Residents press Price City Council for stop sign, crosswalks and ice control near schools

At the Jan. 8 Price City Council meeting, two residents urged the council to act on traffic and pedestrian-safety concerns near schools and in residential neighborhoods.

An unnamed resident whose remarks were recorded during public comment asked the council to install a stop sign at the corner near Mount Harmon's, saying a wide, rounded turn allows drivers to travel "30, 35 miles an hour" and that "a stop sign at that corner is gonna be the easiest fix and the best way to just ensure that our kids are able to cross the road." The resident said crossing flags or a crossing guard would not address the geometry of the turn and expressed concern about children darting across the street.

Wayne Jackson, who identified himself during the same public-comment period, asked the council to add crosswalks on South Carbon Avenue where a school bus stops at about 600 South. "There's a school bus that stops at 600 South in Carbon Avenue to let kids out. Should have a crosswalk there because I've seen many times where some of the cars almost run go through that bus stop and let kids out," Jackson said. He also described a recurring icy stretch of roadway farther east on 500 South that creates hazardous walking conditions and asked the city to send a truck to break up and de-ice the area.

City staff member Miles (title not given in the transcript) described the standard process for handling traffic-control requests: the city conducts a road safety audit that includes the street crew, the street supervisor, police and city staff, and gathers information and input from the school district. Miles said the city is meeting with the school district's superintendent, Mike Casales, and that a separate meeting with UDOT officials, the deputy director and other regional staff would be used to raise such concerns when appropriate.

Miles told the resident that written statements and signed petitions from area residents would help the review committee and that the city would evaluate traffic-control options using national standards for traffic control. The resident asked whether a council member and a resident could participate in the audit; staff said the road is under city jurisdiction and indicated there would be opportunities for local input.

The council did not take immediate action at the meeting beyond agreeing to review the concerns; Miles said the items are being processed through the city's standard engineering and public-safety review procedures.