The Wasatch Front boasts a spectacular natural environment, offering a high quality of life and unparalleled access to outdoor recreation. Our economy is strong and diverse, and our region is home to excellent institutions of higher education, a thriving technology sector, and some of the best medical research and care facilities in the Intermountain West. It’s no wonder that so many people are coming to Northern Utah to live, work, play, and raise families.

But our abundant natural and societal assets are also the source of our greatest challenges. The Wasatch Front region has experienced unprecedented growth over the past few years, leading to a crisis in the availability and affordability of housing. Our roads and freeways are becoming more congested, and our environmental challenges – dwindling water supply, poor air quality, and others – are worsening.

The State of Utah, our Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPOs), and local governments along the Wasatch Front are acting decisively to address these significant and interconnected challenges. Good planning practices and strong expertise in responding to issues of rapid community growth and change are critical in guiding our region toward a future that will support an increasing population while maintaining our economic prosperity and equality of opportunity, protecting our cherished open spaces and public lands, and sustaining a healthy natural environment.