GOAL: Improve access to the Parkway and enhance the Parkway’s role as a regional transportation corridor
The Jordan River Trail is a key regional transportation route connecting communities along the Wasatch Front. Enhancing its role as a transportation corridor will be critical to reducing traffic congestion, improving air quality, promoting public health, and increasing quality of life. Improving access to the Jordan River Parkway in general is also important because it is a popular destination. The following goals and strategies aim to increase access to the Jordan River Trail and Parkway by improving east-west active transportation connections, enhancing UTA transit stops, ensuring access to the Parkway from all
areas of the region, increasing trailhead visibility, and creating targeted programs that raise the public’s awareness of the Jordan River Trail.
1. INTEGRATE THE JORDAN RIVER TRAIL SYSTEM INTO THE REGIONAL ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
While the Jordan River Trail plays a large role in the regional active transportation system, there are several areas of opportunity to increase
connections and some significant barriers to circulation that should be addressed. Adding connections to regional trails was one of the
most popular transportation improvements identified by the 2020 Blueprint Jordan River Refresh Survey. Developing more east-west
connections from neighboring communities and regional transportation nodes, such as TRAX stations, will support the use of active and public
transportation and enhance accessibility for all.
STRATEGIES:
- Work with municipalities to identify, develop, improve, and implement bicycle facilities along major east-west roads to key trail access points.
- Coordinate with municipalities as they develop or update Active Transportation Plans.
- Collaborate with municipalities to develop and implement connectivity standards to enhance transportation networks to and from the
Jordan River Trail. This could include requiring the implementation of bike lanes and pathways through developments, developing pedestrian
connections through the end of cul-de-sacs or roads that back to the Jordan River, or providing easements to the trail in new developments.
i. Use the Utah Street Connectivity Guide to inform transportation connectivity standards. - Develop the Jordan River Parkway Trail System on both sides of the river wherever possible.
- Improve at-grade intersections to ensure efficiency and safety for Pathway users, including adding crosswalks and high visibility signage
where needed. - Monitor emerging recreation and transportation trends and devices including e-bikes, e-scooters, and other micro-mobility devices to assess their impact and suitability for use on the Jordan River Trail. Refer to the National Association of City Transportation Officials’ Shared Active
Transportation Guidelines as a starting point for discussions. - Conduct a gap analysis of existing active transportation facilities within a one-mile radius of the Jordan River Trail to determine where new or
improved bicycle and walking facilities are needed. - Work with the County, municipalities, and various canal owners to develop connections along major intersecting canals, such as the Surplus Canal
2. INCREASE TRAILHEAD VISIBILITY TO PROMOTE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION FOR EVERYDAY ACTIVITIES
Many of the Jordan River’s trailheads are not well advertised or lack signage, making it difficult for those wishing to use the trail find key access points. Developing online communications, via apps and maps, and on-the-ground signage can help users find trail access points.
STRATEGIES:
- Design and implement additional trailhead amenities that will improve the active transportation users’ comfort, including maintaining year-around restrooms, lighting, parking, maps, and wayfinding signage to nearby destinations and trails.
- Provide trailheads near key hubs for active transportation.
- Ensure that trailheads are labeled correctly on map apps, such as Google Maps and Apple Maps, as well as on Parkway maps. Include trailhead information that is correct and easy to find, such as hours and bathroom facilities.
- Provide adequate parking for commuters at major trailheads and incorporate additional small parking lots in areas with high
user volumes. - Expand the availability of AC Level 2 electric vehicle charging at all trailheads and parking lots, and provide signage and online information to promote the convenience of charging while enjoying Jordan River Parkway activities.
- Install rapid charging such as DC Fast Charging at popular parks and destinations, and consider charging facilities for e-bikes and other electric assistive mobility devices.
3. PROMOTE NON-AUTOMOBILE COMMUTES THROUGH THE JORDAN RIVER PARKWAY
In 2020, driving was the most common way that visitors accessed the Jordan River Parkway but biking and walking followed close behind. Increasing commuters’ awareness of the Jordan River Trail and the transportation options available to them through organized events and programs throughout the corridor, online visibility of the trail in apps and maps, and planning and coordination with community organizations can promote the Jordan River Trail as a regional commuting route.
STRATEGIES:
- Use “Golden Spoke” language and branding in marketing campaigns and wayfinding.
- Plan and host an annual bike to work day that focuses on the Jordan River Trail in coordination with transportation partners like the Wasatch Front Regional Council, Mountainland Association of Governments, and Utah Department of Transportation.
i. Example: Once a year, the Denver Regional Council of Governments organizes a Bike to Work Day to encourage commuters in the Denver region to bike to work, helping them save money on their commutes, improve their health, lower stress levels, reduce traffic congestion, and improve air quality. - Continue to improve and provide safe bicycle and pedestrian crossings that are at-grade and grade separated to meet
national and local standards.
