Salt Lake City faces new traffic calming restrictions under SB 195 legislation

Salt Lake City will face new restrictions on implementing traffic calming measures following the passage of SB 195, which limits the city’s ability to reduce lanes on major roads without prior approval from the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT). The bill, which underwent several revisions, now applies specifically to arterial and collector roads within a defined area of the city, rather than all city streets as initially proposed.

The designated area includes North 600 North to the north, Foothill Drive to the east, 2100 South to the south, and I-15 to the west. Under the new regulations, any project aimed at narrowing lanes or reducing road capacity must be part of a mobility plan that Salt Lake City develops and submits to UDOT for approval. This change is intended to ensure that traffic flow is not adversely affected by local initiatives aimed at enhancing road safety.

Traffic calming measures, such as speed humps, traffic circles, and raised crosswalks, are designed to slow down traffic and improve safety, aligning with the city’s goal of zero fatalities on the roads. However, the bill includes a provision that any measures potentially increasing traffic congestion must be evaluated within the mobility plan framework. This stipulation raises questions about how various traffic calming strategies will be categorized and whether they will be exempt from the lane reduction requirements.

During the meeting, committee members expressed a desire to further discuss corridor preservation funding and its administration across different counties. Salt Lake County currently manages a portion of these funds, and there is interest in learning from other counties' approaches to enhance local practices.

As Salt Lake City navigates these new regulations, the implications for future traffic safety initiatives and urban planning will be closely monitored. The ongoing dialogue among local officials will be crucial in determining how effectively the city can implement its traffic calming strategies while adhering to the new legislative framework.