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South Salt Lake staff unveil neighborhood traffic-calming program; speed pillows, crosswalks planned
Summary
City staff presented a new traffic-calming program that establishes criteria for prioritizing neighborhood interventions, proposes permanent speed pillows in some locations, and seeks a Safe Streets for All grant to fund broader street-safety work.
South Salt Lake city staff on Aug. 27 presented a new traffic-calming program intended to prioritize neighborhood safety projects, collect data when residents complain, and guide the city’s investment in speed-reduction measures and pedestrian improvements.
Jacob Moser, a staff engineer with the city, described the program’s prioritization criteria: measured average speed and traffic volume, presence and condition of sidewalks, crash history, proximity to youth facilities such as schools or community centers, and other community facilities. Staff said those criteria will trigger data collection — speed and volume studies, sight-line checks, and resident outreach — before any intervention.
Moser listed interventions the city uses or will consider: speed pillows (concrete, permanent), limited use of traffic circles, curb bulb-outs, parking restrictions at intersections to improve sight lines, bike lanes, and sidewalk improvements. He said the city is working with consultant Kimley-Horn on a Safe Streets for All plan and has applied for the federal Safe Streets for All grant; the city is awaiting award decisions.
Staff described recent or planned implementations: bulb-outs and a high-visibility crosswalk near William Walker Elementary and Carlisle Park Lane with a radar speed sign; no-parking/red-curb changes near Truman and Main Street after a fatal crash last year; design work to extend the sidewalk and add ADA ramps on Gregson Avenue; and plans for a Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon near Wilson Elementary to improve State Street crossings. Moser said a recent speed study on 3745 South identified speeding complaints, and the city plans to add speed pillows there.
Councilmembers asked clarifying questions. One councilmember raised a pedestrian “head start” signal concept for marked intersections; staff said that idea looks promising and would likely require coordination with UDOT for major streets. Councilmembers also asked whether speed pillows are temporary; staff answered that the city’s speed pillows are permanent, concrete and embedded in the roadway.
Moser said the engineering department has posted the program and a complaint form on the city website, which residents and councilmembers can use to initiate the data-collection process for a particular street.
