HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Provided Information - 3/24/2026CITY COUNCIL OF SALT LAKE CITY
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COUNCIL STAFF REPORT
CITY COUNCIL of SALT LAKE CITY
TO:City Council Members
FROM: Nick Tarbet
Policy Analyst
DATE:March 24, 2026
RE: Temporary Street Closures around Temple Square
View the Administration’s proposal: Ordinance: Temporary Street Closure for Temple Square 2027 Reopening
NEW INFORMATION – March 24 public hearing summary
During the March 10 public hearing about 18 individuals spoke.
Comments in support of the temporary closure stated the potential for increased tourism, safety
through coordination, and a boost to local businesses, retail and dining, while stressing careful
planning, clear communication regarding traffic detours, and maintaining a balance between the
needs of visitors and full-time residents.
Additionally, many people raised concerns such the necessity of maintaining east/west corridors to
ensure residents can reach schools, grocery stores, hospitals and the airport. Others expressed
concerns about the six-month closure as unprecedented impact on resident, the potential for
"permanent" closures of public streets, the displacement of tour bus pickup locations, and the negative
impact on local business revenue.
Other comments focused on asking the city to implement robust parking enforcement programs
funded by permit fees, prioritizing public transit incentives, and ensuring pedestrian safety measures.
The Council closed the public hearing, deferred action to a future Council meeting and will consider
taking action at the March 24 formal meeting.
Schedule:
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The following information was provided for the March 10 public hearing
MARCH 10 PUBLIC HEARING SUMMARY
During the February 10 briefing the Council discussed the request to temporarily close streets near
Temple Square for the Salt Lake Temple’s reopening in 2027. The temporary closures would help with
public safety and crowd management during the open house.
Representatives from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints participated in the briefing and
expressed their intent to work collaboratively with the city to inform residents about the open house
and find ways to mitigate the impacts to traffic for residents, business and commuters. It was
discussed this is early in the planning process and they welcome feedback from the community and
City Council.
The Council discussed a number of potential impacts the temporary street closure may have on the
community as well as ways to potentially address them. Some of the ideas discussed included:
Providing free UTA passes to all tour-goers and employees to keep thousands of cars off the
road.
Satellite Park-and-Ride options with dedicated shuttles to the temple.
Remote and staggered work schedules for Church employees to flatten peak traffic hours.
Temporary permit-only zones in nearby neighborhoods to prevent visitor "overflow" parking.
Create specific transit and detour plans to ensure students and downtown workers can
commute without major delays.
Ensure emergency access in and out of impacted neighborhoods
Work with the Downtown Alliance to promote local restaurants and shops to the millions of
expected visitors.
Designate nearby lots specifically for ADA parking and mobility assistance.
Community outreach to ensure residents are the first to know about changes early.
It was noted this is very early in the planning process. The City and representatives from the Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints will work together in coming months to coordinate on the planning
of the project and continued public outreach. The public hearing is set for March 10.
Council Staff has prepared a project website that includes the most current information as the Council
considers the temporary street closure request. Additionally, the Administration has a project page
that will be used as the central location for city information after the Council approves the temporary
street closure.
The following information was provided for the February 10 briefing.
ISSUE AT-A-GLANCE
The Council will be briefed on an ordinance that would temporarily close all or portions of City streets adjacent
to Temple Square in downtown Salt Lake City for a period of six months in 2027. The proposed temporary
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closure is intended to facilitate public safety and crowd management during the reopening celebration of the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Salt Lake City Temple.
Goal of the briefing: To brief the Council on the proposed temporary street closures and provide feedback
on public engagement strategies.
POLICY QUESTIONS