Public input wanted about future transportation between cities in the Salt Lake Valley

SALT LAKE CITY – Several cities in the Salt Lake Valley are soliciting public assistance in developing new transportation options between communities.

The study is called “Local Link” and looks at population growth in our cities as the projected population in the Salt Lake Valley is expected to double by 2050.

READ: New estimates show Utah is growing with fewer babies and more vans

The cities involved in the study include:

• Salt Lake City
• South Salt Lake
• Millcreek
• Holladay

“What we really want to do is find a way to accommodate this future growth without people relying on cars and give them one more option,” said Jeff Gulden, transportation engineer for Salt Lake’s transportation division City.

Four possible types of transit have been identified:

• tram
• Light rail
• Express bus service
• Improved bus

“We looked at a few different metrics to see how they work,” said Gulden. “We looked at how much drivers would each of them carry, for example, which is different for all four.”

READ: Additional tracking speeds up tram traffic between Sugar House, South Salt Lake

They also looked at the environmental impact at the cost of each option.

“This is something we need to think about now so that we can program it and build it in the years to come,” said Gulden.

The study looks at two main routes on Highland Drive and 1300 East, extending from 2100 South in Sugar House to 4500 South in Holladay.

Salt Lake City Transportation Division

Four Salt Lake Valley cities want residents to weigh transportation plans between communities.

“We really want the public to help us decide which of these options the public would prefer, which of these options would be best for the communities,” said Gulden.

If you live in one of these cities, you can help choose the option that you think is best by visiting the Local Link Studies website which will be published by April 22nd. Here you can make your voice heard.