Lehi officials are looking into building a trail that would span 6 miles from Point of the Mountain to American Fork.

The Historic Utah Southern Rail Trail would have a 10-foot-wide paved pathway on a 66-foot right of way. It would be parallel to the proposed TRAX line and link to other existing and planned trails in the area. A study of the proposal is under way and will likely be completed in December. JUB Engineers is also involved in the project.

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

He said Draper is doing the same thing, and that city 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.

Public meetings on the proposal are planned for later this year.

"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 Utah Transit Authority 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 rights of way.

"UTA, they are very friendly toward trails," said Craig Friant, a JUB Engineers representative. "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. 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 grant awarded through the Mountainland Association of Governments.

Once the concept study and environmental review are completed, the city will begin pursuing additional funds for trail construction. It may be built in phases as money becomes 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, Struthers said.

Comments or inquiries can be sent to the project public involvement coordinator, Nicole Donegan, at ndonegan@langdongroupinc.com or by calling (801) 556-1796. Written comments can also be sent to Nicole Donegan, c/o The Langdon Group, Inc., 2875 S. Decker Lake Drive, Suite 575, Salt Lake City, UT 84119.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page D3.