WFRC unveils Utah Bikeways map and updates to generalized future land‑use layer

WFRC staff previewed a new Utah Bikeways web app designed to display up‑to‑date on‑street bike facilities and trails, collect crowd‑sourced corrections from users, and provide a download for jurisdictions and analysts. The presentation also described a generalized future land‑use (GFLU) GIS layer compiled from municipal general plans and zoning to support household and job forecasting for the next RTP cycle.

Bert Gramberg (WFRC) said the bikeways app will be mobile‑first and include two main viewing modes: a detailed route‑type view (classifying on‑street facilities and trails) and a traffic‑stress view that approximates comfort levels using lane, speed and volume data. The app will include a feedback tool so agencies or the public can report new facilities or corrections; staff said they aim to release the site to coincide with bike‑month next month. "We built this new app called bikeways.utah.gov," Gramberg said, adding that the goal is near‑real‑time updates and an authoritative public map derived from city and MPO input.

On land use, staff described the GFLU product — a standardized, regional GIS layer that collapses hundreds of local plan and zoning codes into consistent categories (residential, employment, centers, open space, etc.) and captures dwelling units per acre where available. WFRC will publish the GFLU on its open data site and use it to produce preliminary household and job forecasts for TAC review in early fall.

Staff asked jurisdictions to provide confirmations or suggested edits to the Wasatch Choice land‑use viewer by a near-term deadline (staff had requested unified community responses by April 18 in the presentation) and said they will perform periodic regional updates tied to new aerial photography and an annual winter outreach to jurisdictions to solicit changes.

Sources: Presentation and Q&A during the Regional Growth TAC meeting (see provenance).