“Centers Work!”: Utah Communities Lead the Way in Tackling Housing and Congestion

Utah’s rapid growth is no secret. Every day, families feel the strain of rising housing costs and longer commutes. But across the Wasatch Front, communities are proving there are effective ways to navigate the impacts of growth. The Wasatch Front Regional Council (WFRC), in partnership with Mountainland Association of Governments (MAG) and the Utah League of Cities and Towns (ULCT), today launched an effort, “Centers Work!: Real Progress, Real Benefits, Real Support” — highlighting how local City and Town Centers are delivering real solutions to two of Utah’s most pressing challenges: housing and traffic congestion.

“Centers are a key strategy of the grassroots Wasatch Choice Vision, and this strategy is working,” said Ted Knowlton, WFRC’s Deputy Director and Chief Planner. “Centers are the hearts of our communities — walkable areas where activity is focused, with places to live, work, and play. By creating centers, communities are offering more housing choices, mitigating traffic, and strengthening their unique character.”

The Centers Work! effort showcases:

• Real Progress: Communities across the region are revitalizing downtowns, improving access to services, and expanding housing opportunities. Examples include Bountiful Town Square, Millcreek Common, Downtown Daybreak in South Jordan, and Provo City Center. And the momentum is growing — nearly every community in our region is planning new or enhanced Centers, with the number increasing from 229 in 2023 to 393 by 2025.
• Real Benefits: New data shows Centers reduce congestion, provide diverse housing, and improve quality of life. Current Centers cut an estimated 800,000 miles of driving per day and save 11 billion gallons of water annually.
• Real Support: New resources like the Missing Middle Toolkit and Centers Visualizations that help cities and towns put ideas into action.

Addressing Growth Challenges

Utah’s high quality of life is fueling housing demand and, therefore, high costs, while congestion is adding stress to families and businesses alike. Centers offer a clear solution by connecting people to jobs, services, and amenities nearby — reducing long commutes, strengthening community ties, and helping cities preserve open space.

“People long for memorable places where neighbors can meet, where you can walk to the store or a park, and where your kids can live nearby when they grow up,” said WFRC Chair and South Jordan Mayor Dawn Ramsey. “Centers are delivering that reality here in Utah.”

Next Steps

WFRC will share resources and highlight progress through conference presentations — like this week’s Utah League of Cities and Town Annual Conference at the Salt Palace in Salt Lake City, where on Thursday – “Planners’ Day,” – WFRC staff and partners will share with local elected leaders this progress and new resources. These near-term activities are designed to do more than inform — they equip local leaders with practical tools to create or enhance Centers in their own communities.

But the real next steps lie with the communities themselves. As leaders put these resources into action, more City and Town Centers will come to life — offering more housing options, mitigating congestion, and creating vibrant gathering places where people can live, work, and play. The work happening now is laying the foundation for long-term progress outlined in the Wasatch Choice Vision, which will enhance Utah’s quality of life for generations to come.