OPINION — A desire to maintain the beauty, open space and outdoor recreation opportunities of the Red Cliffs National Conservation Area and Desert Reserve is not limited to Democrats and conservation activists — local Republicans in Washington County also oppose the Northern Corridor Highway for the same reasons, and more.
Last week, the Washington County Republican Party invited Washington County Commissioner Adam Snow and Washington County Attorney Eric Clarke to present on the proposed Northern Corridor Highway. Their advertisement read: “If you hate traffic, but love Washington County’s beauty, wildlife and outdoor recreation opportunities, then you should support the Northern Corridor Highway.”
Around 75 people attended to listen and ask questions, but ultimately, the majority felt that the Northern Corridor Highway would not actually benefit our community. Red Cliffs is an important open space for the entire county, and the land is our legacy—a place we all wish to preserve for future generations.
Common areas of concern expressed by commenters included:
- Resistance to treating Zone 6 like a bargaining chip by linking its protection to the Northern Corridor Highway,
- Concern that the highway would lead to future development inside Red Cliffs and
- Support for transportation alternatives that protect Red Cliffs and neighboring communities.
I attended the meeting with my husband and 18-month-old daughter. We are lifelong residents of Southern Utah who are dismayed that effective transportation alternatives to the Northern Corridor Highway currently on the table aren’t being seriously considered. The staggering number of comments against the Northern Corridor Highway at this meeting meant that the clock ran out before many could speak.
I reached out to fellow Republicans who attended and asked them what they would have said to Snow and Clarke if they’d had the chance:
Kathryn Bylsma, M. Ed., said the county’s conversations surrounding Red Cliffs appear to lack considerations other than traffic flow—like natural habitat, open space, archaeological remains, tourist attractions and local pride, among others. If the Northern Corridor Highway were built, the area’s world-renowned topography, delicately maintained desert habitats and attractive trails would suffer long-term impacts in the hopes of achieving vague short-term aspirations to reduce traffic.
Dr. Kolene Granger, former Washington County School District superintendent and former Washington City Council member, said that Red Cliffs is equivalent to Central Park in New York City – a space for our present and future to be preserved for all time. She noted the proximity of Red Cliffs to an ever-increasing urban population. Once gone, or polluted with noise, exhaust and traffic, it will never be the same. She believes that the future will denigrate those who corrupt this valuable wild, open space. It will celebrate those with the vision to preserve its uniqueness so close to so much urbanization, despite the current challenges.
Deja Schweitzer, a mother, grandmother and equestrian, has lived in downtown St. George since 1985 and enjoys riding her horses year-round in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. She gives back to her community by serving with the Back Country Horsemen of Utah and as a volunteer Trail Steward for the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. She is appalled by the false narrative and scare tactics being used by local and state elected officials.
Schweitzer said she was concerned by the recent Washington County School District resolution on the Northern Corridor Highway, which she said falsely leads parents to believe that if the highway right-of-way is revoked, the alternative would be a one-way street in front of Legacy Elementary with upwards of 38,000 cars per day driving in front of their school. There are multiple transportation alternatives on the table, and the “downtown loop” would not automatically be implemented if the Northern Corridor right-of-way is revoked. The Expressway Alternative is a win-win-win for everyone, she said. It preserves Red Cliffs in its entirety for future generations to recreate and enjoy its beauty, protects the threatened tortoises and other wildlife and more efficiently moves east-west traffic.
Tom Stodola is a volunteer transport driver for Best Friends Animal Sanctuary after retiring from a career in the commercial printing industry. His first presidential election was in 1976. He voted for Gerald Ford and has voted for the Republican candidate in every election through 2020. He and his wife left Southern California to get away from the never-ending cycles of infrastructure issues caused from one highway project to the next. He anticipates that the Northern Corridor Highway will create a similar cycle here, leading to more road construction and, subsequently, inducing more traffic.
Derrick Boudwin, a systems engineer who attended the Washington County Republican Party meeting, shared concerns about the traffic studies that give rise to the Northern Corridor. Modern analysis methods are not being used, he said. Without a clear understanding of the source, destination, and route of traffic, the addition of the Northern Corridor could easily make traffic worse.
