The Salt Lake City Planning Commission has approved a controversial plan to build a sky bridge for pedestrians as part of a new mixed use development.
"By a 6-3 vote Wednesday, the commission forwarded a positive recommendation to the City Council for a sky bridge to span Main Street at 50 South. But instead of selling the air rights above Main, the commission recommended a lease to be tied to the life of the LDS Church's 25-acre retail and residential project."
"In a separate vote, the commission unanimously approved the overall site plan for City Creek, scheduled for completion in late 2011."
"Debate raged more than four hours before the approval, which comes with a series of amendments for the City Council to consider before taking the ultimate vote. Planners want the council to consider the degree of transparency on the glass for the 130-foot bridge. Right now, the design calls for etched grass on the sides to resemble foliage by the side of a creek. The skywalk, which has escalators to the street on each end, also has glass panels that open above-head and completely clear glass in the center to provide optimum views."
"Even so, commissioners argued about a 'conundrum' - that is, voting on language drafted by the City Council with built-in 'contradictions.' How can there be minimal interruption to the view corridor, for instance, when the sky bridge includes architectural and artistic elements? What's more, the commission struggled with the notion that retail accessibility be maximized - essentially through a pedestrian bridge - while the vibrancy of the street life be maintained."
FULL STORY: Sky bridge on SLC's Main Street gets planning commission's blessing

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series
The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

Driving Equity and Clean Air: California Invests in Greener School Transportation
California has awarded $500 million to fund 1,000 zero-emission school buses and chargers for educational agencies as part of its effort to reduce pollution, improve student health, and accelerate the transition to clean transportation.

Congress Moves to End Reconnecting Communities and Related Grants
The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee moved to rescind funding for the Neighborhood Equity and Access program, which funds highway removals, freeway caps, transit projects, pedestrian infrastructure, and more.

From Throughway to Public Space: Taking Back the American Street
How the Covid-19 pandemic taught us new ways to reclaim city streets from cars.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
Ada County Highway District
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service