Utah Active Transportation Implementation Academy
What is THE Utah Active Transportation Implementation Academy?
A high-impact professional development program designed to elevate your learning for how to build stronger, safer, and more connected communities through active transportation. Whether you are a planner, engineer, elected official, or other staffer of a local, regional, or state entity, you will gain new insights that will help you utilize active transportation to strengthen your community.
The UATIA will consist of a limited cohort of 15 - 20 professionals who will work through the course together.
The Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC), Mountainland Association of Governments (MAG), Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), and the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) have partnered to develop and offer the UATIA. The program, developed by the listed partners, is a cost-free opportunity for eligible applicants. Accepted participants are responsible for travel to and from Salt Lake City for in-person sessions.
ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible for this UATIA inaugural cohort, applicants must meet the following criteria:
#1. Be a professional actively working for or are a sitting elected or appointed official of a city or other related organization.
#2. Your organization must be located within the Wasatch Front Regional Council and or Mountainland Association of Governments boundaries. More information on regions can be found HERE for WFRC and HERE for MAG.
Multiple applicants from an entity are encouraged to apply. It is envisioned that up to two participants per organization will be selected to participate in the inaugural cohort.
What is the time COMMITMENT for the uATIA?
The UATIA is designed to integrate into your busy schedule. To that end, the course is designed to be a hybrid learning experience that will combine strategic in-person sessions with other live, online workshops. The UATIA will meet a total of nine times between the in-person kickoff session in early December 2025 and the closing capstone session in April 2026.
Three of the nine sessions will be in person and hosted at the WFRC offices in Salt Lake City. In-person sessions are scheduled for December 3, 2025, March 5, 2026, and April 16, 2026.
The remaining six sessions will be live online workshops that will be ~2 hours in length and will be scheduled typically from 1 - 3 pm, and can be completed while at your desk or office. These sessions will occur every other week.
In the off weeks between online sessions, each participant will complete a simple out-of-class assignment that is relevant to the learning objectives.
What will I LEarn in the Implementation academy?
How to successfully plan and build an AT project in your community by gaining further knowledge of the following:
Technical details and best practices for building safe, comfortable, and connected bicycle and pedestrian facilities.
Learn the role that an active transportation network can play in supporting healthy families and communities, housing, and complementing multi-modal transportation networks.
Best practices for developing a bicycle and pedestrian-friendly culture that increases usage and ridership.
Key lessons for conducting effective public engagement that includes a wide array of voices and perspectives.
How a connected community can increase economic development and tourism.
UTAH-Active Transportation Implementation Academy Inaugural Cohort Application:
Utah Active Transportation Implementation Academy Schedule
Module 1A (in-person):
Date: December 3, 2025
Time Investment: 8 hours (8:30 am - 5 pm)
Curriculum:
•Intro of cohort members + course overview
•Intro of Connected Community Model
•Historical evolution of transportation
Out of class assignment (Due: Friday, December 12, 2025, 5 pm)
Module 1B (live online session):
Date: January 8, 2026
Time Investment: 2 hours (1 – 3 pm)
Curriculum:
•Benefits of AT, current & future trends
Out of class assignment (Due Friday, January 16, 2026, 5 pm)
Module 2A (live online session):
Date: January 22, 2026
Time Investment: 2 hours (11 am – 1 pm)
Curriculum:
•Connected Community Infrastructure (safe, comfortable, connected)
•All ages and abilities design
Out of class assignment (Due Friday, January 30, 2026, 5 pm)
Module 2B (live online session):
Date: February 5, 2026
Time Investment: 2 hours (1 – 3 pm)
Curriculum:
•Integrating the safe systems approach + vulnerable road user safety
•Choosing the right facility (context-sensitive solutions)
•Guest speaker
Out of class assignment (Due Friday, February 13, 2026, 5 pm)
Module 3 (live online session):
Date: February 19, 2026
Time Investment: 2 hours (11 am – 1 pm)
Curriculum:
•Policy frameworks + regulatory environments
•Integration of AT into urban planning
•Effective policy language
•Guest speaker
•AT integration with transit systems
Out of class assignment (Due: Friday, February 27, 2026, 5 pm)
Module 4 (in-person):
Date: March 5, 2026
Time Investment: 5 hours (9 am - 2 pm)
Curriculum:
•Connected community culture (welcoming, accessible, encouraging)
•Building a professional network of peers + stakeholders to help with implementation & resourcing
•Enrolling the business community
•Programs for getting people walking and biking
Out of class assignment (Due: Friday, March 13, 2026, 5 pm)
Module 5 (live online session):
Date: March 19, 2026
Time Investment: 2 hours (1 – 3 pm)
Curriculum:
•Overview of funding (developing public + private partnerships, identifying public grants)
•Guest speaker
Out of class assignment (Due: March 27, 2026, 5 pm)
Module 6 (live online session):
Date: April 2, 2026
Time Investment: 2 hours (1 – 3 pm)
Curriculum:
•Exploring effective public engagement strategies
•Engaging stakeholders, key decision makers, and influencers within the community
•Techniques for maximizing citizen involvement and input
Out of class assignment (Due: Friday, April 10, 2026, 5 pm MT/6 pm CT)
Module 7 Capstone + Course Completion (in-person):
Date: April 16, 2026
Time Investment: 6 hours (9 am - 3 pm)
Wrap Up Course
Participant Feedback Survey
(All schedule time is listed in Mountain Standard Time)
FOR ALL UATIA INQUIRIES PLEASE CONTACT:
Hugh Van Wagenen
Transportation Planner, Wasatch Front Regional Council
email: hugh.vanwagenen@wfrc.utah.gov
mobile: 385.424.5186 office: 801.363.4250 x1124