Snow Creek pedestrian crossing at SR 248

Every hearing and vote

1. May 12, 2022 · City Council

   Snow Creek crossing feasibility: tunnel or bridge over SR 248

   Discussed

   Staff narrowed options to a tunnel (about $13.5 million) or a bridge (about $12.4 million); a tunnel under SR 248 alone was about $9.3 million. Gerber, Doilney, Dickey and Toly favored a tunnel, with Dickey wanting all three tunnels bid together and Doilney suggesting a guaranteed maximum price contract. Rubell asked for the SR 248-only tunnel and favored intersection safety improvements. No formal direction or vote; members agreed at-grade safety measures would be favorable. Funding in the tentative budget included $4.57 million in walkability bonds, $522,000 in transit sales tax, $4.6 million from the transportation fund, a $225,000 county grant and $3.5 million from UDOT not yet approved.

2. June 9, 2022 · City Council

   FY2023 capital budget review

   Discussed

   Staff reviewed capital requests. Snow Creek crossing estimates were $9 to $10 million for one tunnel, $11 to $13 million for two and $14 to $16 million for all three; a staff member said UDOT awarded a $5.5 million grant for Snow Creek, Kearns/Bonanza and Prospector connections. Rubell, Toly and Doilney favored allocating $13 million; Gerber favored all three tunnels. The ice arena's expected $275,000 Basin match did not happen in fiscal 2022. Residents urged investment in arts and an arts district and supported the tunnel. No vote.

3. June 23, 2022 · City Council

   Water fund, Flagstaff transfer fees, budget adjustments and Old Peace House

   Discussed

   Staff said water charges are projected at $20.39 million for FY23 with debt service rising from $6.55 million to $9.31 million and coverage falling from 1.8 to 1.2; the 3Kings Water Treatment Plant is on schedule. Flagstaff transfer fees average about $600,000 a year and total $6.42 million since 2003. FY22 adjustments cited grants including $715,000 and $500,000 from Summit County RAP funds, $2.39 million from the FTA for three battery-electric buses and a van, and capped the Snow Creek tunnel at $13 million. On the former Old Peace House at 516 Marsac Avenue, bought in 2017 with transit funds, members favored employee or transitional housing and agreed a partner is needed for renovation costs; Toly said she was not comfortable raising the employee parking pass fee to $500. No votes.

4. February 2, 2023 · City Council

   Transportation planning update: Snow Creek crossing, SR 248 and disruptive ideas

   Discussed

   Staff said UDOT declined to help fund the SR 248 and SR 224 intersection and a public-private tunnel with an adjacent site was dropped; an RFP for design services is being prepared. Staff recommended an eastbound SR 248 shoulder bus lane in the short term and a corridor transit plan long term, plus a UDOT-funded grant, led by Summit County, to study parking, park-and-ride sites and technology. Rubell said he would not support tunnel design before the Bonanza Park Small Area Plan sets the location; Doilney said the tunnel should not be put on hold. The minutes state a majority supported moving forward with tunnel design.

5. June 22, 2023 · City Council

   Horrocks Engineers design services for Snow Creek tunnel cost engineering

   Approved · 3-2

   Part of the walkability bond. Rubell opposed moving ahead before the small area plan, due between January and March 2024; Toly said a light at Homestake and Kearns was not currently permitted. A speaker proposed a HAWK signal instead.

   Moved by Council Member Max Doilney, seconded by Council Member Becca Gerber. Vote: 3-2; Council Member Jeremy Rubell, Council Member Tana Toly voted no

6. July 27, 2023 · City Council

   Horrocks Engineers: Homestake roadway reconstruction right-of-way engineering

   Approved · 4-0

   Surveys, owner meetings and appraisals; work is expected to begin summer 2024. Doilney called it a first step toward walkability.

   Moved by Council Member Max Doilney, seconded by Council Member Becca Gerber. Vote: 4-0

7. January 16, 2024 · City Council

   Transportation capital program overview

   Discussed

   Projects reviewed included bus stop improvements, Thaynes and Three Kings pathways, Lower Park Avenue, the Snow Creek crossing tunnel and Homestake Road reconstruction. The city receives $3 million to $10 million a year in transportation grants; a $1.4 million Quinn's park-and-ride grant was redirected to a higher priority and the regional council granted $1 million for SR-224 and SR-248 right-of-way. Council favored continuing to pursue grants while staying open to other funding. No vote.

8. April 25, 2024 · City Council

   Transportation capital project funding direction

   Discussed

   Snow Creek crossing: staff did not recommend an at-grade crossing now; Ciraco and Parigian supported a traffic study and pausing spending on the tunnel, which speakers said has grown from about $5 million to over $18 million; council agreed to improve the Yarrow side before pursuing tunnel funding. Lower Park Avenue: Dias will return with options at $8 million to $10 million. Budget placeholders of $12 million for Lower Park Avenue and $18.5 million for Snow Creek were agreed, with no spending authorized. Direction only; no motion.

9. March 13, 2025 · City Council

   Snow Creek pedestrian crossing alternatives

   Discussed

   Engineering staff presented a HAWK signal ($500,000 to $800,000, possible by 2026), a tunnel (about $18.4 million for 2026 construction; delay could forfeit $4.5 million in grant funds) and enhanced tunnel entrances (10 to 20% more). Council Members Ciraco, Rubell and Parigian supported the enhanced tunnel with a HAWK as an interim measure; Dickey opposed an at-grade crossing; Toly was concerned about cost. The mayor said the majority directed staff to pursue the enhanced tunnel and other safety improvements, with staff returning in about a month. Speakers urged a tunnel and opposed the HAWK. No vote.

10. December 11, 2025 · City Council

    Snow Creek pedestrian underpass design contract

    Approved · 3-1

    Design services with Methods Consulting, not to exceed $1,638,760, for a pedestrian underpass across SR-248 at the Snow Creek Drive access. Two below-grade options would be evaluated, with a no-build HAWK crossing as a fallback, and cost estimates would return in spring. UDOT does not support a temporary crossing of less than five years. Snyderville Water Reclamation District funding is soft and not in the financial table. Council Member Ciraco wanted a faster interim fix.

    Moved by Council Member Jeremy Rubell, seconded by Council Member Bill Ciraco. Vote: 3-1

11. July 9, 2026 · City Council

    Snow Creek tunnel options

    Discussed

    Staff presented five crossing options: a HAWK signal at about $4 million up to a below-grade tunnel at up to $17 million. Staff recommended a skewed tunnel with an enhanced north entrance; the city's contribution is $11.5 million and design to resolve right-of-way needs would cost about $300,000. Council Members Parigian and Toly opposed a tunnel and favored studying a Homestake Road signal, which staff said could take about 10 years. The mayor said the tunnel costs too much but asked staff to talk with UDOT and property owners about a partial sale. The council agreed to proceed with the analysis; no vote.