The Sunnyside Avenue Safety Improvement projects are on hold, due to previous and pending state legislation. More information will be available in summer 2026.
Overview
Salt Lake City is proposing two separate projects on Sunnyside Avenue with the goal of improving street safety.
Project 1: Citizen requested safety improvements
As part of the Capital Improvement Program for 2022-2023, the City Council funded a constituent request for transportation safety improvements on Sunnyside Ave. The project goals are to create a safer street crossing, to make it easier to walk and bike, and to beautify Sunnyside Ave with green spaces and landscaping.
The original proposed project includes:
- A new landscaped median on Sunnyside Ave at 1400 East.
- A crosswalk across Sunnyside Ave at 1400 East with flashing lights (RRFBs) that flash when someone is crossing.
- New streetlight on the southwest corner of 1400 East and Sunnyside Ave.
- A raised crosswalk across 1400 East and a bulb-out on the southwest corner at the intersection with Sunnyside Ave.
- A lane reconfiguration on Sunnyside Ave between Guardsman Way and 1400 East. One westbound vehicle travel lane would be converted to a wide buffered bike lane.
We made changes to the previously presented project concept:
- The 1400 East bulb-out will be on the southwest corner instead of the southeast corner.
- The lane reconfiguration on Sunnyside Ave between Guardsman Way and 1400 East was removed.
The project on Sunnyside Ave near 1400 East is on hold due to state legislation.
What we heard from the community
Key takeaways from the survey:
- Biking on Sunnyside Ave was seen as unsafe or very unsafe by most respondents. In contrast, driving and walking were rated as safe or very safe by most respondents.
- About three fourths of respondents were supportive of new crosswalks. Some commented they wanted an overhead signal instead of the flashing crosswalk signs or preferred a different location along Sunnyside Ave.
- A little under half of survey respondents supported the proposed westbound lane reconfiguration to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety. Those opposed (about 4 in 10 survey respondents) were concerned about increased traffic congestion on Sunnyside Ave, and traffic diverting to 900 South instead.
View the full outreach report.
Lane reconfiguration traffic analysis
To further evaluate the lane reconfiguration, the Salt Lake City Transportation Division hired a consultant to complete a traffic analysis. Using modeling software, the consultant estimated automobile delay, and how many cars would be stopped near traffic lights, if one of the westbound vehicle travel lanes was replaced with a bike lane between Guardsman Way and 1400 East. The analysis estimated long queues during the peak travel times, even with mitigations.
Based upon this analysis, the Transportation Division decided to remove the lane reconfiguration from project 1.
Design concept
The proposed lane reconfiguration between Guardsman Way and 1400 East would convert one westbound vehicle travel lane to a buffered bike lane. Eastbound travel lanes would remain the same as they currently exist.
Project 2: Safety improvements near Amanda Avenue
In addition to the constituent funded project focusing on 1400 East, Rowland Hall contributed funds for pedestrian safety improvements and traffic calming on Sunnyside Ave near their McCarthey Campus as part of a development agreement.
A constituent has applied to build a landscaped median and crosswalk on Sunnyside Ave near Amanda Ave through the 2026-2027 Capital Improvement Program. The City Council will decide whether or not to fund the requested landscaped median in fall 2026.
What we heard from the community
From the survey, a pedestrian crosswalk with flashing crosswalk signs (RRFBs) was the most selected future improvement, followed by a westbound protected bike lane, and a speed table or raised crosswalk.
Timeline
Summer 2024 to Fall 2024: Public outreach
Winter 2025 to Summer 2026: Projects on hold due to state legislation
Frequently asked questions
Why are the projects happening?
A resident applied for transportation safety improvements on Sunnyside Ave through the City’s Capital Improvement Program. Their application was reviewed and approved for funding by the City Council.
The Constituent Capital Improvement Program is an opportunity for constituents to work with their community councils to request funding for projects within the City. For more information, please visit the program webpage.
In addition to the constituent funded project, Rowland Hall contributed funds to the City for improvements near their campus on Sunnyside Ave, which will be expanded soon.
Why are the projects on hold?
In 2025, the Utah Legislature passed SB195, which requires Salt Lake City and the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) to study past and future changes on Salt Lake City streets before implementing a highway reduction strategy. In 2026, additional legislation is under development and includes new requirements for highway reduction strategies. Until legislation is finalized, the projects are on hold. The Transportation Division will have more information by summer 2026.
Why was the lane reconfiguration removed?
To further evaluate the lane reconfiguration, the Salt Lake City Transportation Division hired a consultant to complete a traffic analysis. Using modeling software, the consultant estimated automobile delay, and how many cars would be stopped near traffic lights, if one of the westbound automobile travel lanes was replaced with a bike lane between Guardsman Way and 1400 East. The analysis estimated long queues during the peak travel times, even with mitigations.
Based upon this analysis, the Transportation Division decided to remove the lane reconfiguration from project 1.
Why not locate the crosswalk closer to 1300 East for a direct path from the parking lot to the stadium?
A crossing at 1400 East provides more direct travel for people walking to and from the neighborhood to the south. Unfortunately, there will be some out of direction walking for those parking in the lot with the stadium as their destination. However, the location at 1400 East will provide a more direct connection for more people during non-event times at the stadium.
There wasn’t enough project budget to be able to install two crossings, one between the parking lot and the stadium and one at 1400 East.
How will the landscaped median be maintained?
For the first year of maintenance, project funds will go towards hiring a contractor to maintain the landscaping. During that time, Public Lands will request additional budget from the City Council to maintain the landscaped median.
Why not build a HAWK (overhead signal) for the crosswalk?
There is a limited budget for the project. It costs additional money to build a HAWK signal, compared to flashing crosswalk signs (RRFBs).