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Innovative Utah Freeway for Cyclists and Pedestrians

“A multigenerational family walks together through tall grass while enjoying time outdoors”

Utah Trail Network/UDOT

Imagine being able to bike or walk on a paved path that connects to towns, state parks and mountain trails without ever having to fight cars or worry about road crossings. This ambitious project is underway in Utah, setting a precedent for other states to emulate.

Construction has begun on the Utah Trail Network, a 3,100-mile system of paved, unmotorized trails that will connect people of all ages and abilities to their destinations and communities. This interstate network will be entirely separate from vehicle traffic, ensuring comfort and accessibility for walking, biking or “rolling”. Approximately 500 miles are already in place.

The mission is to enhance recreation, boost tourism and provide safer commuting by linking cities, schools, workplaces and trailheads. Upon completion, 95 percent of Utah residents will live within a mile of the network. The state legislature has committed $45 million in ongoing funding and an additional $45 million one-time funding to the Utah Department of Transportation to plan, build and operate this regional trail network.

 

In-Print National Content Global Brief Global and Health Briefs February 2026

 

 

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Tick Tackler

Spring officially sprung on March 21. We have turned our clocks ahead. We are looking forward to warm winds, sunny skies and the smell of fresh cut grass. The daffodils and tulips have recently bloomed and we are just starting with the yard work that comes with the warmer weather.  Sadly, another season has started ramping up.  Tick season.

•             The best form of protection is prevention. Educating oneself about tick activity and how our behaviors overlap with tick habitats is the first step.

•             According to the NJ DOH, in 2022 Hunterdon County led the state with a Lyme disease incidence rate of 426 cases per 100,000 people. The fact is ticks spend approximately 90% of their lives not on a host but aggressively searching for one, molting to their next stage or over-wintering. This is why a tick remediation program should be implemented on school grounds where NJ DOH deems high risk for tick exposure and subsequent attachment to human hosts.

•             Governor Murphy has signed a bill that mandates tick education in NJ public schools. See this for the details.  Tick education must now be incorporated into K-12 school curriculum. See link:

https://www.nj.gov/education/broadcasts/2023/sept/27/TicksandTick-BorneIllnessEducation.pdf

•             May is a great month to remind the public that tick activity is in full swing. In New Jersey, there are many tickborne diseases that affect residents, including Anaplasmosis, Babesiosis, Ehrlichiosis, Lyme disease, Powassan, and Spotted Fever Group Rickettsiosis.

•             For years, the focus has mainly been about protecting ourselves from Lyme disease. But other tick-borne diseases are on the rise in Central Jersey. An increase of incidence of Babesia and Anaplasma are sidelining people too. These two pathogens are scary because they effect our blood cells. Babesia affects the red blood cells and Anaplasma effects the white blood cells.

•             Ticks can be infected with more than one pathogen. When you contract Lyme it is possible to contract more than just that one disease. This is called a co-infection. It is super important to pay attention to your symptoms. See link.

https://twp.freehold.nj.us/480/Disease-Co-Infection

A good resource from the State:

https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/topics/tickborne.shtml

 

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