4. INTEGRATE THE TRANSIT NETWORK AND THE JORDAN RIVER TRAIL SYSTEM NETWORK TO ENHANCE TRANSIT ACCESS TO THE RIVER
Collaborating with UTA to design seamless first-last mile connections to transit stations near the trail will promote the Jordan River Trail as a transportation asset and make it easier for those wishing to travel using multiple modes. Improvements to public transportation access is particularly important to lower-income individuals and families, according to the 2020 Blueprint Refresh Survey.
STRATEGIES:
- Work with UTA to provide additional and improved transit amenities near or within the Jordan River Parkway. Improvements could include amenities such as equipment lockers, bike storage, and parking.
- Incorporate these improvements into plans to expand non-motorized access to transit stops.
- Work with UTA to incorporate Jordan River Trail connectivity into UTA Apps and Plans.
- Develop comfortable and convenient active transportation connections to high-capacity transit stations including Frontrunner, TRAX, and BRT.
i. Refer to the National Association of City Transportation Officials Urban Street Design Guide for best practices.
5. ENSURE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO TRAILS AND PATHWAYS
Providing equitable access to the Jordan River Trail ensures that all community members — regardless of their demographic characteristics, place of residency, income level, or physical and mental abilities — can use and enjoy the trail. As the Salt Lake valley continues to develop and grow, it is important to ensure that connections to the Jordan River Trail grow as well.
STRATEGIES:
- Use trails and pathways to link neighborhoods to community amenities and activity centers, such as schools, parks, public facilities, retail, and downtown.
- Create connections to the Jordan River Trail in lower income neighborhoods that may be more reliant on walking, biking, or transit to meet their daily transportation needs.
- Evaluate opportunities to correct sections of trail that do not meet Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.
6. DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN COUNTING METHODOLOGY TO TRACK PROGRESS AND QUANTIFY BENEFITS
Adequately measuring active transportation is an essential element in creating a broader culture of bicycling and walking. Tracking active transportation criteria including pedestrian/bicycling demand, commute to work mode share, funds invested in facilities and programs, number of miles of facilities constructed, and collision and health data can help to track the benefits of bicycling and walking within a community while leveraging additional investment in the system.
STRATEGIES:
- Develop a comprehensive trail count program that utilizes permanent counters and other external data sources, such as Strava and Streetlight, to better understand trail usage through the corridor.
i. Incorporate promising elements from trail count programs such as the Automatic Count Program in Arlington County, Virginia; Trail Count Strategies used by the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition; and the Federal Highway Administration Bicycle-Pedestrian Count Technology Pilot Project. - Develop an annual report that highlights economic benefits, number of trips, public health benefits, and progress of regional active transportation efforts along the Jordan River Trail.
- Conduct an annual or bi-annual citizen survey to collect input on trail needs, priority, and cities’ performance on trail maintenance.
- Develop a robust geographic information systems database to ensure essential pathway and trail management information is up-to-date and easily accessible to the public.
GOAL: Ensure that development highlights the Jordan River and enhances the Parkway
New development should be carefully planned, designed, and built to provide a net-positive impact on the Jordan River Parkway. Existing structures and landscapes should be evaluated for improvements that could be made during redevelopment or expansion. Clustering buildings and infrastructure and focusing on the River in site design, orientation, and branding decisions will contribute to a deeply rooted identity throughout the Parkway and encourage visitors and neighbors to delight in all the Parkway has to offer. Other sections in the action plan highlight how development can positively or negatively
impact water quality, ecosystem function, and more. The Best Practices for Riverfront Communities guide provides additional considerations for land use decisions.
1. CLUSTER DEVELOPMENT IN THE PARKWAY INTO RIVER VILLAGE CENTERS TO REDUCE IMPACTS ON THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AND CREATE SYNERGISTIC COMMERCIAL BENEFITS
Clustering development involves allowing higher-intensity development in some areas while preserving or protecting other areas as natural or recreational open space and river buffers. Exploring opportunities for river-oriented development along transportation nodes will create river and transit-oriented development opportunities, encourage alternate forms of transportation, and activate the Parkway. Higher density development concentrated in clusters can help with housing and commercial affordability, environmental impacts, and utility and maintenance costs compared to more dispersed alternatives. Clustering is best achieved if it is incorporated into the planning process early on so that landowners, developers, and community interests can collaborate and explore a variety of options. However, a single property owner can also decide to site a building further from the River while conserving or restoring the rest of their land.
STRATEGIES:
- Require or encourage clustered development in local government land use codes.
- Coordinate with cities and developers about development in or near the Parkway.
- Explore opportunities for river-oriented development in aging commercial areas, brownfields, and superfund sites.
i. Public mapping completed in the 2020 Blueprint Jordan River Survey (Reference Document 3) highlights potential locations for river centers that were identified by members of the public during the 2020 Blueprint Jordan River Refresh survey.
ii. Significant redevelopment opportunities may be available at the Rocky Mountain Power Campus and Utah State Fairgrounds in Salt Lake City. - Encourage mixed-use and flexible-use development in river centers.
- Identify additional incentives and regulations such as Transfer of Development Rights (TDR) programs to promote clustering.
- Provide employment, population, and tax base in developed areas to help maintain the Parkway and keep taxes low for each municipality.
