As the election approaches, Utah House District 59 constituents have a choice who to send to the Legislature: Republican incumbent Mike Kohler or Democratic challenger Julie Monahan.And while the candidates’ participation in Heber Valley Chamber of Commerce’s debate on Oct. 17 showed the pair agree on several fronts, their methodology, approaches and outlooks differ.One area where that was evident was in discussion about Utah Department of Transportation’s efforts to build a Heber Valley Corridor, a tense subject among several Heber Valley localities as several potential routes were presented ahead of an environmental impact study — before UDOT delayed the process and said updated traffic models had made those routes outdated. As cities, the county, developers and property owners hold their breaths, no one has given a specific timeline for the project.“The fact that UDOT has drug their feet for years and years is making this a very difficult position,” Monahan said. “What I would like to see for the Heber Valley Corridor is, first of all, a comprehensive plan for transportation that will manage the growth and also prepare us for the Olympics.”Transportation, she added, creates pollution and congestion that diminishes people’s quality of life.“I think that we really need to look at a comprehensive plan that includes not just building roads but having public transit, active transportation, all of the different elements,” she said. “If I were in the legislature, I would provide the leadership to get UDOT at the table, the local officials at the table, and finally hammer this out. Because we do need an answer one way the another, wherever the bypass is going to be and what their studies show about traffic.”Those studies, she said, should include public transportation considerations.Kohler took a different perspective.“I’ve been involved in that for almost 20 years. UDOT’s not the one that’s dragging their feet; it’s actually locals,” he said. “If we can get together, UDOT will bring the money, and we’ll get this done in the next five to 10 years.”The last two or three times when the project’s come this close to fruition, he said, infighting from within different communities has pushed the project back.“I think we’re on a very good course right now,” he said. “The path is pretty much picked and we should have an answer to that within a year.”Last week, UDOT Executive Director Carlos Braceras visited Wasatch County Council amidst frustrations that the bypass had prevented a land conservation project from receiving federal funds.Mike Kohler and Julie Monahan shake hands following the conclusion of their debate on Thursday. Credit: Clayton Steward/Park RecordHis visit was just a week after UDOT officials spoke to Heber City, and, while city officials thanked them for coming, they hoped to keep the line of communication open.On a similar note, Braceras said his department will work to share what they can with the county throughout the process. He said UDOT was working to construct a bypass in 1987 before “the community went nuts” as businesses on Heber City’s Main Street worried they would lose traffic. Now, he said, “it’s going to be painful.”The post State House District 59 challenger wants to push for bypass; incumbent says it’s on track appeared first on Park Record.