New Transportation Commission chairman, St. George resident Zeenati, speaks on local priorities

St. George resident Naghi Zeenati was appointed to be the chairman of the Utah Transportation Commission by Gov. Gary Herbert, June 21, 2018 | Composite image. Zeenati photo courtesy of the Utah Governor's Office, St. George News

ST. GEORGE – St. George resident Naghi Zeenati, an area real estate and development professional, was appointed last month by Gov. Gary Herbert to be the chairman of the Utah State Transportation Commission.

The owner of Realty Express and a current and former member of many community groups in Southern Utah, Zeenati has served on the Transportation Commission since 2013. He now replaces outgoing chair J. Kent Millington, whose term of service has expired.

It is an honor and a privilege to be appointed by our dear Governor and confirmed by the Senate to serve as the Chair for the Commission,” Zeenati said in an email to St. George News. “All seven of us in the Commission work as a united and unified team to advise and support UDOT, which is considered to be the best transportation department in the states.”

The Utah State Transportation Commission is an independent advisory body that works with the Utah Department of Transportation and prioritizes state-wide transportation projects and decides how funds allocated for transportation by the state legislature are spent.

Utah State Transportation Commissioner Naghi Zeenati speaks at the South Cedar Interchange grand opening, Cedar City, Utah, Oct. 24, 2014 | Photo by Carin Miller, St. George News, KCSG-TV

One of the commission’s recent actions related to Southern Utah was voting to fund a potential transit route between Springdale and St. George to the tune of $15 million.

Read more: UDOT commits $15M to explore, implement Springdale-St. George transit route

As a member of the commission, Zeenati represents the interests of Washington, Iron, Kane, Garfield, Beaver, San Juan, Grand, Carbon, Emery, Millard, Piute, Sanpete, Sevier and Wayne counties.

As to Southern Utah, Zeenati said the biggest issues moving into the future are congestion and safety, particularly when considering Washington County’s continuing growth and tourist visitation.

“With more people wanting to travel between more destinations, our existing transportation system will become congested very quickly without additional roads, transit systems, and active transportation services,” Zeenati said. “Safety is always a concern to transportation planners and professionals. We are striving to reduce fatal and serious injuries in every project we undertake. Zero Fatalities is our goal.”

Zeenati also supports the need for the proposed “northern corridor” and considers it to be “an integral piece of solving Southern Utah’s biggest transportation challenge.”

Without (the) Northern Corridor, stifling congestion would be accelerated at Green Springs, Telegraph Road, and on St. George Boulevard, Red Hills Parkway, Red Cliffs Drive, and (Interstate 15),” he said.

The northern corridor would connect Washington Parkway to Red Hills Parkway and provide a link between the western part of the county and I-15 through the Washington Parkway/Exit 13 interchange.

While long-touted by local and state road planners as a much needed addition to Southern Utah’s transportation infrastructure, the proposal has drawn opposition from environmental advocates due to its planned route cutting through a part of the protected Red Cliffs Desert Reserve.

Read more: House committee passes bill creating ‘northern corridor’ through tortoise reserve

Those who have worked with Zeenati in his capacity as a member of the commission say they’re happy to see him made the new chair.

He’s a very gracious man,” said Myron Lee, director of the Dixie Metropolitan Planning Organization. “He’s been very diligent in trying to understand the transportation world in the state. … His being appointed chair of that commission is a great for Utah.”

Kevin Kitchen, a spokesman for the Utah Department of Transportation, said working with the Transportation Commission is “really a pleasure” and that the commissioners “really trust” UDOT.

The commissioners are also great sources for local input from the areas they represent, Kitchen said, adding that Zeenati is an excellent advocate for Southern Utah.

Washington County Commissioner Zachary Renstrom said Zeenati is very concerned about getting feedback from the public on transportation projects and is very respectful of those he works with and those who share their opinions with him.

As the chair (of the commission), I think we’ll do very well,” Renstrom said. “I’m thrilled with that.”

Zeenati is a nationalized U.S. citizen born in Iran who came to the country in the late 1970s. He moved to St. George from California in 1991 and married Louise Gardner of St. George two years later.

The two have been active volunteers with the Huntsman World Senior Games since that time. He has also been a captain of the Community Action Team for the St. George Police Department and a board member of the Children’s Justice Center. Zeenati also provides volunteer translation services for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

“This beautiful state and her wonderful citizens have given me more than I deserve, so I am giving back as much as I can by serving others and it has been a pure joy!” Zeenati said.

Ed. note: It was reported in error that Naghi Zeenati had been the president of a local chapter of the Kiwanis Club. He previously served as the president of the club in Rohnert Park-Cotati, California. 

Email: [email protected]

Twitter: @MoriKessler

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2018, all rights reserved.

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