Salt Lake City has identified Redwood Road as the most dangerous street in the area, but city officials are optimistic about making improvements thanks to a new budget proposal from Mayor Erin Mendenhall.
The mayor’s budget for fiscal 2026 includes funding earmarked for safety upgrades on several high-crash corridors, including Redwood Road, 900 West, and 800 South.
City Transportation Director Jon Larsen highlighted the challenges posed by the fact that the road is owned by the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT).
“Redwood Road is the most dangerous street in the city based on the data, which is challenging because UDOT owns it,” he stated.
However, he also mentioned that UDOT is open to discussions and collaboration on potential improvements.
In a City Council budget hearing, residents expressed a strong desire for additional traffic-calming measures, such as speed bumps, in light of the city’s growth.
Mendenhall’s proposed budget allocates $2.3 million specifically for safety enhancements on these high-crash corridors.
On Redwood Road, plans may include the addition of mid-block crosswalks and signalized intersections to combat dangerous jaywalking.
Furthermore, extending sidewalks will encourage pedestrians to avoid walking directly on the road.
For 900 West, potential upgrades could feature a separated bike path, raised medians, and enhanced crosswalks with flashing beacons for pedestrian safety.
A comprehensive analysis regarding 800 South suggests reducing its lanes from two in each direction to one, while introducing a separated bike path and installing roundabouts.
Larsen cautioned that the budget might not fully cover all improvement plans, especially if a federal grant for Redwood Road does not materialize.
In addition to road upgrades, Mendenhall’s new budget includes $3 million to initiate construction on the Green Loop project, which will span 200 East between City Hall and the city’s downtown library.
According to officials, this location serves as a focal point for numerous events and functions as Salt Lake City’s “civic campus.”
Larsen described the planned improvements as an essential opportunity to enhance this area known for its gathering places for residents and visitors alike.
The expansive vision for the Green Loop aims to create a linear park encircling downtown, incorporating various streets including 200 East, 900 South, 500 West, and either North or South Temple.
City officials estimate that the entire project could reach a staggering cost of up to $350 million, with completion targeted for the 2034 Winter Olympics.
Mendenhall’s budget also proposes extending the ongoing 600 North-700 North road improvement project on the city’s west side up to its intersection with Interstate 215.
This extension would receive nearly $1.7 million in funding.
Improvements to Rose Park Lane near the Regional Athletic Complex are also part of the proposed budget, set to receive around $700,000.
If the City Council approves Mendenhall’s proposals, it would also attach additional funding to key transit initiatives.
These initiatives include 15-minute bus service on select Utah Transit Authority routes as well as on-demand transit vans for the west side of the city.
Furthermore, the ongoing livable streets program aimed at enhancing safety on neighborhood streets will also benefit from increased funding.
During the budget hearing, residents from various neighborhoods called on council members to rethink certain funding requests that had previously been denied by the mayor’s office.
Among those requests were pleas for traffic-calming measures like speed bumps.
Resident Gary Tedesco pointed out the need for traffic circles at the intersections of 300 South and 400 South at 1200 East due to heightened traffic linked to the University of Utah.
He expressed that traffic circles would significantly improve pedestrian safety and reduce speeds at those intersections.
“We contend that public safety is an uncompromisable value,” Tedesco emphasized.
Samuel Rowan, living near Foothill Drive on 2100 South, also advocated for speed bumps, citing ongoing issues with speeding cars in his residential area.
“I’ve been asking the city for at least five years now to consider in the budget installing speed bumps on our street,” Rowan remarked.
The residents’ appeals come in light of SB195, a recent law mandating that Salt Lake City seek UDOT approval for any “highway reduction strategy” affecting key roads in core neighborhoods.
This law broadly defines what constitutes a highway reduction strategy, which means community requests for enhancements like speed bumps would require state-level approval.
Larsen confirmed that the plans for the Green Loop will also need to undergo UDOT review before they can proceed.
The City Council will conduct one more public hearing regarding Mendenhall’s budget on June 3, allowing residents to provide additional input on the proposed spending plan.
The Council is required to finalize a budget by the end of June.
image source from：https://www.sltrib.com/news/2025/05/22/salt-lake-city-budget-mendenhall/
