SALT LAKE CITY, Utah (September 2024) — Salt Lake City has been awarded an Accelerated Mobility Playbook (AMP) Technical Assistance Grant from City Thread, a national nonprofit organization that helps better connect communities through transportation.
The program aims to help Salt Lake City reach its broader transportation goals quicker through City Thread’s wide network of support, which includes convening elected and community leaders, funders, and engaged residents.
“We are excited to welcome Salt Lake City into our cohort of cities prioritizing mobility projects,” said Sara Studdard, City Thread partner. “We look forward to providing Salt Lake City with the guidance and strategies needed to achieve its transportation goals faster than thought possible.”
The City will use the AMP grant to help accelerate the development of safer roadways for all users, in accordance with its Vision Zero plans. This will be done by implementing an all-ages-and-abilities transportation network that reaches all neighborhoods and ensures travel times comparable to those of motor vehicles.
“As the urban center of Utah, we’re determined to achieve our ambitious mobility goals of safer streets for everyone,” said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall. “With the support of AMP, we’ll align City departments and external advocates in a more unified effort to accelerate implementing a comprehensive bike network into Salt Lake City’s increasingly transit-rich neighborhoods and business districts.”
In line with Salt Lake City’s Complete Streets ordinance, the grant will also speed up the implementation of the Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan, which aims to establish over 50 miles of neighborhood byways by 2035.
Dave Iltis, editor and publisher of Cycling Utah and a prominent bicycle advocate in Salt Lake City, has been actively involved in efforts to improve cycling infrastructure and also participated in discussions, saying “Salt Lake City has made significant strides in developing its bicycle network, but there are still gaps that need to be addressed. The Accelerated Mobility Playbook grant should help the city prioritize closing those gaps and create a more connected, comprehensive system.”
“Salt Lake City is facing housing and sustainability challenges, both of which the ongoing efforts in multimodal infrastructure seek to mitigate,” said Jon Larsen, Salt Lake City Transportation Division Director. “This AMP grant will greatly enhance our efforts to accelerate the construction of an all-ages-and-abilities network.”
One of the cornerstones of City Thread’s expertise is bridging the gaps between government, residents, and industry advocates. The program works because of passionate advocates like Chris Wiltsie from Bike Utah.
“Bike Utah and Salt Lake City have worked closely throughout the years on projects including major tactical urbanism projects, 4th and 5th-grade bicycling education, bicycle maintenance for the unsheltered, and building up the capacity of community transportation advocates,” said Chris Wiltsie, Co-Executive of Bike Utah. “We look forward to partnering with the City and the Salt Lake community on this initiative.”
City Thread‘s AMP grant requires a local $15,000 match. This contribution offsets the total $50,000 value of the grant program and deliverables.
Along with Salt Lake City, the second cohort of AMP Technical Assistance Grant recipients includes Tampa, FL, Baltimore, MD, and Spokane, WA.
