PLENTY I On Tuesday July 13th, Grand County Commissioner Trisha Hedin, Utah, addressed the Rangely Town Board of Trustees meeting to encourage the city to participate in a call for action against the Book Cliffs Highway.
The Book Cliffs Highway is a $ 300-400 million infrastructure project that aims to connect the Uintah Basin to I-70 near Cisco, Utah. It has been on and off the table since the 1980s when it was identified as necessary to aid in the transportation of extractions. More recently, it has been proposed by the Seven County Infrastructure Coalition as “Facilitating Tourism” from the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area and Dinosaur National Monument to the Mighty 5 National Parks in southeastern Utah. Hedin said: “We don’t need any more tourist traffic, we are good.” Another publication wrote that Moab is drowning in tourism. “This road will also divert tourism from communities in Utah and Colorado that are working to increase tourism.” – Mary McGann, chairman of the Grand County Commission. Currently, traffic from the Uintah Basin has two routes to I-70. SR-191 through Utah or Colorado SR-139 from Rangely to Loma. The Book Cliffs Highway is also thought to save travelers time, but is only estimated to be a 27-minute drive in either direction. In 2019, the average annual traffic through Mesa County / SR-139 was 680 and trucking was 110. These travelers pass Rangely and buy gasoline, groceries, and even stay overnight.
While transit traffic is not the largest part of Rangely’s economy, it is a strong part and complement of the need for tourism to continue Rangely’s growth and sustainability. Currently and historically, Rangely has been supported by the extraction industry. The boom and bankruptcy in the oil industry create challenges in terms of affordable housing for oilfield workers and retention of valuable talent in the teaching, hospitality and small business sectors. In 2019, the city employed 163 in the accommodation and catering industry. The population also has a poverty rate of 12.3%.
A phase 1 report of the Better City Economic Development Strategy underscores the common goal of the Rangely community “the desire to expand tourism by using the extensive network of ATV routes in the region”. “The chamber [of Commerce] is proactive on the matter and has applied for grants that would fund a campaign to improve trail markings. ”The Book Cliffs Highway could adversely affect current economic plans and the city’s need to continue investing in its values and gifts.
“The Book Cliffs region is widely known as the crown jewel of the Colorado Plateau, full of vital wildlife habitats, ancient rock art and cliff dwellings, millennial trees, and spectacular scenery. Wildlife enthusiasts largely disapprove of this highway, realizing how much negative impact it will have on the fish, moose, deer, buffalo, mountain lions and bears that live there, ”McGann also said. The construction of highways would require the use of a significant domain as part of the area is home to a private ranch whose owners also strongly oppose the highway. The SCIC is pushing this project forward despite its alleged commitment to fiscal conservative values and freedom from an overpowering government.
In protest of the proposal, Commissioner Hedin offered several options for Rangely Grand County’s residents to join.
• Contact both the Colorado and Utah governors.
• Contact your national representative.
• Michael Bennet, Senator – https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm/write-to-michael
• John Hickenlooper, Senator – https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/
• Join the Rural Utah Project in opposition – https://ruralutahproject.org/work/
Contact the Seven County Infrastructure Coalition to request a speech at their next public session on August 20, 2021, https://scic-utah.org/.
By KATIE KING | Special on The Herald Times
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