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| First Up: The Pioneer Trail Takes Shape |
| | Construction near the Utah Capitol will cause some traffic headaches through November, but what’s all that roadwork actually for? Crews are building the first phase of Pioneer Trail, a planned 1.3-mile walking route highlighting some of Utah’s history. And it’s more than a temporary road closure: The project will permanently reshape part of State Street, with millions in public funding behind it. | - What’s the plan? Inspired by Boston’s Freedom Trail, the larger project would connect historic sites around downtown, including Temple Square, the Utah Capitol, Ensign Peak, and City Creek Park. Improvements include narrower traffic lanes, wider pedestrian areas, and new landscaping. [Deseret News]
- Phase one has a $15 million price tag: Utah lawmakers approved $10 million on top of $5 million from philanthropists. But the spending drew pushpack from some Republican lawmakers who questioned why the funding hadn’t gone through the usual review process. [KSL]
- Speaking of pushback: The project’s Pioneer Trail name and focus on Mormon pioneer history have also raised questions about whose stories are being told. Additionally, the redesigned State Street will have more room for pedestrians, but no dedicated bike lanes. [City Cast Salt Lake 🎧]
- The timeline: Organizers hope to have the first phase ready for the Salt Lake Temple’s April 2027 open house, with a 2030 deadline for the whole project. Expect them to ask the state for more money next year. SLC kicked in $1.9 million for Memory Grove upgrades. [Deseret News]
- What’s next? In 2027, Phase II will focus on Ensign Peak, while Phase III will connect City Creek and Memory Grove and hopefully incorporate Indigenous history at City Creek Park. Hear more on today’s City Cast Salt Lake podcast. [City Cast Salt Lake 🎧]
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| What Salt Lake's Talking About |
| FrontRunner Expansion Faces Funding Gap | Utah is $564 million short of the money it needs to expand FrontRunner ahead of the 2034 Winter Olympics. The $3.2 billion project would bring more frequent trains, Sunday service, and a new Bluffdale station, but state officials are still figuring out how to cover the gap. [Axios Salt Lake City] | | Salt Lake Scales Down Backyard Homes | Salt Lake leaders are scaling back a proposal to allow more small homes in existing neighborhoods, adding a requirement that property owners live on-site to discourage corporate investors. But that change could dramatically limit how many new homes actually get built citywide. [Salt Lake Tribune] | | Do You Like Scary Movies? | Megaplex will screen all seven “Scream” movies back-to-back starting at 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30, for a nearly 16-hour movie marathon. Tickets are $50 and include unlimited popcorn and soda, but leave your costumes at home. [Megaplex Theatres] | | Former ICE Facility for Sale | The Salt Lake City warehouse once slated to become an ICE detention center is officially up for sale (for an undisclosed amount), along with six other abandoned detention sites across the country. Federal officials bought the building for $145 million in March but scrapped their plans. [KSL] |
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| Test Your Energy-Saving Knowledge |
|  | Even your dog wants to save money on electricity. (Rocky Mountain Power) |
| This article is sponsored by Rocky Mountain Power. | | Think you know everything about saving energy in your own home? Test your knowledge here! | - Which is an energy-saving way to wash clothes?
- Always use hot water
- Wash only at night
- Use the longest wash cycle
- Wash clothes in cold water
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A big thanks to our new Neighbors: Daniel H., Miriam B., Karen B., Emily G., and William G. Join ‘em! |
| — Terina Ria | Ali Vallarta and Emily Means edited this week. |
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