Agenda Item Title
Title
City Council Office recommending the Council consider additional comments on the 700 East Safety Project.
Body
Presenter
Presenter
Mike Applegarth
Body
Description/Background:
On October 4, 2016 the Utah Department of Transportation briefed the City Council on their 700 East Safety Project. Council Members shared individual concerns with the project representative.
Shortly thereafter the Council Office received a petition with 106 signatures in opposition to the project. Representatives of the petitioners also contacted the Council Office requesting additional time to comment on the project. Mayor Dolan and Chairman Smith jointly requested an extension of the comment period from UDOT. UDOT initially granted a one week extension. Mayor Dolan subsequently requested that the comment period be extended until November 4, 2016. UDOT again granted the requested extension.
The Council Office obtained crash data from UDOT originally requested by a committee of business interests concerned about the project. A breakout of the data indicated a significant number of crashes were intersection related and perhaps not mitigated by the raised medians that are the primary source of concern for the business community. With new information about actual crashes now available, and the comment period extended at the City's request, the Council Office recommends the Council consider formallizing its comments as expressed verbally on October 4.
Future Dependent Action:
Council Office to provide letter to UDOT if approved by the City Council.
Recommended Action and/or Suggested Motion:
Recommendation
Consider adoption of the proposed formal comment letter to UDOT.