City-wide transportation plans are critical for promoting equal opportunity and improving residents’ lives by prioritizing accessibility, resource allocation, health, and community engagement. In Salt Lake City, transportation infrastructure has historically created uneven access to opportunity, with underserved communities, particularly those with high concentrations of populations of color, experiencing inadequate access to transportation options. The City has adopted several transportation-focused plans in recent years, including the 2017 Transit Master Plan and 2015 Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, culminating in the 2021 launch of Connect Salt Lake City to update its last Transportation Master Plan from 1996.
The FUSE Executive Fellow will work with local agencies, community stakeholders, and city departments to develop strategic recommendations to operationalize the new City-wide Transportation Plan. Beginning with a comprehensive listening tour involving key stakeholders including the Utah Transit Authority, State Department of Transportation, community-based organizations, and various city agencies, the Fellow will conduct a landscape analysis of current practices and policies affecting the transportation network. Using this information, the Fellow will develop recommendations to streamline internal processes, foster cross-departmental collaboration, and amplify community voices in decision-making processes. The project will result in an operational plan with substantial stakeholder buy-in, connecting city departments to implement the plan and identify long-term implementation goals, milestones, and activities to ensure sustainable operationalization that responds to community needs and advances city-wide transportation for all throughout Salt Lake City.