900 East
Residents and neighbors of 900 East, having studied the transportation element of the City's general plan, are concerned that this road is shown as a collector. Adding fuel to the fire, the plan shows 900 East going through to State Street.
Many of these residents voiced concerns during public comment periods of our City Council meetings during August and September. Sadly, Madame Clarity was not herself in attendance at these meetings, and many went home confused by partial information.
Concerned myself, I later spent an hour seeking enlightenment from City Planner Rod Despain. Here's what I learned:
1. 900 East is, in fact, designated as a minor collector. But collector is not the three-alarm word that it seems. Of the four road classifications outlined in the City's general plan -- arterial, major collector, minor collector, and local -- "minor collector" is next to smallest. The only smaller designation is "local." Examples of local roads in American Fork are Thornwood Drive and King Street -- roads which, clearly, could never serve an elementary school.
2. 900 East is already a minor collector. The standard for a minor collector is 66 feet. 900 East is already 66 feet. Those 66 feet encompass two lanes of traffic and two shoulders, as well as curb, gutter, mowstrips, sidewalks, and one foot of right-of-way beyond the sidewalk on both sides of the road. The shoulders facilitate on-street parking, which is handy when there's an elementary school nearby. The shoulders also become turn lanes at intersections, since there's no parking near an intersection.
3. The general plan does not now and never will call for widening 900 East or upgrading it to a major collector.
4. Speed limits along local collectors are 25 to 30 mph. The general plan does not authorize or call for any higher speed limit on 900 East.
This will be poor comfort to residents who daily observe 50 mph traffic in front of Barratt Elementary, where the posted speed limit is 20 mph. For the record, I whole-heartedly endorse the recent proposal to place speed bumps along 900 East, and hope this can soon become reality.
5. The general plan shows 900 East going through to State Street within 0 to 5 years -- but this is in error. 900 East is planned to go through to Pacific Drive, which is frontage road along State Street, but not farther. South of 50 South, the area surrounding 900 East is zoned for multi-family residential and some commercial and professional office space. The road will be built piece by piece as these parcels are developed. Extending 900 East as far as Pacific will facilitate local traffic to these locations and is seen as a convenience to local residents.
On the other hand, extending the road over the railroad tracks to State Street is virtually impossible, because the City is required to close down two railroad crossings for each new one opened. Not only is this highly impractical; it will also cost millions of dollars. I very much doubt it will ever happen.
Nevertheless, the planning department has recommended leaving the extension to State Street on the master plan, just in case. Mr. Despain explained that American Fork could, some 100 years hence, reach the point where congestion on 500 East and 1100 East are so severe that residents will be begging to open up 900 East. He doesn't see that happening in his life time or mine, but recommends keeping the option open for that contingency. Thus, the opening is shown on the plan, but the 0-5 year range is in error.
(Mr. Despain also promised me that he would, when the general plan is next revised, include strong language about the City's preference that 900 East not go through to State Street. )
I do not myself live in this area, but my boy attends Barratt Elementary, and I drive 900 East twice each day. I appreciate keenly the traffic snarls along this road, and have nothing but admiration for the steady efforts of parents and PTA to make the street safer for school children.
I salute those who have addressed concerns to the City Council, and urge them not to relax their oversight.
Many of these residents voiced concerns during public comment periods of our City Council meetings during August and September. Sadly, Madame Clarity was not herself in attendance at these meetings, and many went home confused by partial information.
Concerned myself, I later spent an hour seeking enlightenment from City Planner Rod Despain. Here's what I learned:
1. 900 East is, in fact, designated as a minor collector. But collector is not the three-alarm word that it seems. Of the four road classifications outlined in the City's general plan -- arterial, major collector, minor collector, and local -- "minor collector" is next to smallest. The only smaller designation is "local." Examples of local roads in American Fork are Thornwood Drive and King Street -- roads which, clearly, could never serve an elementary school.
2. 900 East is already a minor collector. The standard for a minor collector is 66 feet. 900 East is already 66 feet. Those 66 feet encompass two lanes of traffic and two shoulders, as well as curb, gutter, mowstrips, sidewalks, and one foot of right-of-way beyond the sidewalk on both sides of the road. The shoulders facilitate on-street parking, which is handy when there's an elementary school nearby. The shoulders also become turn lanes at intersections, since there's no parking near an intersection.
