UDOT to study pedestrian crossings on Price City state highways, starts with 100 North

Jerry Beard, deputy director for Utah Department of Transportation Region 4, told the Price City Council on March 11 that UDOT will begin pedestrian counts and safety studies on state highways through Price to identify locations for crossings and safety improvements.

"My name is Jerry Beard, and I'm the deputy director for UDOT Region 4," Beard said, describing the agency's process of field counts, traffic-gap analysis and crash-data review. He said UDOT teams will count pedestrians on an average weekday starting early in the morning, evaluate traffic gaps and consider factors such as nearby pedestrian generators when deciding whether to recommend treatments.

Beard said the agency plans to move quickly on a study of 100 North (SR-55) between Carbon Avenue and 300 East — the downtown block with signalized intersections at each end — to determine whether a mid-block crossing or additional enhancements are warranted. He also said UDOT will evaluate crossings by the new school on Carbon Avenue and the Maverik commercial area as part of the same review.

UDOT officials described a range of possible remedies, from painted crosswalks and signage to rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFBs), leading pedestrian intervals that give walkers a head start before turning traffic, and signal-timing changes to improve pedestrian visibility. Beard noted crash data for the last five years showed four pedestrian/bicycle strikes at the Carbon Avenue/Main Street intersection, which flagged the location for review.

Council members pressed on jurisdictional boundaries and asked whether UDOT can partner on projects that intersect city streets; Beard said the agency will coordinate with Price staff and recommended the city reach out to UDOT staff when a project affects state routes. Council members also discussed no-parking zones near the new school and the need to coordinate school enrollment numbers to size any school-zone crossing.

UDOT said pedestrian counting for the 100 North study will begin in good weather as soon as practical and that the department will return with recommendations after the field work and analysis are complete.