When I ride my eBike to City Hall, the autumn air is crisp. Leaves tremble on their branches. Wide-open sky energizes me. Passing the skateboard park, I watch teenagers trying new tricks, and I reminisce about my teen years. Pedaling, my knees appreciate every rotation. Out there on our streets, life feels good.
And then I read the recent UDOT study prompted by SB195, concluding that Salt Lake City should not implement traffic-calming measures on State Street or 700 East because they are classified as “Tier 1” roads.
A Tier 1 road is defined as “a high-standard highway, often an interstate or major U.S./State Route — freeway-like with strict access control.”
State Street and 700 East do not meet this definition. They are state routes, but they are urban arterials with constant driveways and intersections. They slice through neighborhoods separating children from schools, parks and friends and are used by pedestrians, cyclists and transit riders.
The only roads in Utah designed for unfettered, high-speed movement are our interstates.
State legislators: When cities attempt to improve safety on their own streets — including state routes within their boundaries — we need partnership, not preemption, please.
Giving Utahns real driving alternatives has proven economic benefits for local businesses, citiesand the state. Residents surveyed indicate desire for options that offer financial relief, health benefits and better access. Funding UTA to operate commuter routes along I-15, I-215 and I-80 is my suggestion to reduce congestion.
Communities across Utah are asking for the same thing: streets that protect human life, not just vehicle throughput.
Ellen Birrell, Cottonwood Heights District 4 council member
Cottonwood Heights
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