…” or “I support this project because…”
- Comments are more impactful when they are solution-oriented.
- Comments may also be in the form of a question, in addition to statements.
- For more info on the environmental process and how your comments are used, UDOT has prepared this informational EIS Video. Specific information regarding comments is found at timestamp 3:32.
What to expect at the public meetings
UDOT will host two public meetings during the formal public comment period.
- A virtual public meeting will be held first and will provide a presentation and Q&A session.
- Formal comments will not be taken at this meeting
- An in-person public hearing, held second, will include several options for making a comment, including a public format for community members to make a live comment so others can hear them.
- UDOT will be present and listen to the public comments and the comments made will be recorded by a court reporter.
- All comments will be responded to in the Final EIS, not during the meeting.
- Those who wish to speak will be encouraged to sign up for a spot in advance of the public hearing. More details on this will be available once the Draft EIS is published.
- There will also be an open house concurrent with the public hearing where community members may speak directly with and ask questions to project team members and UDOT ROW agents.
More detailed information on the previously proposed alternatives and the analysis published to-date is available here: https://hebervalleyeis.udot.utah.gov/alternative-screening/.
Current And Upcoming Activities
Study Process and Timeline
The anticipated project timeline outlines the phases to accomplish development of the Heber Valley Corridor EIS. Ongoing engagement with the public will take place during the estimated time periods to keep the community informed during the EIS.
Submit Comment
Comments provided to the project team will be reviewed and considered by UDOT as it develops the project. All comments received will be documented in the project record. The study team will contact you if they need additional information or clarification.
Comments provided during the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process to UDOT are a matter of public record and subject to public release, if requested. For more information, see the Terms of Use at the bottom of the Utah.gov website.
Comments that are publicly displayed through online tools must follow our UDOT Social Media Policy Participant Code of Conduct. Comments that are unacceptable under that policy may be removed at the administrator’s discretion.
If you receive an error when trying to submit a comment, please refresh your browser.
Contact Us
For more information on the environmental study underway in the Heber Valley and to share your ideas, please contact the project team through one of the ways listed below.
Write Us A Letter
Heber Valley Corridor EIS
c/o HDR
2825 E Cottonwood Parkway # 200
Cottonwood Heights, UT 84121
The environmental review, consultation, and other actions required by applicable Federal environmental laws for this project are being or have been carried-out by UDOT pursuant to 23 U.S.C. 327 and a Memorandum of Understanding dated May 26, 2022, and executed by Federal Highway Administration and UDOT.