Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Traffic Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Resident urges police-managed traffic control during canyon closures in Cottonwood Heights' Top of the World neighborhood
Summary
A Cottonwood Heights resident asked the city to work with police and neighbors on traffic management measures on Wasatch Boulevard during winter canyon closures, saying blocked intersections have prevented residents from reaching schools and emergency services.
Liz Maravilla, a nine-year resident of Cottonwood Heights, told the City Council she and other neighbors in the Top of the World subdivision are having trouble turning onto Wasatch Boulevard during winter snowstorms and when Little Cottonwood Canyon is closed for avalanche control.
"The inability to safely turn left or south from any part of the Top Of The World neighborhood onto Wasatch is a critical concern," Maravilla said, noting her family has missed school start times and that emergency access could be jeopardized. She said her son’s school starts two hours later than typical and cannot be reached by bus, and her daughter’s school in Draper requires a left or south turn onto Wasatch in the morning.
Maravilla told the council she has, on multiple occasions, left her vehicle to knock on other drivers’ windows to explain that she was not trying to cut in line but was attempting to reach school. She said that on March 19 she could not get across Wasatch via Honeywood Cove to Bridal because cars blocked the intersection both ways.
As an emergency preparedness precinct leader for Top of the World, Maravilla asked the council to coordinate with the Cottonwood Heights Police Department on traffic-management strategies during canyon closures. She suggested stationing an officer at key intersections on Wasatch Boulevard, painting pavement messages asking drivers not to block intersections, and placing temporary sandwich-board signs that residents would install and remove.
"Last year, we had a significant decrease in traffic flow problems when a police department rover vehicle was assigned to keep the intersections clear," Maravilla said, adding that she would welcome a citizens’ council to work with council members and police on practical solutions. She also asked whether she could distribute written letters to council members and was instructed to give them to a staff member for distribution.
No formal action, directive to staff, or timeline was recorded in the meeting minutes for the council to respond to Maravilla’s request. The council did not vote on or adopt any traffic-control measures at the meeting.
If the council or police department take follow-up steps, those would appear on future agendas or staff reports.
