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Murray residents are getting a second chance to tour the city with the mayor.
Following the success of the first bus tour in January, Mayor Dan Snarr has decided to continue the tradition, opening the tour to anyone who is interested. The next tour is from 6-7 p.m. March 26.
Snarr sees the tour as an educational opportunity for Murray residents. He wants them to see the improvements the city has made and where they plan to spend tax dollars in the future.
"The most important thing to help a city remain viable and not have a lot of controversy is to educate people," Snarr said.
The tours began when Snarr offered to take a few long-time residents around the city in his car. He said residents were "awestruck" by their community and often discovered areas and neighborhoods they didn't existed. As interest grew, Snarr had to start taking his Ford Expedition to accommodate more passengers. His chief of staff, Jan Wells, was the one who thought to hire a bus.
The tour will take residents though recently developed areas of Murray, as well as neighborhoods that are deteriorating.
Of particular concern is the downtown historic area's west side. Snarr said bringing the older buildings up to code will be a challenge. Many are painted adobe brick, which has become softy and mushy over time. Even if the buildings can be restored, adequate parking will remain a challenge.
Snarr also plans to highlight some of the city's accomplishments. He wants to share his excitement over ongoing projects such as the commuter rail platform-to-platform transfer capability at 5300 South and the redevelopment of the Fireclay area.
The tour will also highlight the redevelopment of the Cottonwood Mall and end at the new Intermountain Medical Center, the crown jewel of Murray's redevelopment projects.
The tours are slated to continue as long as residents are interested. Reservations are required as the bus has limited capacity. Those who want to reserve a spot should contact the mayor's office.
Snarr is so eager to have residents take the tour, he is offering an additional incentive. He's offering to buy everyone who takes the tour a hot dog and drink at the nearby Costco.
Snarr's bus tour
* The next bus tour is from 6-7 p.m. March 26. To reserve your spot, call the mayor's office at 801-264-2600. For more information, visit http://www.murray.utah.gov.