Rep. John Curtis, who represents Utah’s 3rd Congressional District, last month visited the City of Holladay, where the third-term congressmen took an abbreviated city tour from City Hall, to Knudsen Park, the Holladay Crossroads Zone and Holladay Hills.

The visit was arranged by city leaders as part of an effort to build rapport and court influence in Washington—with the specific hope that Curtis will help the city acquire federal dollars for a planned overhaul of Highland Drive. 

The tour began at City Hall, where Curtis and members of his staff met with local officials before setting off through District 1’s Holladay Village Zone and on to the city’s south side for a look at the 6.5-acre Knudsen Park and surrounding developments, a proud example of the municipality’s open space. 

The group then drove west to the Holladay Crossroads Zone, where leaders expressed their vision for the multi-modal, mixed-used commercial hub, known as the city’s “gateway.”

Curtis was then brought north to the Holladay Hills development, where leaders discussed the area’s history, future, then posed for photos before heading back to City Hall to conclude the 50 minute tour, a brief but impactful visit, according to city officials.

“I think it's more important than ever for us to have a close and collegial relationship with [federal representatives]. So that if there's opportunity for federal funds or to benefit the city, or if there's an opportunity for us to provide input on important legislation that is taking place at the federal level, this gives us a little bit more of a voice,” said Mayor Robert Dahle.

Curtis, who grew up in the area and attended Skyline High School, is familiar with the Holladay area, and Dahle said the representative was impressed by the state of the city.

“The opportunity to meet face to face and take him around Holladay and give him a little bit of perspective of what's going on here, and that can only help,” Dahle said.

The specific aim of the visit was to build support for the city’s multi-modal transportation revamp of a 1.4 mile stretch of Highland Drive from Arbor Lane to Van Winkle Expressway. 

The project is estimated to cost $3.6 million and would see the installation of a center turning lane along with dedicated bike paths and walking paths, a design that seeks to balance resident preferences identified in the city’s Community Priorities Survey—with emphasis on “active transportation.”

Curtis applauded the city’s long-term approach to the plan and expressed general support for the project without confirming a commitment to endorse it for federal money.

“Rep. Curtis’ comment was that as small government you really should be looking out 15 or 20 years, not what is right right now, but what's going to be right for the future of your city,” Dahle explained of the congressman’s response. “And that’s what drove our decision making here so he was very supportive of the idea.”

The congressman’s decision of whether or not to recommend the project to the House Appropriations Committee will be revealed in coming weeks.