Presenter outlines Main Street safety and streetscape plan to Green River City Council

A presenter told the Green River City Council on July 14 that a Main Street Community Development Block Grant study recommends traffic-calming and streetscape changes intended to make downtown easier and safer to walk.

The presenter summarized outreach findings and three priority areas for phased improvements, saying the study found high-speed traffic, poor sidewalks and inadequate crossings as the main issues. The study team cited current traffic counts and capacity estimates as part of its recommendation to consider narrowing certain four-lane sections to two lanes to slow traffic and shorten pedestrian crossings.

Why it matters: Narrower travel lanes, landscaped medians and curb extensions are intended to reduce vehicle speeds and improve sight lines for pedestrians, which proponents argued would help downtown businesses by making the area more walkable and inviting.

The presentation included several design options: curb extensions (bulb-outs), short medians or raised islands to guide turning vehicles, midblock treatments and movable planters that can be removed for freight access. The presenter described painted demonstration projects and low-cost pilots as a way to test changes before larger infrastructure work.

On pedestrian safety the presenter said outreach showed many residents do not always feel safe crossing Main Street and that respondents favored more street trees and landscape improvements. The presenter also recommended installing rectangular rapid-flashing beacons (RRFBs) at selected crossings as a lower-cost alternative to overhead signals.

A council speaker with prior experience in street-light projects welcomed the emphasis on achievable steps and urged the city to pursue incremental actions such as additional signage and targeted installations. The speaker cautioned that adding lighting or other curbside infrastructure requires coordination with the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) and utilities and can be subject to lengthy approval processes.

The presenter recommended phasing the work, with Phase 1 focused on the Main Street core and subsequent phases addressing drainage and other infrastructure. The presentation also identified potential tourism- and county-related funding sources for visitor amenities and public gathering areas; the presenter said having a plan in place would help the city pursue those funds.

The meeting transcript records discussion and questions but no formal motion or vote on the recommendations. The presenter asked the council to consider the study findings and the phased approach so the city could pursue funding and pilot projects next steps.