Spanish Fork City leaders previewed concepts for Main Street on Feb. 4 and announced two open houses to solicit public feedback on design alternatives intended to improve safety, traffic flow and the downtown business environment.

Why it matters: Main Street is one of the city’s primary commercial corridors and has drawn recurring attention for congestion and crashes; the design choices discussed could shape mobility and the economic environment for businesses along the street.

City staff and consulting engineers described a multi-phase approach that began with master planning, federal and state grant applications and a funded first phase from 600 North to 10th North. Staff said an additional grant could pay for work from Fourth North to Sixth North, and that those funds could also be used as a local match for a larger federal grant to extend improvements down to Third South if a future grant application is successful.

Chris Thompson, a former city engineer now working with the consultant team, said planners are seeking public input on concepts that balance safety, traffic movement and Main Street’s historic character. The council announced a business-only open house in the morning and a public open house from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the library’s Heritage Room; a project website and an input portal (u.input.utah.gov/spanishforkmaine) will host renderings, background and email updates.

Council members noted Main Street’s long history as a congested corridor — Mayor Mike Mendenhall read a 1931 city ordinance that already designated Main Street between First South and Fourth North a “congested district” — and urged residents to review the proposed concepts and provide feedback during the open house.

Staff said safety is a high priority because “there are a lot of accidents on Main Street,” and the concepts focus on reducing conflict points for pedestrians and vehicles while supporting adjacent businesses. No binding decisions were made at the Feb. 4 meeting; staff invited public comment at the upcoming open-house sessions and will use the feedback to refine a recommended plan for council consideration at a later date.