Action Alerts

Help Downtown Neighbors Advocate for Safer 500 West Intersections

We need your help this week. Please come to the 500 W Public Hearing. Wednesday, October 11th. 5-7pm at Provo High School.

UDOT is currently planning a redesign for 500 West. We’re delighted about the new bicycle lanes that will go from Center St. to Bulldog Blvd. as well as the historic lighting, and the ten foot pedestrian path. *Happy Dance*

The concerning feature of this design is the new wider, rounded corners at intersections.

Neighbors are worried because the rounded intersections create longer, less reliable crossings for pedestrians. They also encourage cars to speed through right turns. This plan makes school crossings to Timp Elementary even more dangerous for students that will no longer have a pedestrian crossing tunnel.

If the hospital staff needs an entire ped overpass on this street, our kids should at least have ground-level intersections designed for safety.

What is the Neighbors’ Preferred Design?

A group of neighbors would like to see 500 West intersections designed with bulb-outs or pork chops, two features that would protect children walking to Timp and families crossing the street elsewhere.

 

The benefits of these design features include shorter intersection distances for people walking, pushing strollers, etc. Crossings are more obvious and right turns are taken at a less-accelerated speed. This is a more reasonable compromise for Timp students that will be losing the pedestrian crossing tunnel to their school.

Please Help Us This Week

There are two big ways you can encourage UDOT to create safer intersections as a part of the street redesign:

– Come to the 500 W Public Hearing. Wednesday, October 11th. 5-7pm. Provo High School (1125 N University Ave.) Be sure to leave a written comment about your pedestrian safety and intersection preferences. You can come for just a few minute to leave a comment; you do not need to stay the entire time. It is an informal walk-through open house.

– Send your comments to UDOT. Email provo500w@utah.gov and also share your comments with bikeprovo@gmail.com.

This is a chance to make a big difference and everyone’s voice counts. The more people that speak up, the better our opportunity to create a safer street.

Thank you for your support and willingness to show up when we need it most!

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1 comment

  1. In looking at the design that is safer for Pedestrians, children and adults, the bulb-outs, are of the course the BEST way to go! I am always in fear of my life walking the intersections on 500 West. I live on 200 North 500 West, Cascade Gardens. The intersections in the neighborhood need more awareness. I am glad that this subject is being addressed!

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