Utah Bill Aims to Mitigate Salt Lake City Bike Lanes

Legislation would require state oversight of city's traffic reduction measures, sparking debate over local control.

Published on Feb. 4, 2026

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Utah Republican lawmakers have introduced a bill that would require Salt Lake City to submit plans to 'mitigate the impacts' of recently installed bike and bus lanes, with oversight from the state's transportation department. The bill has sparked a debate over state control versus local autonomy, with supporters arguing it's a response to business concerns about limited access, while opponents see it as an overreach into city affairs.

Why it matters

The proposed legislation highlights the ongoing tension between state and local governments, especially in Democrat-led cities like Salt Lake, over issues of transportation and urban planning. It raises questions about the balance of power and the extent to which the state should be able to intervene in a city's decisions about its own infrastructure.

The details

The bill, sponsored by Republican Sen. Wayne Harper, would require Salt Lake City to enter an agreement with the Utah Department of Transportation before implementing any programs designed to reduce vehicle traffic. The city must also submit plans to 'mitigate the impacts' of traffic calming measures, including bike and bus lanes, that have already been installed. Harper says the request comes from businesses that have complained about limited access due to the city's changes.

  • The bill was introduced in the 2026 Utah legislative session.
  • If passed, Salt Lake City and UDOT must reach an agreement on street designations by January 1, 2027.

The players

Wayne Harper

A Republican state senator from Taylorsville who sponsored the bill.

Erin Mendenhall

The Democratic mayor of Salt Lake City, who says the city is committed to partnering with the state on transportation issues.

Stuart Adams

The Republican president of the Utah State Senate, who argues that as the state's capital city, Salt Lake needs to function well for all who work there, not just residents.

Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT)

The state transportation agency that would have oversight over Salt Lake City's traffic reduction measures under the proposed legislation.

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What they’re saying

“The request that I've gotten is to have Salt Lake City to go through and take a look at all that they've done — and they're amenable to this — take a look and see what's working good with that. And are there some negative things that they can go through and tweak in order to make it so that safety is enhanced?”

— Wayne Harper, State Senator (utahnewsdispatch.com)

“The capital city is a spot where people gather. So we need to make sure (for) those coming (that) it could function.”

— Stuart Adams, Senate President (utahnewsdispatch.com)

“Although we believe this goal can be achieved without additional legislation, we appreciate the Legislature's willingness to collaborate and believe we have identified solutions that serve all stakeholders.”

— Erin Mendenhall, Mayor of Salt Lake City (utahnewsdispatch.com)

What’s next

If the bill is passed, Salt Lake City and UDOT must reach an agreement on street designations by January 1, 2027, which would determine which roads can have traffic reduction measures implemented.

The takeaway

This debate highlights the ongoing tension between state and local control over transportation and urban planning issues. While the state argues it needs to ensure the capital city functions well for all, the city maintains it can address concerns collaboratively without additional legislation that could be seen as an overreach into local affairs.