Lehi City planners are initiating a study to look at options for developing a new multi-use trail that would travel the length of the city's east side. It would run parallel to a proposed TRAX line and link to other existing and planned trails in the region.

The Lehi Parks and Trails Committee, the Lehi Planning Commission, city staff and JUB Engineers met last Thursday to brainstorm options for the proposal.

A 10-foot wide swath of pavement with a 66-foot right-of-way, the proposed Historic Utah Southern Rail Trail would extend some six miles from the Point of the Mountain to American Fork.

"It could go all the way through American Fork onto Pleasant Grove and would be a nonmotorized link with Utah and Salt Lake counties," Kim Struthers, Lehi city planner, said. "Eventually we're hoping it would be a regional trail."

He said Draper is dong the same thing that Lehi is just starting and is almost done with the construction phase.

Named after the old railroad line the trail will follow, the Historic Utah Southern Rail Trail would link to the proposed Point-of-the-Mountain trail in Salt Lake County and would eventually serve as the backbone for a regional trail system throughout Salt Lake and Utah counties, he said.

The trail is part of a six-trail system in Lehi with the Dry Creek Trial, Power Line Trail, the Spring Creek Trail, the Utah Lake Trail, the Murdock Canal Trail and the Waste Ditch Trail.

Struthers said he believes public input is an important component of the study process. The kick off meeting for the study was Jan. 9 he anticipates finishing the study in December. Public input will be taken at open houses planned later in the process.

"As we develop plans for this proposed trail, it's vital to hear what Lehi residents think and get their suggestions on how we can develop this trail to work best for all potential users," Struthers said.

Lehi City is working closely with UTA to build the trail as much as possible within the existing UTA right-of-way. UTA is coordinating with several jurisdictions on similar trail projects in Salt Lake County.

Draper City and Sandy City are both pursuing agreements for trails within UTA right-of-way.

"UTA, they are very friendly towards trails," Craig Friant, JUB Engineers representative, said at the March 1 meeting. "They are very supportive. They need 66 feet of right-of-way and a flat path. As long as we have that we can put a trail in there."

UTA purchased the rail corridor through Lehi for future light rail into Utah County and any proposed trail would need to accommodate or plan for that expansion.

Difficulties arise where the 66-foot right-of-way is not possible in downtown Lehi east of 300 West street. One of the proposals would be to align the trail on the south side of State Street the rest of the way to American Fork using a 10-foot wide sidewalk.

"On the north end (of Lehi) we have ample space but on the south end we get some bottlenecks," Friant said.

The Lehi Trail Study was funded with a $300,000 Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) grant awarded through the Mountainland Association of Governments (MAG).

Once the concept study and environmental review are completed, the city will begin pursuing additional funds for trail construction which may be built in phases as money comes available.

Project updates and notices on the study will be posted on the city Web site at www.lehicity.com. Public comments are always welcome, said Struthers.

Comments or inquiries can be sent to the project public involvement coordinator, Nicole Donegan, at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or by calling (801) 556-1796. Written comments can also be sent to Nicole Donegan, c/o The Langdon Group, Inc., 2875 South Decker Lake Drive, Suite 575, Salt Lake City, UT, 84119.

LEHI NEWS BRIEF

Scouting for food -- The Boy Scouts will be delivering plastic bags to homes on March 17 for the annual Scouting for Food Drive. Residents are asked to fill the bags with non-perishable food and hygiene items for the Community Action Services and Food Bank and to leave them on their porch for pick up on March 24. Community Action's Provo Food Pantry serves approximately 1,100 local families each month, taking 65 canned food or dry good items to feed one family of four for a week.

Historic Southern Rail Trail

Updates: www.lehicity.com

Inquiries/comments: Nicole Donegan, This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , (801) 556-1796, or c/o The Langdon Group, Inc., 2875 South Decker Lake Drive, Suite 575, Salt Lake City, UT, 84119.