Arrowhead residents raise speeding, sight-line and drainage concerns; city offers camera and study

A resident group from the Arrowhead neighborhood presented a data-backed complaint about speeding, sight-line hazards and drainage issues during the public forum at the Payson City Council meeting on Sept. 17.

Joseph (Joe) Hansley, who said he lives in the New Arrowhead development, described sections of Arrow Park Drive (1300 East) as "the primary issue" and told the council he had collected survey responses from neighbors documenting repeated high-speed driving, close calls and at least one previous collision involving a child. "There's been some extreme speeding on there every now and then," Hansley said, and he reported multiple near-misses where parked vehicles or the road curvature reduce visibility near driveways and a school-bus stop.

Hansley said neighbors favor several responses: a localized speed-bump or traffic-calming device near the worst curve; a visible electronic speed-display sign; and, for some respondents, automated enforcement. He reported that about 82% of survey respondents favored a single speed bump near the blind curve and that 91% supported some kind of speed-display device.

City staff and the police chief told the council they can deploy a camera to record speeds and vehicle counts and evaluate whether a stop sign or other controls meet engineering criteria. "We can actually tell how fast they're going and how many cars per hour come through," staff said. The chief noted constraints such as snowplow impacts on speed bumps and the need to follow the traffic-control warrant process before installing permanent traffic devices.

Councilors and staff also heard about persistent soggy lawns and drainage problems in the area; staff said some issues can be complex and tied to incomplete infrastructure and ongoing construction in the subdivision. The council said it would route Hansley's materials and survey data to staff for further study, including camera monitoring and a formal engineering review of potential traffic-calming solutions.

No immediate regulatory action was taken; the council will review staff findings and engineering recommendations at a future meeting.