Weber County staff weigh study, signs and sidewalks after parents raise speed concerns at West Weaver Elementary

Weber County commissioners heard a request to consider lowering speeds and adding temporary flashing school speed signs outside West Weaver Elementary after a parent contacted county staff about safety on the roadway outside the school.

County staff member Gary Myers told the commission he and the school’s assistant safety officer, Daryl Flukiger, had discussed conditions outside the school: a largely rural-feeling area with limited curb, gutter or sidewalks beyond the school frontage and many students arriving by parent drop-off or bus. “You don't have anything out there for walking facilities,” Myers said, and added that a crossing guard currently provided by a teacher leaves about 10 minutes before the bell as teachers prepare their classrooms.

Myers said installing temporary, flashing reduced-speed signs would usually be tied to a traffic study under the Utah Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (Utah MUTCD) and related administrative rules. He told commissioners he had consulted a traffic consultant (identified in the meeting as Joe Parent of Atrans), who indicated the site would likely be noted for missing pedestrian infrastructure and possibly require sidewalk work as part of any remedial program. Myers said the consultant could be hired directly for fees under $10,000 and that the county could fund the work from municipal services contingency.

Commissioner Harvey urged quick action: “The time is now to help protect these kids,” he said, and urged installing flashing signs immediately if the cost proved modest. A bid mentioned in the meeting put two flashing signs at about $7,500. Commissioner Froer (spelled variously in the transcript) urged caution, saying state case law and past practice show speed reductions are frequently upheld only with supporting traffic studies and that reductions without a study can be legally challenged.

Staff recommended contacting UDOT Region 1 for interpretation of the Utah MUTCD rules and confirmed there is an administrative rule adopting the Utah MUTCD criteria for reduced‑speed school zones. Myers and others told commissioners they could perform short vehicle counts quickly and that pedestrian counts for a study could be coordinated with the school district to identify where pupils actually cross. Myers said the county’s crossing guard program currently covers afternoon crossings but not necessarily the morning period and that funding responsibility for crossing guards varies by location.

Commissioners asked staff to follow up with UDOT Region 1 for legal/interpretive guidance, coordinate with the school district on pedestrian counts and crossing-guard needs, and proceed with a short traffic study if appropriate. No formal motion or vote on installing signs or lowering the posted speed took place during the meeting.

The commission also discussed possible use of development or subdivision projects nearby to pay for pedestrian facilities through payback or impact agreements if sidewalks are installed as part of new subdivisions.

Next steps as described during the meeting: staff to contact UDOT Region 1 for interpretation; schedule a pedestrian/walkway inventory with the school district; and, if authorized, procure a consultant for a short traffic study and pedestrian count using municipal services contingency funds.