May 22, 2020 — Spring and Salt Lake City’s budget season—both equally exciting—are underway! Read on for the latest updates about Funding Our Future programs and projects, as well as COVID-19 updates. Remember, you can stay up to date on projects by visiting FundingOurFutureSLC.com.
In early May, the Salt Lake City Housing and Neighborhood Development Division (HAND) hosted a Facebook Live AMA about housing stability resources, including housing programs funded by Funding Our Future. You can rewatch this video on Facebook or YouTube. HAND also recently published COVID-related housing resources. In response to COVID-19, the Funding Our Future housing application process for FY20/21 has been reopened to allow agencies the opportunity to apply or amend their original applications to assist with housing stability during this period. Agencies can find the application here, which will be open until May 31st 2020.
Like HAND, the Salt Lake City Police Department (SLCPD) also hosted a Facebook Live AMA earlier this month focused on public safety with Chief Mike Brown and others. You can rewatch that video on Facebook or YouTube.
Salt Lake City’s public safety staff—the SLC Police Department (SLCPD), SLC Fire Department (SLCFD), and more—are part of the frontline essential workers helping our City navigate the ongoing COVID situation. You can still drop off donated cloth masks at City fire stations. Learn more about this here.
Despite the presence of COVID-19 in our community, UTA buses are still running (though with updated service on many routes; check rideuta.com/health for the latest changes). UTA has also implemented additional disinfecting and social distancing measures to keep riders safe, as well as providing complimentary face masks to riders who need them. Share your rider experience by taking UTA’s survey today at rideuta.com/ridersurvey.
Since the current situation is temporary, Salt Lake City, in partnership with UTA, are still working and planning on ways to improve transit services for the future. In 2020, we’re making improvements to certain bus stops across the City, including some along the Frequent Transit Network. The primary purpose for these improvements is to make the bus stops accessible to all riders. Improvements will vary by stop, but may include the addition of shelters, benches, trash cans, bike racks, and lighting. Along with stop improvements there may also be some stop consolidation to improve the efficiency of the bus routes. Check out the map and learn more at slc.gov/transit.
As part of the Funding Our Future bond, starting in 2022, Salt Lake City will reconstruct 200 South from 400 West to 900 East. Thank you to everyone who joined us for a Virtual Open House about the 200 South Transit Corridor on May 20th! You can rewatch it on Facebook or YouTube, and take the project survey here.
Salt Lake City’s 2020 street projects are continuing during this time. Progress is being made on projects like residential street reconstruction on Briarcliff Avenue, Coatsville Avenue, Dupont Avenue and more. These projects, along with several other street reconstruction projects, was made possible thanks to the 2018 voter-approved Funding Our Future bond. Learn about the other projects happening over the next two years by viewing the bond map here.
Increased pavement maintenance is also a part of the Funding Our Future improved streets critical need area. You can view the project pages for current streets surface treatment projects here.
Salt Lake City’s budget season is underway! This past May 19th, Salt Lake City Council discussed the Community and Neighborhoods, or CAN, (housing, transit, and streets) budget as well as the SLCPD (public safety) budget. You can rewatch this Council work session here, view the meeting recap here, and submit feedback here. May 19th was the first public hearing, but there is still another one on Tuesday, June 2nd at 7 pm.
Learn more about the budget process here.
Even though the official Census deadline has been pushed back in response to COVID-19, you should get counted in the Census now! Because an accurate count of all in our community assists leaders to address needs for healthcare, completing the Census is more important than ever. It’s also easier than ever to respond on your own, whether online, over the phone or by mail—all without having to meet a census taker. 2020 Census data will inform funding for housing programs, healthcare, and emergency services across the country. Learn more at slc.gov/census/ and 2020census.gov.
It’s important to know that Salt Lake City continues its day-to-day operations to provide essential services as well as emergency response operations when necessary. During this “normal for now,” the City is still prioritizing our critical public services: streets projects, housing programs, transit service, and public safety. Though Governor Herbert is relaxing restrictions in most areas of the state to ‘yellow,’ Salt Lake City’s higher numbers of COVID-19 warrant a continuation of the ‘orange’ phase. Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall is providing continuing guidance for our City during this time.