Roy residents press council to pause Rail Runner phases; council orders radar speed signs and temporary calming trial

Residents and council members clashed over traffic and safety risks tied to the Rail Runner townhome project during the Roy City Council meeting on Aug. 5, when neighbors urged a pause on future building phases until existing units are occupied and a new traffic study measures real-world impacts.

"If we wait until Rail Runner units are built for a traffic study, it will be too late," Amanda Esplin said during public comment, reflecting a frequent neighborhood plea that the city evaluate post-occupancy traffic flows before approving additional units. Ben Stevenson asked the council to "pause any future phases or expansions of this development until these key conditions are met," listing completion, occupancy and a new traffic study as his three conditions.

Council discussion later focused on near-term, measurable steps to address residents' safety concerns. Public Works staff recommended radar speed-feedback signs as a low-cost way to gather baseline data about vehicle volumes and speeds; a staff representative said each sign runs about $4,000 and that existing units could be installed quickly. "Put a couple of these radar units, okay, in there, and not only we'll give them the feedback ... but Bridal can pull down the data that tells us how many cars went through there," Mayor Dan Doy said during deliberations, urging decisions guided by data rather than emotion.

Council Member Randy framed speed humps as a possible later step but urged a methodical approach: collect objective data first, then decide whether temporary or permanent calming devices are warranted. After debate about plowing and emergency-response impacts, the council directed public works to install radar speed-feedback signs in the area promptly and authorized staff to trial temporary traffic-calming devices (rubber/temporary humps) while data is collected to inform longer-term action.

Residents in the public record described a pattern of concerns: a single impaired access to the development, limited guest parking that could spill into existing neighborhoods, and potential backups that could block crossings of the railroad. Several speakers asked the council not to issue more certificates of occupancy for later phases until a new study is done reflecting actual occupancy and constrained access at 4000 South.

Council and staff emphasized the difference between private-property access inside the new townhome complex and public streets where the city can act. Public Works noted that temporary humps can be installed without waiting for ideal paving weather, while permanent asphalt humps are subject to seasonal constraints. Fire and police leadership said they would adapt operations if humps are installed; the fire chief indicated any incremental delay in response time was acceptable compared with resident safety concerns.

The council outcome: staff were directed to install radar speed-feedback signs immediately (public works to place units and begin collecting data), pursue a short-term data-collection window (staff to report back with readings), and, contingent on what the data shows and community feedback, run a temporary speed-hump trial this fall with options for later permanent installation. Council members said the data will guide any further investments and that residents will be able to review and request the raw counts once available.

The matter remains open: neighbors asked for a post-occupancy traffic study before approving additional building permits, and the council asked staff to return with data and a recommended timeline for any permanent calming measures.