Services

Strategic Planning, Community Relations, Revenue Diversification

Client

Bonneville Resource Conservation Development Council

Objectives

To develop pedestrian and bicycle pathway 1) North and South across I-80 in the mouth of Parleys Canyon AND 2) East and West across I-215 from Parleys Canyon into Parleys Historic Nature Area. The larger goal has been to connect the Bonneville Shoreline Trail and remove a barrier to linking the Summit County Rail Trail with the Jordan River Parkway.

Barriers

Substantial physical and man-made barriers, difficult to grasp concept, lack of forum for coordination, unprecedented partnership, absence of available funding.

Stakeholders

Community councils within 5 miles of project, UDOT, Salt Lake City and County, bicycle and trail advocacy groups, recreation businesses,

Strategy and Activities

Citizen steering committee with Klass Strategies as facilitator. Committee met twice per month on average for 4 years. Consultant devoted 2,000 hours to this project. Expressions of support led to adoption of project by UDOT. Media campaign including print, radio and television coverage. Statewide coalition of advocacy groups formed to lobby for new state level bridges and tunnels trail connection program. Drafted and secured major federal grant. Lobbied successfully with UDOT, Salt Lake County and City to appropriate matching funds.&

Revenue Generated

$3.4 million total. $1 million for a tunnel became converted to funding for a third bridge.

Results

Three bridges and a paved connecting pathway with engineered steel and concrete support and retaining walls span Parley's Canyon mouth north to south and east to west.  It is estimated that over 200,000 bicycle and pedestrian trips have been made over the Crossing since August 1999. Seven years later, this is considered as the largest and most ambitious bicycle and pedestrian transportation project in the state of Utah to date.