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UDOT Active Transportation Plan Will Look at SR 224, 248, and Highway 189 Corridors

Claire Wiley for PCMC

The Utah Department of Transportation is conducting a public input period for future bike lanes, trails, multi-use paths, and sidewalks as part of its Active Transportation Plan. The SR 224, 248 and Highway 189 corridors will be part of that process.

 

The public comment period for UDOT’s Active Transportation Plan runs until August 28th and will specifically look at human-powered methods of getting around. Active transportation is considered any non-motorized method of travel, like walking or biking.

 

UDOT Active Transportation Manager Heidi Goedhart said the plan is part of a greater four year cycle to look at the department’s wide-ranging transportation master plan.

 

“Every four years, UDOT does a long-range plan and this is a little bit of a precursor to that planning effort,” Goedhart said. “We want to understand where we might need to give more time and attention in smaller communities or along the Wasatch Front or within our metropolitan areas as part of that planning process. This gives us a little bit of a sneak peek to see where we might need to commit some more resources for planning, either on the long-range plan level or to put investment into local plans.”

 

UDOT controls all state roads, highways, and interstates in Utah. Residential and city streets fall under the jurisdiction of the city or town they are in.

 

In the Wasatch Back, UDOT’s Active Transportation Plan encompasses major regional transit corridors like SR 224, 248, Highway 189, and Interstate 80. If you think those areas could use more bike paths, sidewalks, or car-free options, UDOT wants to hear it.

 

Park City has been implementing a walkability plan of their own since 2007 and UDOT’s efforts could provide greater active transportation connectivity in the region.

 

Goedhart said active transportation is an essential part of the department’s greater vision for how people move around the state.  

 

“Being able to walk and bike and access transit and use scooters and get to destinations within your community or to access school and work are really kind of an important, but smaller component of our transportation system as a whole,” said Goedhart. “At UDOT, we really want to understand community needs for more bike lanes, trails, multi-use pathways, crosswalks, pedestrian bridges and sidewalks across the state.”

 

Goedhart said the options aren’t limited to major population areas either. She said if there’s a need expressed by the public to get from one place to another, UDOT is willing to look into it.

 

“If people are driving from point A to point B, there could definitely be a desire for active transportation trails or bike lanes along that further stretch,” she said.

 

Comments to UDOT on active transportation can be submitted online, via email to planning@utah.gov, or by calling 385-360-1900.

Sean Higgins covers all things Park City and is the Saturday Weekend Edition host at KPCW. Sean spent the first five years of his journalism career covering World Cup skiing for Ski Racing Media here in Utah and served as Senior Editor until January 2020. As Senior Editor, he managed the day-to-day news section of skiracing.com, as well as produced and hosted Ski Racing’s weekly podcast. During his tenure with Ski Racing Media, he was also a field reporter for NBC Sports, covering events in Europe.