Utah sends $95 million to 18 trail projects as it launches ambitious statewide network plan

SOUTH SALT LAKE — Stephanie Tomlin points toward 3900 South while standing along the Jordan Parkway Trail on a warm, sunny Thursday morning.

This section of road is where a 1.4-mile “east-west trail” along the road is planned. The idea is that the trail will connect West Temple eastward with the popular Jordan River Trail, so users can avoid the busy I-15 highway intersections in between.

“This is definitely a pivotal project. We want to build more projects like this,” says Tomlin, director of the Utah Department of Transportation’s trails division. “I would say this really gives people a real transportation option.”

UDOT announced Thursday that the state is directing $10 million in new state funds toward completing the project. Construction could begin as early as next year.

The broader vision is to have the trail run “east to west,” connecting multiple communities in 3900 South/4100 South and transit stations in the central part of the Salt Lake Valley, she adds.

Its connection along the Jordan River Parkway would then allow users to travel to Davis County or Utah County without going out of the way.

It is also one of thirteen “build-ready” trail projects that have received funding through the $95 million the Utah Legislature approved for a future trail network connecting the state. Utah Transportation Commission officials also advised:

• $14 million for the Bingham Creek Trail, a 6.3-mile trail that connects the Jordan River Parkway Trail to Bingham Creek Regional Park in Daybreak and the Mountain View Corridor Trail in Salt Lake County.

• $12.5 million to fill a 0.7-mile gap in the Colorado River Trail along state Route 128 in Moab.

• $8.8 million for a 3-mile trail extension to connect the Moab Canyon Pathway with the planned Utahraptor State Park visitor center.

• $8.7 million for a new separate crossing for safer trail crossing at 2050 North and state Route 108 in Davis County, filling a gap in the trail. The project will also complete connections to the 1800 North Trail and the Denver & Rio Grande Trail in the area.

• $8 million for a 1.8-mile paved trail from the Heber City train station to 1200 South, and from state route 113 to the Deer Creek trail in Soldier Hollow, using the existing Heber Valley Railroad alignment.

• $7 million for a 1.5-mile shared-use path along the Welby Jacobs Canal Trail from 12600 South to 13800 South in Riverton. It would include a separate crossing along 13400 South.

• $7 million for a separate 5-mile trail from downtown Orderville to Mt. Carmel Junction in Kane County. The project will be a “critical” segment in a network connecting Zion and Bryce Canyon national parks.

• $5 million for a 2.1-mile trail from I-15 to the Utah Lakeshore Trail on the Vineyard.

• $4.5 million for a new 1.9-mile trail from 500 North to US 40 in Vernal, following sections of the Steinaker Service Canal and 500 North.

• $4 million for a 1.8-mile trail connecting Ridgeline High School to the Blackhawk Soccer Complex in Cache Valley, following the Blacksmith Fork River. It would also connect to the Logan River Walk trail.

• $3 million for a 0.8-mile trail between Bear Lake Marina and Broad Hollow Road in Rich County.

• $600,000 for a 0.5-mile trail along 1300 West in Bluffdale, from a future separate railroad crossing to the nearby Jordan River Parkway Trail.

All 13 projects were selected after an intensive review of more than 160 projects brought to UDOT’s attention last year, according to Tomlin.

She explained that UDOT deliberately focused on projects that could fill gaps in existing trails in this initial round of funding. Many were already well planned and dealt with difficult barriers such as train tracks, roads or bodies of water.

Like the 3900 Sul project, construction could begin as early as 2025 for the other 12 projects.

“UDOT is excited to come in and provide additional funding to get them over the finish line and make sure (local communities) have enough funding to make this happen and get them built,” Tomlin said, explaining that most of the projects connect to public transit or important community amenities.

Another $2.1 million went toward planning five projects across the state that would add another 27 miles of trails, UDOT also announced Thursday. These are desired projects, but they remain very early in the design process.

The initial funding is the first step in a long process that will ultimately unite the state regions. Governor Spencer Cox and UDOT Director Carlos Braceras announced ambitious trail network project in 2022saying they would like to connect all of the regional trail networks that cities and counties have built over the years.

Utah Legislature allocated $45 million in one-time funds last year and establish the framework for the program to receive up to $45 million in ongoing funding each year. Design for larger projects is expected to increase this year, according to UDOT.

The idea is to create another alternative travel route for the growing state, while also adding new recreational opportunities.

“These efforts are bringing people together,” Braceras said in a statement. “We want to do our part by connecting communities through a state-funded program that will build trails as part of the state’s transportation system.”