'15-Minute City' To Be Built in Utah

A brand new neighborhood and "innovation hub" in Draper, Utah will be built with the explicit goal of reducing the need for cars and providing comprehensive, connected bike, pedestrian, and transit infrastructure, reports Kea Wilson. The project, which will be built on state-owned land, is overseen by the Point of the Mountain State Land Authority.

The project, known as the Point, will house roughly 7,400 homes plus schools and businesses. According to the article, "the Utah site may be the first publicly-sponsored project to pursue a car-light model, as well as the first U.S. community explicitly planned around the concept of the '15-minute city' from the ground up." The development will include a central "pedestrian priority zone," mixed-use zoning, public transit, and micromobility options such as bike and scooter share. 

While cars won't be entirely banned from the Point, its developers hope that each household will be able to meet its needs with only occasional trips using just one vehicle and plans to connect all parts of the community with diverse mobility options. 

State leaders hope the community can serve as a model for sustainable, car-light development that minimizes private vehicle use and improves air quality and livability for its residents.