Downtown plan approved

The Salt Lake City Planning Commission has given Downtown in Motion a green light.

Planning commissioners unanimously voted Wednesday night to recommend to the Salt Lake City Council that it adopt the proposed transportation master plan for downtown. The council likely will consider the plan at its July 22 meeting.

Billed as a balanced plan, Downtown in Motion takes into account all modes of movement — cars, buses, light rail and commuter rail, pedestrians and bicycles, as well as parking — in an effort to make downtown more integrated, efficient and accessible.

The plan's goals are to serve downtown businesses, residents and visitors; make the downtown pedestrian-friendly with walking the primary mode of transportation; create an easy-to-use downtown for all modes of traffic; and enhance accessibility and mobility.

Downtown in Motion was collaboratively crafted by Salt Lake City and its redevelopment agency, Downtown Alliance, Salt Lake Chamber, the Utah Transit Authority and the Utah Department of Transportation. A draft of the plan can be viewed online at www.slctrans.com.