UDOT unveils Utah Trail Network master plan; SB 185 funding to program 40–60 projects next year
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Summary
UDOT presented a statewide Utah Trail Network master plan map funded under Senate Bill 185 (2023), describing a data‑driven selection process and a three‑tier project typology (base network, gap closures, vision corridors) and saying the department will program an initial set of 40–60 projects at the next STIP workshop.
UDOT on Thursday presented a statewide master plan for a paved Utah Trail Network that the department says will provide separated, regional trails for transportation and recreation.
"This map represents over a year and a half of work," Stephanie Tomlin, UDOT trails division director, told the commission. She said the Utah Trail Network was created by legislation (Senate Bill 185, 2023), which allocated $45 million one‑time and $45 million ongoing to UDOT for planning, design, construction and operations of paved non‑motorized routes that serve a regional purpose.
Tomlin described three project types on the master map: a base network (high scoring, ready‑to‑go routes), gap closures (studies leading to future construction) and vision corridors (longer, high‑cost corridors that will require advanced study). UDOT said the base network is about 1,700 miles (500 miles existing) and that total mileage including vision corridors would be about 3,100 miles. The department estimated the built network would put 95% of Utahns within one mile of a Utah Trail Network route.
Tomlin said the network selection combined stakeholder workshops (more than 500 participants), hundreds of planned or proposed trail projects in local plans and a data‑driven scoring approach tied to UDOT's quality‑of‑life pillars. She said the Trails Division will propose a prioritized set of roughly 40–60 projects for programming at the May–June 2026 STIP workshops and that the full master plan is expected to be finalized in March 2026.
On policy questions from commissioners, Tomlin said UDOT will follow statutory limits on allowed uses (e‑bikes allowed consistent with state law; motorized ATVs and equestrian use are not allowed on UTN routes) and that signage, typologies and maintenance strategies will be developed in the full master plan.