A controversial provision in a sprawling Utah transportation bill could force its state capital to rip out key traffic calming infrastructure at the taxpayer’s expense — and possibly set a new standard for state interference in cities’ Vision Zero efforts.
In a disturbing echo of the infamous Ontario law that forced Toronto to destroy popular bike lanes, the final lines of Utah’s State Bill 242 would require Salt Lake City to “mitigate the impacts” of traffic calming efforts on three specific corridors that have been the target of bikelash among opponents of Vision Zero.
One of those traffic calming projects isn’t even completed yet, however, while the others have shown minimal impacts on vehicular mobility in recent studies. All three rededicate only a tiny fraction of driving space on the Beehive State’s notoriously massive roads.
Sponsoring Republican State Sen. Wayne Harper told City Weekly that “nothing in here says they have to take [bike lanes] out,” but also said locals would have to prove that bike lanes aren’t “causing an impediment.” That would add costly administrative review to projects with already proven benefits…