Council approves signal at 2000 North and Aaron Drive with emergency preemption; some members voice safety reservations
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Summary
Tooele City approved a contract to install a traffic signal with fiber preemption at 2000 North and Aaron Drive to improve traffic flow near Mountain West Hospital; council members and staff stressed the importance of emergency preemption and said they had reservations about placement and ambulance access.
The Tooele City Council voted 5-0 May 7 to approve an agreement with Cache Valley Electric Company to install a traffic signal at 2000 North and Aaron Drive, a corridor staff said is nearing poor level-of-service and is expected to be more congested when the new high school opens.
Public Works Director Jamie Grandpre summarized a corridor study completed in November 2023 and said staff evaluated multiple options including a conventional traffic signal, a roundabout, restricted left-turn treatments and a signal operated for emergency preemption. He said the selected solution includes a fiber connection to the SR-36 signal and preemption capability for emergency vehicles to reduce response delays.
Grandpre said the proposed signal did not meet typical volume or crash warrants for a conventional signal, but the emergency-signal option addresses hospital access and emergency response needs. He said UDOT approvals and a fiber connection to the SR-36 signal are in place, and that the city already approved parts from the UDOT warehouse in March.
During the discussion Councilwoman Manzion said she had “serious reservations” about placement but voted aye. Several council members raised concerns about ambulances getting through congested intersections and asked that preemption be implemented and tested. Grandpre and council members noted a new statewide preemption protocol UDOT is rolling out to improve reliability and that the signal will use fiber to maintain 24/7 communication with SR-36.
Councilwoman Goches moved to approve Resolution 2025-28; Councilman McCall seconded. The motion passed 5-0.