[Future Mayor]

MAG is the Metropolitan Planning Organization responsible for Utah and Wasatch Counties. Every MSA must have an MPO, they do traffic projections and analysis and growth projections. If there is no MPA there is no federal funding for transit or roads. MAG is a non profit organization that is responsible for many things; one thing is assisting smaller communities with planning, the MPO plans transit and roads on a more regional, across city boundaries, basis. Light Rail/BRT/Front Runner is not simply a UTA plan, MAG is responsible for the many of the studies and the population projections, that ultimately leads to UTA receiving state and federal funding for those projects.

If the legislature doesn't implement growth boundaries, which even in places that have them (Oregon) they continue to be moved outward as the population warrants it, then MAG must project what population and growth will occur based on the current laws and recent trends regarding property rights. Based on those trends and laws they must plan accordingly. If the laws change and growth boundaries are applied, than MAG and other MPO's would alter their studies according to those laws.

Not everyone that plans in the way MAG does is an evil money hungry organization.

Regarding the "Loss of Orchards" comment that is exactly why the South Connector on the Provo to Nebo Corridor was altered. The Allreds don't plan on selling their orchard and the next generation currently feels the same way and plan on continuing to operate the Orchard. So MAG and the consulting firm that helped with the Provo to Nebo study altered the proposed alignment of that road. And again, if property owners choose not to sell or develop their property than the road will NEVER be needed or built. Preserving corridors for future transportation isn't promoting sprawl, it is simply planning ahead IF, let me repeat IF the land does develop.

One of the rights as American is property rights and each property owner possesses a bundle of rights, some which are air, mineral, and development rights. These rights cannot be taken away without just compensation, just like eminent domain. The Allreds have been approached several times regarding TDR's and are not comfortable with it, because even he realizes that while he will continue to farm his land and the next generation plans on it, he isn't currently comfortable with the proposition of selling those development rights and requiring the land to be farming into perpetuity.