Rennie Scranton, a mortgage specialist who lives in Green Springs, spoke on behalf of many homeowners in Washington City when she said that the Northern Corridor Highway should have been disclosed when they bought their houses and lots. This highway is associated with increased wildfire risk and access to neighborhoods that could lead to crime. Many of her neighbors are older, and the Northern Corridor Highway is an awful surprise for them in their final stages of life. It’s outrageous, especially when there are alternatives to consider.
Betty Adamson, a homeowner in Green Springs, referenced studies showing many positives for the Red Hills Parkway Expressway alternative to be selected, including less fire danger, no impact on the desert tortoise, better land and water conservation, less impact on National Register Prehistoric and Historic properties, all while helping to solve our traffic problems.
Adamson asked what data the county had to show that the Northern Corridor Highway is the best option for reducing traffic. The presenters were unable to provide hard data, and instead said that you could get “different data,” just depending on who you ask … which led Adamon to say she felt like the opinions of the community and factual data about the best place for a highway to be built are not being taken seriously by the county.
Cami Boudwin and her husband Derrick are raising their family in Green Springs, where they love to hike in Red Cliffs and enjoy the beautiful and serene land. Her son is a diehard mountain biker who loves riding there. Cami worries about her kids and the safety challenges associated with the Northern Corridor Highway, which she said would make Green Spring Drive completely unsafe for bikes and walking. Traffic would dramatically increase on Green Spring Drive because people would exit the Northern Corridor Highway here to make a bee-line to Costco, Walmart and the commercial area.
David Hatch, Conserve Southwest Utah board member and a lifelong Republican who served as a presidential appointee to George W. Bush, assigned to the United States Department of Agriculture and later with the Organization of American States, was reminded of Teddy Roosevelt, a Republican and a conservationist. David asked, “Why did our party essentially give up the higher ground on environmental issues to the Democrats? I’m not talking about debating climate change. I’m talking about placing the interests of our precious environment first, above the interests of unbridled growth.”
Many at the Washington County Republican Party meeting agreed with David, who said it’s time to rethink transportation in Washington County. No more “bailing wire and bubble gum,” but a complete, fresh and innovative plan that can satisfy the demands of smart growth while protecting the places our community loves. What do we have to lose?
A better alternative
Many Republicans guided by common sense and fiscal responsibility want to see the Red Hills Parkway Expressway alternative receive fair study. It would connect Red Hills Parkway to Interstate 15 with flyovers, helping traffic move east to west above congestion points like Exit 10 and Exit 8. Repeated studies by engineers selected by Washington County show the Expressway would perform better than the Northern Corridor Highway at reducing traffic congestion and travel time at a similar or smaller cost.
At the Washington County Republican Party meeting, county officials ignored the fact that the Expressway design is still in the “concept” phase (10% of the design completed, in comparison to 50% completed for the Northern Corridor Highway) and focused on potential negative impacts to local businesses and Pioneer Park. However, when the design plan is less than 10% complete, these cons are premature and avoidable. The time is ripe for inviting stakeholders and experts to work together to finalize the design of the community-favorite Expressway Alternative to best meet Washington County’s needs while minimizing impacts to the places that are important to us.
If the Northern Corridor Highway is rejected, the county promises more legal action to push it through. But what if they spent their time and resources working collaboratively on a solution that would ease traffic and protect precious open space for the future? The Red Hills Parkway Expressway can be part of the solution integrated with a broader transportation policy that focuses on efficiency and access.
The Republican Party prides itself on independent thinking. Don’t support the Northern Corridor simply because your county commissioners do. Critical thought will create a better outcome for Washington County and our values. Our land is worth protecting.
Submitted by Sarah Clayburn, Washington City; Kathryn Bylsma, St. George; Dr. Kolene Granger, Washington City; Deja Schweitzer, St. George; Tom Stodola, Washington City, Cami and Derrick Boudwin; Washington City, Rennie Scranton, Washington City, Betty Adamson, Washington City, and David Hatch, Ivins.
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