An aerial view of Salt Lake City’s Westside, which stands to benefit from development of the Northwest Quadrant of the city. The Utah Inland Port Authority has released a report about the possible future of the area. (Courtesy Utah Inland Port Authority)
The Utah Inland Port Authority envisions Salt Lake City’s Northwest Quadrant to be the site of higher-wage jobs in advanced manufacturing and biotech, and have workforce training programs to enable residents to train for future higher-skilled opportunities.
Those are among the opportunities identified in the “preferred scenario” spelled out for the quadrant, following a baseline study of the area undertaken by UIPA in partnership with Salt Lake City. The preferred scenario will guide future investment and policy decisions for the area.
The study evaluates existing conditions within UIPA’s jurisdictional land in northwest Salt Lake City, including transportation, environmental quality, economic opportunity and community health. It incorporates data analysis and community input gathered through public open houses with Westside residents.
The baseline study and preferred scenario recommendations were presented to the UIPA board and Salt Lake City Council in March and will guide ongoing collaboration with city leaders, community partners and residents.
A freight train moves through Salt Lake City’s Westside. Jobs and workforce training spelled out in a preferred scenario recently released by the Utah Inland Port Authority could help residents of the Westside. (Courtesy Utah Inland Port Authority)
UIPA’s jurisdictional area covers approximately 16,000 acres in northwest Salt Lake City and parts of northern West Valley City and Magna. It has a significant amount of undeveloped land, has seen recent growth in freight activity, contains environmentally sensitive lands, has both closed and active landfills, and has zoning to support manufacturing and industrial development.
The preferred scenario outlines a future that includes potential targeted investments in public safety, workforce development, transit access and environmental improvements, along with recommended policy actions to support water conservation, sustainable development and improved freight movement.
The scenario summary is available at https://inlandportauthority.utah.gov/wp-content/uploads/UIPA_Preferred-Scenario_Final_3.30.2026-1.pdf. The baseline study is at https://inlandportauthority.utah.gov/nwq-study/.
“The preferred scenario reflects both community input and technical analysis,” said Ben Hart, UIPA’s executive director. “It provides a framework to support economic opportunity while addressing environmental and community priorities, and we’ll have additional updates later this year as we begin advancing key recommendations.”
“The Northwest Quadrant plays an important role in Salt Lake City’s future, and this work reflects a community-informed approach to growth,” said Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall. “These recommendations prioritize environmental stewardship, improved air quality, and better access to jobs and services for Westside residents.”
Two-thirds of the Northwest Quadrant is vacant land, with much of it zoned for industrial and manufacturing use. It is home to more than 10,000 jobs, with 34 percent in transportation, 25 percent in manufacturing and 20 percent in professional/scientific/technical services. Two-thirds of the quadrant jobs pay more than $40,000 a year, and over half do not require a college degree.
The preferred scenario calls for more opportunities for people who live nearby to get jobs in the area and for support workforce and development opportunities for Westside residents.
The report acknowledges that Westside neighborhoods have lower employment levels than the city overall, with Jordan Meadows, Poplar Grove and Glendale having per capita incomes at or near 50 percent below the city’s level.
The preferred scenario seeks to boost opportunities to attract businesses that provide low barrier-to-entry and higher-wage jobs, and acknowledges the need to balance development with preserving and sustaining environmental resources. It also seeks to address transportation access and services because of low car ownership levels in the area and a lack of services — such as childcare, grocery stores and medical care — in and around the quadrant.
The industrial market in the quadrant is dominated by warehousing and distribution uses, although it has attracted advanced manufacturing and biotechnology companies. The preferred scenario seeks to find efficiencies in air cargo because it is nearby Salt Lake City International Airport.
The baseline study looked at development trends in the Northwest Quadrant from 2018 to 2024. After a pair of open houses, the area recommendations were refined and include priority investments and policies as well as long-term considerations and tracking metrics to monitor ongoing progress.
The study identified key challenges and opportunities, including air quality impacts, limited access to essential services, increasing transportation demand, and the need to balance development with protection of wetlands and Great Salt Lake resources.