3. The general plan does not now and never will call for widening 900 East or upgrading it to a major collector.
4. Speed limits along local collectors are 25 to 30 mph. The general plan does not authorize or call for any higher speed limit on 900 East.
This will be poor comfort to residents who daily observe 50 mph traffic in front of Barratt Elementary, where the posted speed limit is 20 mph. For the record, I whole-heartedly endorse the recent proposal to place speed bumps along 900 East, and hope this can soon become reality.
5. The general plan shows 900 East going through to State Street within 0 to 5 years -- but this is in error. 900 East is planned to go through to Pacific Drive, which is frontage road along State Street, but not farther. South of 50 South, the area surrounding 900 East is zoned for multi-family residential and some commercial and professional office space. The road will be built piece by piece as these parcels are developed. Extending 900 East as far as Pacific will facilitate local traffic to these locations and is seen as a convenience to local residents.
On the other hand, extending the road over the railroad tracks to State Street is virtually impossible, because the City is required to close down two railroad crossings for each new one opened. Not only is this highly impractical; it will also cost millions of dollars. I very much doubt it will ever happen.
Nevertheless, the planning department has recommended leaving the extension to State Street on the master plan, just in case. Mr. Despain explained that American Fork could, some 100 years hence, reach the point where congestion on 500 East and 1100 East are so severe that residents will be begging to open up 900 East. He doesn't see that happening in his life time or mine, but recommends keeping the option open for that contingency. Thus, the opening is shown on the plan, but the 0-5 year range is in error.
(Mr. Despain also promised me that he would, when the general plan is next revised, include strong language about the City's preference that 900 East not go through to State Street. )
I do not myself live in this area, but my boy attends Barratt Elementary, and I drive 900 East twice each day. I appreciate keenly the traffic snarls along this road, and have nothing but admiration for the steady efforts of parents and PTA to make the street safer for school children.
I salute those who have addressed concerns to the City Council, and urge them not to relax their oversight.
posted by Heidi Rodeback at 3:21 PM
2 Comments:
In the City Council discussion concerning the American Fork General Plan, there seemed to be an ambiguity on the part of the mayor concerning the Fox Hollow Golf Course. Although many American Fork residents believe that plans for turning 9600 North into a major collector are all in the hands of the Highland Council, they fail to understand that these plans are contingent on American Fork allowing the road to proceed east either through or around the top of the golf course.
Both Highland Glen Park and the Tri City Golf Course were developed through the Federal Land and Water Conservation Fund. This visionary program was established by Congress to preserve open space and provide recreation facilities for citizens close to home. In return for these funds, the people of American Fork pledged through their leaders to protect in perpetuity the integrity and recreational value of these properties. In the 15 years I have lived in American Fork, this is the third time that I have been involved in a battle to preserve this open space. While I appreciate that another East-West connector would ease traffic flow through the area, I believe that our open space must be protected at all costs because of the power of nature to lift man's spirit above the drudgery of city life.
As our population expands, it is becoming increasingly difficult for our citizens to enjoy a long walk or bike ride through our community without risking life and limb on our busy roads. The Highland Glen Park, the Fox Hollow Golf Course and the Art Dye Park, could be developed to allow citizens from Highland, American Fork, Pleasant Grove and Cedar Hills to run, bike and walk in safety, in an area unspoiled by development, and away from the noise and pollution of city traffic. Two hundred years from now, this open space will be an oasis in a busy city, and of greater value to our decendants than any road.
If we look to the example set by the City of London, where three major parks, Hyde Park at 350 acres, Hampstead Heath at 791 acres and Richmond Park 2500 acres, all preserved without roads so that the citizens could enjoy nature without the city pollution.
I hope that the American Fork Council can see the value in preserving our Open Space so that future generations can enjoy the same quality of life that drew their ancestors to this area.
Speaking of speed bumps along 900 East. They need to have strips painted on them so you can see them. Unlike the ones that have been installed on 1120 N in front of Legacy that are unpainted. What can be done to get the city to paint them?
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