District 7: Sarah Young
What do you think is the top transportation issue in our city? How would you address it if elected?
Salt Lake City’s greatest transportation challenge is improving east-west connectivity while ensuring our streets are safe and accessible for everyone, drivers, cyclists, pedestrians, and transit riders alike. I’m excited about projects like the S-Line extension in Sugar House, the completion of the 2100 South reconstruction to improve safety and access to our amazing businesses, and solutions like the Kensington Byway, which will ease congestion and expand access across neighborhoods. Looking ahead, I also support improving TRAX and bus frequency across the city and advocating for UTA to implement an integrated transfer hub connecting all rail lines for more seamless travel as part of their TRAX Forward initiative. These efforts together strengthen safety, sustainability, and access for residents citywide.
Community councils continuously field complaints of drivers speeding in neighborhoods. How would you address this in your district?
Speeding remains one of the most common concerns I hear from residents, and it’s a frequent topic of discussion at Sugar House Community Council meetings. I’ve strongly supported the city’s Livable Streets Program, including expanding and continuing its funding across multiple budget years and backing citizen-sponsored traffic-calming projects such as raised crosswalks and safer intersections. One example is the new HawkWatch signal planned for Zenith and Richmond Avenue, a direct response to neighborhood feedback about safety concerns. I also work closely with Salt Lake City PD’s community liaisons to support data-driven enforcement and encourage residents to use the Speed Watch program to identify problem areas. My focus is on prevention and smart design, slowing traffic, improving crossings, and ensuring every resident feels safe walking, biking, or driving in their neighborhood.
In light of SB 195, which took away much of the autonomy the city had with its streets, how does the city government work with the state going forward? How does the city continue to make progress on its goals?
SB 195 reduced local control for Salt Lake City residents, which makes collaboration more essential than ever. I believe in strong advocacy paired with partnership, standing firm for our city’s priorities while maintaining productive relationships with UDOT and open communication with state leaders. We’ve already seen this approach work through the current project to improve 1300 East between 2100 South and Elgin Avenue, which enhances roads and multimodal transportation in Sugar House. These improvements include replacing aged pavement, aligning a key bus stop with the existing HawkWatch signal, and improving safety for pedestrians and cyclists. It’s a great example of partnership that balances state coordination with local priorities. I’ll continue ensuring residents’ voices and data-driven goals guide these efforts so we can keep advancing safety, connectivity, and local decision-making in Salt Lake City.
