FARMINGTON -- A plan to officially link a three-county bike trail in central and northern Utah is pedaling ahead, thanks to the latest actions by the Davis County Commission.
The newest step in the plan, taken Tuesday by commissioners, would officially hook the Legacy Parkway Trail and the Jordan River Parkway Trail.
Both Parkway bike trails are in various stages of development, but the commission action will connect Salt Lake and Davis counties with the partially existing bike paths.
"It's 10 feet (wide) of asphalt," said Scott Hess of the Davis County Planning Office, describing the path the county will build as a mile-long connector. Currently a service road, the path will also include a 5-foot-wide horse trail.
Hess and others have been working on making a seamless bike trail despite reduced state funding for portions of the project.
The Legacy Trail, which starts in Farmington, is 14 miles long and is open to pedestrians, bicyclists and horseback riding; ATVs are prohibited.
There is also a 3-mile pedestrian nature walk along the edge of the Legacy Nature Preserve.
Making the trails connect is a step highly anticipated by some in both counties.
"When we met with Mayor (Ralph) Becker (of Salt Lake City), it was one of the first things he talked about," said Davis County Commissioner John Petroff.
The commissioners approved a contract with the state, accepting $125,000 awarded to Davis as pass-through money from the federal government.
Both trails have various access points with a scenic ride, though some parts are unfinished,
The goal of organizers for the Jordan Trail is to create a continuous, nonmotorized, paved trail system along the river, extending from its headwaters at Utah Lake in Utah County to the connection with the Legacy Trail near Great Salt Lake -- a distance of about 40 miles.
The Jordan River flows over 50 miles from Utah Lake north to Great Salt Lake and flows through three counties -- Utah, Salt Lake and Davis.
Sections of the trails have been completed in recent years with grant money and sales tax revenue.
Down the road, there are plans to connect a third major bike trail to Jordan and Legacy.
The Denver and Rio Grande Western Rail Trail is a partnership of the Utah Transit Authority and the cities of Roy, Clinton, Clearfield, Layton, Kaysville, Farmington, Centerville and West Bountiful.
Eventually the entire DRGW Rail Trail will be 24 miles long, running between West Bountiful and West Haven. The West Bountiful portion is scheduled to open in ceremonies today.
Back in Davis County, Hess hopes the 1-mile connector, a literal link between the two trails and two counties will be completed next year.
Together, the three trails could mean a 68-mile ride for Utah's uber bike enthusiasts.
On the Web:
More information about the Legacy Trail and the Jordan River Trail
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