Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Beehive Bikeways topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
WFRC committee advances Beehive Bikeways plan; members stress funding and safety
Summary
The Wasatch Front Regional Council's Active Transportation Committee reviewed Beehive Bikeways network goals, modeling showing major job and household coverage, and member concerns about driver speed, e-bikes and funding needed for implementation.
Julie Bjornstad, Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC), presented an update on the Beehive Bikeways at the WFRC Active Transportation Committee meeting on Jan. 15, 2025. The plan maps a regional network of separated bicycle facilities intended to connect regional centers identified in the Wasatch Choice vision and increase safe, comfortable biking for short trips.
The committee heard that modeling of the proposed initial network shows about 70% of regional jobs and roughly 60% of households would lie within a quarter mile of separated facilities, and the buildout could increase bike miles traveled within centers by an estimated 42%. Bjornstad said the Beehive Bikeways are intended to function as the arterial/collector layer paired with the Utah Trail Network backbone.
Why it matters: committee members said the network could shift short trips off autos, improve public health and support the region's outdoor recreation identity — but success depends on funding, local coordination and road design changes. A council member noted that many regional trips are under three miles and that perceived and actual safety is a major barrier to mode shift.
Discussion points and concerns included: - Safety and speeds: multiple elected officials and committee members urged that reduced vehicle speeds, road diets and road redesigns be part of the implementation strategy. One participant said, “the speed and aggressiveness of drivers ... scares people,” and urged measures to slow traffic to reduce fatal crashes and increase perceived safety for bicyclists. - E-bikes and micromobility: speakers from Cottonwood Heights and other cities described a rise in e-scooter and e-bike use and associated crashes; one official described an e-scooter crash that produced a visible forearm injury and said affordable micromobility options are important but raise infrastructure and regulatory questions. - Funding and property access: several members said the single largest barrier to building separated facilities is funding and difficulties with right-of-way acquisition. A civil engineer noted state law limits on eminent domain for trails and county open-space constraints can complicate trail projects. - Implementation approach: staff asked if WFRC should treat the Beehive Bikeways as a core active-transportation product. Several members supported that approach but reiterated that WFRC support must include funding strategies, technical assistance for planning/design, and help packaging projects for federal grants.
WFRC staff said the agency will continue one-on-one meetings with cities to refine the map, incorporate workshop feedback, and pursue funding opportunities. The Beehive Bikeways concept will be considered in upcoming WFRC project applications and as part of the regional transportation plan screening process.
Ending: Committee members asked WFRC to prioritize funding strategies and local implementation support alongside the network mapping, and to include safety, operations and maintenance (snow removal, sweeping) in long-term planning.
