The proponents of an alternative proposal to the Mountainview Corridor are on the move.

A composite of Lehi City leaders, residents and a grassroots organization called Citizens Organized for Smarter Transportation (COST), is eager to present its freeway plan as it contrasts with the ideas reviewed in UDOT's Mountainview Corridor EIS draft, released Wednesday.

The group began Wednesday morning with a press rally at 2100 North in Lehi, where UDOT proposes to connect Mountainview Corridor with Interstate 15.

Bundled against 50-degree weather, more than 100 people gathered outside the Lehi Pointe Meadow Branch Library at 2100 North to hear a "better plan."

"We are all here today because we care about the city we live in," land developer David Klock said. "We care so much that we are willing to take a stand against a flawed UDOT plan to put a 400-foot wide freeway right here on 2100 North."

An organizational leader for COST, Klock compared the UDOT study with Lehi's 4800 North study.

"Number one, we knew today the draft EIS was coming out and we wanted to make sure UDOT was aware that our alternative clearly shows a better way," Klock said.

The alternative proposal includes a freeway serving east-west traffic at 4800 North near the Point of the Mountain and two boulevards at 1000 South and 1900 South for east-west traffic in south Lehi.

He said the 4800 North proposal connecting the Mountainview Corridor on the west side of Utah Valley with I-15 would require 85 percent fewer relocations, cost 33 percent less, impact 85 percent fewer wetland acreage, and incorporate a variety of mass transit options "which is sadly lacking in the UDOT proposal." Lehi City leaders at the rally called for public input on UDOT's draft of its Mountainview Corridor Environmental Impact Study.

"I need to reiterate that no final decisions have been made," said city administrator Jamie Davidson. "We are in the comment period and now is the time for those opposed to 2100 North as a freeway to speak."

Lehi Councilman Stephen Holbrook asked the audience to look west to the farm fields and to imagine a 650-foot wide freeway cutting across from Redwood Road east to I-15. The freeway as proposed could possibly cut through the branch library where the rally was held and a neighboring church.

"Just look at the social impact," said Councilman James Dixon. "Looking at this spot right here if a freeway were to be built here."

Wednesday night, Klock presented the Lehi alternative to the Utah Valley Sierra Forum.

"We hope to share it with other communities so other residents can see it," Klock said. "Let us come and explain so at least they can understand this better."

"There are a lot of differences between the two proposals," Klock said. "Bridges for example, UDOT's bridge, with its pylons, is set low and will interfere with wildlife. The Lehi proposal will be a high bridge with an arch so birds can fly under the bridge."

He said while UDOT representatives have told him the proposed 4800 North bridge would cost more, his plan would not require a large interchange, a "spaghetti bowl," to connect I-15, thereby reducing the expense.

Approximately one third of the 22 people in the audience were reporters or invited guests. Mark Heileson, Sierra Club regional representative, also visited with the forum and introduced the speaker.

"This group (COST) has done a tremendous job in Utah County," Heileson said.

An affiliate organization of the Sierra Club Utah Chapter, the Utah Valley Sierra Forum meets the third Wednesday of each month at the Provo City Public Library.

Usually 15-35 of its members attend the monthly educational and decision-making meetings, according to forum chairman Jim Westwater.

Westwater said he had invited UDOT in September to their small meeting to defend their Lehi 2100 North freeway proposal.

"They declined saying they did not have enough time to prepare," he said.

UDOT spokesman Nile Easton said during a phone interview they declined because of a time conflict.

"Our Mountainview Corridor team is presenting to the Taylorsville Council tonight," he said. "We've had open dialogue all along and we've continued to. Right now with the release of the EIS, we are very busy presenting and Taylorsville is first on the schedule."

UDOT has received the Lehi City alternative study for 4800 North and will be studying it over the next several weeks.

"If it is a reasonable alternative, we would then have to do a supplemental EIS and include it there," Easton said.

He added that there wasn't a projected timeline for the Lehi study response.

"We haven't even determined that because we don't know if we'll need one," he said.