Utah Bill Calls for UDOT Partnership on Salt Lake City Traffic Projects

Proposed legislation would require city to work with state on new safety measures and road changes

Feb. 4, 2026 at 8:07pm

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A proposed Utah bill would require Salt Lake City to partner with the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) before enacting any new traffic safety measures or road projects, following a study required in 2025. City leaders fear this could undermine recent efforts to improve safety and respond to residential concerns, as well as alter the look of some recent road projects.

Why it matters

Salt Lake City has been working to address neighborhood traffic concerns and improve safety through various road projects and traffic calming measures. This proposed bill could limit the city's ability to make these changes independently and force it to collaborate more closely with the state transportation department, which some city officials worry may not fully understand the nuances between different neighborhoods.

The details

The bill, SB242, calls for Salt Lake City and UDOT to partner on future road project decisions, focusing primarily on the two busiest types of roads in the city. It would prohibit any highway reduction strategies on the highest-tier roads and require additional data analysis, community outreach, and UDOT approval for projects on the second-tier roads. The bill also includes provisions for lane sizes and parking stall reductions. Additionally, it requires the city to 'mitigate the impacts' of recent traffic calming measures and highway reduction strategies in certain downtown areas.

  • The bill was unveiled on Tuesday, February 5, 2026.
  • If approved, some parts of the bill would go into effect in May 2026, while other parts wouldn't go into effect until July 1, 2026.

The players

Sen. Wayne Harper

The Republican senator from Taylorsville who unveiled SB242, this year's transportation omnibus bill.

Salt Lake City

The capital city of Utah that is voicing concerns about the proposed bill, which could undermine its recent efforts to improve traffic safety and respond to neighborhood concerns.

Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT)

The state transportation department that would be required to partner with Salt Lake City on future road projects and traffic safety measures under the proposed legislation.

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What they’re saying

“(They are) guidelines upon which Salt Lake City and UDOT will enter into a better partnership to maintain state and city assets in moving traffic around.”

— Sen. Wayne Harper, Republican senator from Taylorsville (KSL)

“Why would the state not want us to address one of the leading causes of death in the city? Like if it were a murder rate, we would be having an entirely different conversation about the state wanting us to do more to try to bring that number down. … All we're trying to do is preserve people's lives.”

— Councilman Chris Wharton, Salt Lake City Council member (KSL)

What’s next

The bill will continue to be discussed and potentially revised through the legislative process. Salt Lake City plans to conduct a review of the bill before officially weighing in on it.

The takeaway

This proposed legislation highlights the ongoing tension between state and local control over transportation and traffic safety issues. While the state aims to maintain a coordinated transportation network, Salt Lake City officials are concerned the bill could undermine their efforts to address neighborhood-level concerns and improve safety through traffic calming measures.