Commission restores 30-foot red curb at south Lehi/Palmyra intersection after staff review

The Traffic Commission voted to restore continuous red curb in front of 292 South Lehi Street (Lemmon Street frontage), upholding the 30-foot restriction originally approved in 2000.

Staff introduced Junie Veil, an associate in the traffic engineering division, who said records show the 30-foot parking restriction was approved by the commission in February 2000 and that part of that curb had later been removed and not restored. Staff also reported that the city installed additional red curb in November 2023 at curb ramps to improve pedestrian visibility, which left an unmarked 16-foot gap that staff observed drivers using for parking.

Several residents urged the commission to consider the 20-foot sight-distance standard in state law—referred to in the meeting as the “Daylight Law” or AB 413—and asked whether reducing the restoration to 20 feet would reclaim parking. Staff told the commission that the 20-foot standard (AB 413) provides a generic minimum but that the 30-foot restriction reflected site-specific geometry assessed in 2000 and that staff did not recommend an arbitrary reduction without further engineering analysis.

A commissioner asked whether reducing the curb from 30 to 20 feet would likely add a parking space; staff said it might yield space for one additional vehicle depending on vehicle size but recommended further analysis before changing the dimension. After discussion, the commission approved staff’s proposal to restore the 30-foot continuous red curb at the location as shown on the staff map.

The action preserves the original commission intent for sightline and pedestrian safety; staff noted the decision could be revisited if new engineering evidence is provided.