SLC West-East Connections Study

Responsive Margin

Introduction

Salt Lake City’s Westside neighborhoods are separated from eastern parts of the city, including downtown, by Interstate 15 and several major railroad tracks including the Union Pacific Railroad and FrontRunner commuter rail. These barriers present a daily challenge for people who need to cross to the east side. Westside residents are affected every day by parked trains, which cause delays, longer travel times, and safety concerns for all users. The interstate crossings that connect the city are limited to just a few major streets.

In recent years, Salt Lake City has taken steps to begin addressing the divide, as well as implementing several other Westside projects. These include the 300 North pedestrian bridge and reconstruction, 400 South Safety and Transit Improvements, the 9-Line extension, several Neighborhood Byways and traffic calming projects, and more. Additional projects are planned for construction in 2026, including 600/700 North reconstruction and the 400 South Viaduct Trail. Together, these efforts can improve access across the divide. At the same time, a more holistic approach is needed to create a unified plan for reconnecting the Westside to better meet community needs.

Fact sheet

Hoja informativa

Map of Salt Lake City showing focus neighborhoods for a study on west-east connections. Highlighted neighborhoods include Rose Park, Jordan Meadows, Westpointe, Fairpark, Poplar Grove, Glendale, Marmalade, Granary, and Ballpark. The map identifies physical barriers to west-east travel: Interstate 15 (I-15), railroad lines, and UTA FrontRunner. UTA TRAX lines are also marked. The Salt Lake City International Airport and Downtown Salt Lake City are labeled for reference. A legend explains the map's symbols, and a scale bar shows distances in miles.

West-East Connections Study

Salt Lake City (SLC) has begun a transportation study, funded by the US Department of Transportation’s (USDOT) Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program, to identify and prioritize solutions for improving west-east connectivity.

The SLC West-East Connections Study will take a community-centered approach, ensuring those most affected by the division define the challenges and help shape the solutions. The study will evaluate transportation needs and recommend improvements for all modes, including driving, walking, bicycling, and public transit.

Next steps

The success of the SLC West-East Connections Study depends on the ongoing engagement and collaboration between the city, community and partner agencies. There will be many opportunities for collaboration throughout the course of the study. We have also selected 19 Community Advisory Board members who will help guide the team throughout the process. Opportunities for community engagement are planned throughout the process to develop a unified plan by the end of 2026.

More information

Reconnecting Communities grant

Salt Lake City received a grant from the USDOT as part of the Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program. Funding will be used to prepare a plan that analyzes needs and recommends potential solutions to improve transportation infrastructure surrounding the west-east divide.

Funding partners and local match commitments

Agency partners, including the Utah Transit Authority, the Salt Lake City CRA, and the Salt Lake City Department of Public Utilities, will focus on the technical and infrastructure needs and potential solutions.

Read the full grant application narrative.

How did we get here?

Historical overview

The east-west division began in 1870, the year the Transcontinental Railroads famously joined in Utah. This was only 27 years after Europeans first settled in the area and well before the modern City Government. The railroad was celebrated, but it also divided the city. Homesteads and farms built west of the rails became less desirable as industrial uses dominated along the railroad and the nearby Jordan River was used as a dumping ground.

In the following decades, the arrival of the freeways made the division worse and brought unsafe conditions and pollution to the west side. Large bridges were built to carry cars over the rail lines with high-speed interchanges to help vehicles get on and off the freeways. Later, freeway widening expanded the infrastructure barriers.

Now, finally, is the time to begin to come to terms with this divide. Reconnecting Communities is a robust community-centric planning effort to envision solutions for east-west crossings focused on a 6.1 mile highly urbanized corridor.

Related plans and studies

Connect SLC – Transportation Master Plan update (2024)
Ballpark Station Area Plan (2022)
Westside Transportation Equity Study (2021)
Regional Transportation Plan (2019)
9 Line Trail Extension Study (2018)
Salt Lake County Active Transportation Implementation Plan (2017)
Salt Lake City Transit Master Plan (2017)
Wasatch Front Central Corridor Study (2017)
Utah Freight Plan Summary (2017)
Salt Lake City Pedestrian & Bicycle Master Plan (2015)
Westside Master Plan (2014)
Salt Lake City Transportation Master Plan (1996)

Letters of support and comments from the general public

Letters of support

The SLC West-East Connections Study has broad support from government agencies, community councils, freight operators and business advocacy groups. This study will build on this support to bring together groups who are actively working to improve life in Salt Lake City.

“I want to express our support of Salt Lake City’s initiative to address east-west connections across the Interstate 15 (I-15) and north-south rail corridors, particularly for people walking, biking, and taking transit.” – Salt Lake City Council