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House adopts resolution urging safety improvements on Highway 6 after lawmakers cite high crash toll
Summary
Lawmakers unanimously framed Highway 6 (Spanish Fork–Price) as a public-safety priority, citing dozens of fatalities and thousands of crashes over recent years; the House adopted House Joint Resolution 13 by recorded vote.
SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah House adopted House Joint Resolution 13 on Feb. 25, urging state transportation authorities to prioritize safety and capacity improvements along Highway 6 between Spanish Fork and Price.
Representative Brad King, who introduced the resolution, laid out crash and fatality statistics to illustrate the corridor—s safety risks, telling the House that "between 1994 and 1996 ... there have been 961 crashes" on that stretch and referencing numerous fatalities in recent years. King said the corridor serves heavy truck and interstate traffic and urged the legislature to press the Utah Department of Transportation and the Highway Commission to prioritize funding for widening and safety projects.
Several members gave local examples and personal accounts, and Representative Wei described the effort as bipartisan and statewide in scope. Members said current STIP (State Transportation Improvement Program) allocations and prioritization decisions have repeatedly delayed major upgrades; Representative King argued that the project—s life‑saving potential justifies substantially greater investment.
The House adopted the resolution by recorded vote; the clerk announced 71 yes and 2 no. Members said the resolution is intended as a message to state transportation planners and the Highway Commission rather than an immediate funding appropriation.
Why it matters: Highway 6 carries interregional and interstate traffic and, according to floor presentations, has experienced a high rate of crashes and fatalities. The resolution signals the legislature—s intent to press transportation agencies for prioritization, which could affect future STIP and project sequencing.
Next steps: The resolution will be transmitted as the House—s recommendation to the appropriate state transportation authorities.
