The Mountainland Association of Governments is currently monitoring several pieces of legislation from the 2026 Utah General Session that impact transportation governance and state appropriations. These legislative efforts coincide with the ongoing development of the agency's 2027–2055 Regional Transportation Plan for the urbanized area of Utah County.
Legislative Oversight and Appropriations
Legislative monitoring includes various bills affecting state government operations and fiscal management. According to the Mountainland Association of Governments bill tracker, House Bill 0002, which involves new fiscal year supplemental appropriations for the period beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027, was signed by the Governor on March 26, 2026. This bill specifically lists transportation and the Department of Transportation as areas of interest for the agency.
Additionally, House Bill 0003, concerning appropriations adjustments for both the 2025–2026 and 2026–2027 fiscal years, was also signed by the Governor on March 26, 2026. The Mountainland Association of Governments is monitoring this bill due to its impact on transportation and the Department of Transportation. Senate Bill 0003, which addresses current fiscal year supplemental appropriations for the 2025–2026 period, was also signed by the Governor on March 26, 2026, and is being monitored for its implications regarding transportation and the Department of Transportation.
Transit Governance and Education
The agency is also tracking Senate Bill 0197, which focuses on transportation funding and governance amendments. This specific legislation seeks to amend provisions related to the governance of a large public transit district and the financial reporting requirements for such districts. The monitoring of these bills occurs alongside the agency's broader goal of ensuring regional transportation needs are met through coordinated state and local efforts.
Other monitored legislation includes Senate Bill 0002, which deals with public education budget amendments for the 2025–2026 and 2026–2027 fiscal years. While this bill primarily impacts education, it was signed by the Governor on March 26, 2026, and remains part of the agency's comprehensive tracking of the 2026 General Session.
Regional Transportation Planning
These legislative developments occur as the Mountainland Association of Governments continues the development of its 2027–2055 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP). The RTP serves as a multi-modal blueprint for the region's transportation system, covering roadway, transit, and active transportation facilities, such as pedestrian and bicycle paths, through the year 2055.
As part of the ongoing development of the plan, a draft project list was developed by the Mountainland Association of Governments and its partners. This draft list aims to reflect regional goals, technical analysis, and input from key stakeholders. The agency noted that input from recent Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) board discussions and Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) workshops played a significant role in shaping the draft list.
Growth and Data-Driven Planning
The development of the 2027–2055 RTP is a phased process designed to ensure that future investments align with the communities projected to experience significant growth. Feedback gathered during workshops emphasized the need for the draft project list to align clearly with both local and regional goals. The agency utilized a comment map to allow the public to provide feedback on the draft project list during a public comment period that ran from May 4 through June 3, 2026.
To ensure the plan remains a living document, the Mountainland Association of Governments reviews and refines the RTP to stay responsive to changing economic conditions, population growth, and community needs. The agency uses technical and data-driven analysis, including the regional travel demand model (TDM) and the Real Estate Market Model (REMM), to forecast the timing and impact of anticipated growth.
Fiscal Responsibility and Next Steps
The Mountainland Association of Governments manages the RTP as a fiscally constrained plan, meaning it outlines projects that are achievable within reasonably anticipated budgets. This performance-based approach is intended to ensure that regional priorities are transformed into real-world improvements through state and federal funding eligibility.
Looking toward the future, the next steps for the RTP update process include determining criteria for future project phasing, continuing public outreach, gathering feedback on the draft list, and identifying potential funding sources. The agency continues to work with the Utah Department of Transportation, the Utah Transit Authority, and local communities to coordinate these long-term infrastructure goals.
