Jones and DeMille seeks public input on U.S. 89 corridor trail plan

Open house location and times

April 10 – Ephraim City Hall – 5:30 p.m.

April 23 – Gunnison City Hall – 5:30 p.m.

April 29 – Mt. Pleasant City Hall – 5:30 p.m.

A plan to develop a 45- to 50-mile, non-motorized trail system along the U.S. 89 corridor is moving forward under the banner of the Sanpete County Trail Feasibility Study.

Project leaders from Jones and DeMille Engineering, the firm managing the study, say they are focusing on early-stage public input to determine whether such a multi-use path can safely link major points from Gunnison to Fairview.

“This is still the study phase—there is no construction happening right now,” said Melissa Cano, public involvement coordinator in a recent interview. “We welcome everyone’s feedback so we can make sure we’re reflecting the community’s needs.”

According to Project Manager Micklane Farmer, the long-term vision is to create safer routes for walking, running and cycling that connect key destinations such as schools, parks, businesses and residential neighborhoods.

Farmer’s team has already held discussions with municipal representatives from Gunnison, Sterling, Manti, Ephraim, Spring City, Mt. Pleasant and Fairview to identify potential alignments. Each community has shared specific concerns—often relating to narrow rights-of-way, safety challenges and how best to route a trail through city centers without removing travel lanes.

Project Engineer Matthew Lenhart explained that roughly 80 to 90 percent of the proposed route follows U.S. 89. Trails on segments of local roads, however, might provide better access to parks or schools.

In Gunnison, planners favor following 200 East to connect the existing Sanpitch River trail with Gunnison Valley Middle School; in Manti, they are weighing whether a trail segment belongs on Main Street or 100 West.

Meanwhile, an in-progress bike path between Spring City and Mt. Pleasant is considered part of the broader corridor, though it has separate funding and construction timelines.

The feasibility study is funded by federal RAISE (Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity) grants and overseen by the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT).

Farmer explained that the final report will not only outline a preferred route but also detail an “implementation plan” listing priority segments and suggested funding options. “We’re hoping to help local governments move from planning to action, should they decide to pursue this,” he said.

Planners said public interest often centers on whether existing roads can handle a widened path, as well as concerns about cost, safety and potential disruptions to neighborhoods. Cost estimates are still being prepared. Farmer noted that the price tag for one segment could be much higher than another depending on land availability, property acquisitions, or drainage requirements.

“We don’t want to present a big, broad number and risk being off by millions,” he said. “We’re going to do a careful breakdown for each municipality.”

Cano added that city councils, nonprofits and schools are also involved through a project steering committee. Members can help identify nuances in routing—for example, where to place trail crossings and how to maintain comfortable distances from highways.

Jones and DeMille will hold three open houses to gather input: April 10 at Ephraim City Hall; April 23 at Gunnison City Hall; and April 29 at Mt. Pleasant City Hall. All begin at 5:30 p.m. During each session, residents can review draft maps, submit comments in person and learn about the scope of the initiative.

A new project website is set to launch on April 10, complete with an interactive map and a comment form. Feedback will also be accepted on social media pages, as well as in drop boxes located at city halls.

“It’s exciting, but for some people, there is hesitation,” Cano told the Messenger, “So the more information we can get out there to inform members of the public, the better comments we’ll receive, and the better feedback we’ll receive on both sides of the aisle. It’s beneficial for everyone.”

While officials have not shared an official finish date, the team hopes to wrap up the feasibility study soon after the public comment period closes.

At that point, study findings will be presented to the county commission, city councils, and other local leaders.

Only then, Farmer said, would Sanpete County decide whether and how to seek additional funding for design and construction.