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City staff propose high‑visibility crosswalk standard and thermoplastic striping project
Summary
City engineering staff recommended adopting a three‑pattern standard for crosswalks — continental, zebra and ladder — and moving to thermoplastic markings for high‑visibility crossings, with coordination planned with UDOT for Main Street.
City of Moab engineering and public works staff told the City Council they want to adopt a single crosswalk standard favoring high‑visibility markings and thermoplastic materials, then put a thermoplastic striping project in next year’s budget beginning in Old Town and Safe Routes to Schools corridors.
Michael (city staff, Public Works/Engineering) said the city has discussed high‑visibility crosswalks with UDOT and that evidence and the city’s own Road Safety Assessment support pairing high‑visibility markings with lighting, signage and signalization to improve pedestrian safety. “When you couple several different things together, like high visibility crosswalks, lighting, and signing, and signalization, you end up getting a safer intersection for everybody,” he told the council.
Staff proposed three patterns to use going forward: continental for uncontrolled intersections on higher‑speed through streets, zebra markings where trail connections cross the highway and ladder markings at stop‑controlled intersections or where city streets have traffic‑control devices. The presentation recommended phasing in thermoplastic markings where the city can — staff said thermoplastic lasts longer, is more reflective and is well suited to Moab’s climate in locations without heavy snow‑plow use.
Michael said the city will coordinate the crosswalk standard with planned sidewalk and intersection improvements (bulb‑outs, curb ramps) and with UDOT for crossings on SR‑191 (Main Street). He added that thermoplastic is budgeted and that a project focusing on Old Town and Safe Routes to School is expected to be put out for bid in the coming budget year. The presentation estimated a typical thermoplastic treatment life in this climate near five years but noted lifetime varies by traffic and speed.
Council members expressed support for the direction. One councilmember noted the practical benefits of replacing temporary measures such as hand‑held flags with permanent high‑visibility painted crossings and said the change signals a commitment to pedestrian safety. Staff said they will bring project details, schedules and coordination plans with UDOT to the council as the thermoplastic project is scoped.
Ending: Staff asked council support for adopting the high‑visibility standard and for advancing a thermoplastic pavement‑marking project in the next budget cycle; the council signaled support and requested coordination details with sidewalk projects and UDOT crossings on Main Street.