2. FOSTER VILLAGE CENTER IDENTITY AND BRANDING THAT HIGHLIGHTS THE RIVER AND COMPATIBLE USES
Cities and businesses along the Parkway have a unique opportunity to brand village centers and create places that will be enjoyed and remembered. Building on unique local identities while providing amenities will enhance village centers in the Parkway and provide additional opportunities for people to stay and play. Branded village centers from the north shore of Utah Lake, Thanksgiving Point, Bluffdale, Riverton, Sandy, South Jordan, Midvale, Taylorsville, and into Salt Lake City provide great opportunities to add value and recognition to the river corridor.
STRATEGIES:
- Brand and clearly define river centers and facilitate appropriate uses. Branded villages should represent the unique differences in each city or district as well as the Jordan River Parkway as a whole.
- Promote recreation-oriented businesses which cater to uses like biking, jogging, hiking, wildlife viewing, paddling, roller skating, and horseback riding.
- Encourage planners and developers in the Point of the Mountain region, including the state prison site redevelopment area, to consider the River as an amenity as they shape the future of the area.
- Promote dining, lodging, and other supporting businesses that promote pedestrian activity.
3. ORIENT WATERFRONT DEVELOPMENT TOWARDS THE RIVER
Some older developments disregard the Jordan River by placing impenetrable fences and the windowless backsides of warehouse or commercial buildings abutting the river. If the River is to be recognized and cherished, all new waterfront development and redevelopment should be oriented towards the river. The benefits of river-oriented development include improved quality of life for residents; better experiences for visitors, customers, and employees; and a safer and more engaging waterfront.
STRATEGIES:
- Orient active uses toward the river.
i. Housing should face the river or provide active spaces such as porches and yard areas that overlook the river.
ii. Provide river access, boardwalks, seating, shading and other outdoor amenities in mixed-use and commercial developments on both sides of the river. Providing basic facilities creates opportunities to draw customers in from the Parkway and strengthens a civic-oriented reputation.
iii. Provide public amenities and gathering places for the entire valley and communities to use and enjoy. - Maintain visibility and access to the River from the property or street where possible. Visibility should also be maintained
indoors. - Encourage architectural styles that are consistent and highlight unique elements of the region and landscapes within the Parkway.
- Respect existing residential neighborhoods and communities while improving access and visibility to the river.
- Emphasize walkability to minimize parking demand in village centers along the river.
- Avoid and remove expansive walls, chain link fences, and razor wire near the River. Ensure proper physical and visual buffers and visually pleasing mitigation strategies are used to minimize the impact of industrial uses and stored material, equipment, and trailers.
- Where parking and vehicular circulation fronts the River, incorporate trees, green infrastructure, and active transportation into the design.
GOAL: Promote harmony between infastructure and river functions
Hundreds of bridges, powerlines, and pipelines pass through the Jordan River Parkway as it bisects the Wasatch Front. The design and placement of infrastructure can significantly reduce its visual and ecological impacts. River crossings also present an opportunity to highlight the Jordan River and the ecological and recreational services it provides.
1. IMPROVE THE VISIBILITY AND RECOGNITION OF THE JORDAN RIVER AT TRANSPORTATION
CROSSINGS
Thousands of Utahns cross over the Jordan River every day, but many may not think about or even recognize the presence of the River. Over the years several different styles of signs and monuments have been provided along the River corridor and at access points, but they are not consistent and don’t consistently brand the River corridor in a meaningful and memorable way. Ensuring that the River is recognized with uniform markings and signage at each roadway crossing has the potential to draw attention to the River and encourage access and stewardship.
STRATEGIES:
- Provide uniform iconic branded monuments and other design elements such as fences and barriers at all crossings and access points.
- Use art, interpretive signage, and other educational materials to activate River crossings and adjacent areas, when appropriate.
- Consider recognition of the River early in the planning and design process for new bridges and rebuilds.
- Enhance roadway crossings using branded paving material, pedestrian sidewalks with colored concrete, stamped logos,
decorative bridge railings, and lighting to bring attention to the River and pedestrian access points. - Explore state and regional funding sources for River crossing signage. Consider reviving the bill to install consistent,
attractive signs, fences, and barriers along the Jordan River in the Utah State Legislature.
2. IMPROVE THE INFRASTRUCTURE NEAR AND OVER THE RIVER TO BE MORE RIVER-FRIENDLY
Roadways, rail lines, utilities, and other infrastructure networks pass through the Jordan River Parkway. Prioritizing the natural and recreational functions of the River in the design, construction, and maintenance of infrastructure will improve conditions for wildlife, visitors, and nearby residents.
STRATEGIES:
- Encourage visually pleasing bridge design.
- Consider aquatic organisms, ecological functions, and flooding impacts in the site selection and design of infrastructure and utility crossings. All utility easements should be evaluated for future access and visibility to the River.
- Share rights of way between utilities, roadways, rail lines, and other infrastructure.
- Space pylons at least 25 feet apart to allow for rowing in areas where River widths are compatible with rowing. Identify opportunities to replace older bridges to meet this standard.
- Minimize the impacts of infrastructure construction and maintenance on ecosystems and communities.
