Engineers recommend signal at 1100 West & 600 South; council approves design change order for study and continues school-safety work

Engineers told Cedar City Council that traffic volumes justify a signal at 1100 West and 600 South and that school-area safety measures near Fiddlers Canyon Elementary and Cedar Middle School require a mix of short- and long-term interventions.

Josh Gibbons of Hales Engineering summarized three studies: a signal-warrant analysis at 1100 West & 600 South that found volumes sufficient to warrant a traffic signal (including observed queuing of about 1,000 feet eastbound at peak); review of three intersections near Fiddlers Canyon Elementary that did not meet always-stop warrants but showed sight‑distance issues and heavy off-site pickup that could be mitigated by parking restrictions and push‑button beacons; and crosswalk safety work at Cedar Middle School where a pedestrian hybrid (HAWK) beacon narrowly met warrants and curb extensions, signage, and parking changes were recommended.

"The traffic volumes are high enough to meet to warrant the traffic signal at the location," Josh Gibbons said during the presentation. Council and district staff discussed operational changes schools can make, staging and crosswalk locations, and enforcement and infrastructure options including striping, curb extensions and crosswalk beacons.

Shane Johnson (engineering) presented a $42,500 change order request to have Kimberly Horn design the traffic signal. The council approved moving the design change order to the consent agenda so staff can finalize the design procurement and funding adjustments from the 100 East project street allocation.

Next steps: staff will complete design procurement, coordinate required lighting and striping with the school district, and return to council with a construction funding recommendation. The council asked staff to include lighting and safety details in the design and to keep the school district and police in active coordination.