Speeding and massive traffic increase on Crestview Drive
Forget beetle kill, defensible space and weed control, in my 24 years of living in Summit Park, the speeding and massive increase in traffic on Crestview Drive are the most overwhelming and unaddressed issue in the neighborhood right now. When they (Summit County/Basin Rec) put in the trailhead a few years ago there was overwhelming support, including mine, from the community, but the powers that be have done nothing about the huge increase in speeding traffic along this tight, narrow street which has a growing number of children and dogs on it. Among Crestview Drive residents, this is the A-#1 topic of discussion and concern as it has easily doubled/tripled the amount of traffic on this residential street.
Some options:
A-#1 Best Option Ever…
Make the trailhead down by the fire station, which would require creating a bike trail from there to the existing trail head. There is tons of parking space down there and very few homes/kids/dogs.
Other options:
1) Post a huge “SLOW DOWN” sign at the existing trailhead.
2) Post multiple signs along Crestview Drive telling people to slow down
3) Insert an electronic blinking sign which tells people they are speeding
4) Install summer only speed bumps on Crestview Drive
5) Call in the cops
4 Comments
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Your’s is not the only road with a traffic problem. This past summer a few of us on Parkview Drive worked with Summit County to conduct a Traffic Study. The County was ready to get to work to help us improve the speeding problem, but, we could not get anyone to participate in meetings to discuss alternatives.
If we can come up with a five or six person committee Summitt County will work with us to address the traffic problems in Summit Park. Let me know who is interested and we can get started.
Thanks,
Debbi Fugal
435-640-0376
dfugal@gmail.com
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great idea but we have been living with this issue since i moved here 10 years ago we live on aspen drive and have had 2 cats killed. ( hit and run) and yesterday morning our car was hit as a young woman came speeding down the hill and the sun was in her eyes. enough already slow the **** DOWN
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Traffic is simply not just a safety concern for Crestview Drive. Distracted and irresponsible drivers have become a troubling problem through out Summit Park with devastating implications. The difficulties we face are the result of community population grown/development, visitor/trailhead traffic and simply bad habits. Debbi should be commended for taking on this huge project and commencing the process to a solution. I empathize with her frustration from the anemic community response to take action. Only when we have a collective acknowledgment and the validation of this issue from everyone will there be a beneficial impact.
Each option proposed has its own unique challenges. A trail head located at the fire station is a great idea and would hopefully reduce traffic flow on Crestview. That, however, would take some time since possible land use agreements would have to be negotiated between Salt Lake County and Salt Lake City Water District. In addition, traffic would be consolidated in close proximity to an already congested school bus stop. Education is a major component of a comprehensive safety campaign and signage certainly is one of the tools used. We have been told by the County, if the Summit Park Home Owners Association purchases the signs, they will plant them in the ground. There are, however, logistical and liability considerations such as optimal signage locations with out being obtrusive or obstructive to any homeowners. Electronic signs are affective but require maintenance and would probably be a County asset. Seasonal speed bumps, according to the County, are not an option and will not be considered. The HOA has no legal jurisdiction to install them either. Finally, calling the Sheriff is everyones responsibly if illegal activity is witnessed. A more active police presence, with out question, would significantly reduce vehicle speed but do nothing to the volume. As a community, we surely can petition the County Sheriff to increase patrols in the neighborhood. I think once the word got out that they are issuing traffic citations in the neighborhood folks might thing twice about speeding. When discussing this issue with the County road engineer, one of the ideas was having homeowner living on the impacted street, during expected high traffic times, gather as a group and walk or stand with signs politely asking drivers to slow down. This, I think is something that can be done right now, along with dialog and multimedia. It’s not enough to expect someone else will take care of this problem. It’s essential for everyone to do their part by being aware and talking to others. Further discussion on this is warranted, everyone please consider either participating in the development of a mitigation plan or get out and talk it over with your neighbors. Remember, our annual HOA community meeting will be held November 11 and again the location will be graciously provided by No Worries Grill. As usual food and beverages will be provided as well as neighborly conversation. Hope to see you there.
“Doing things is not the same a getting things done” – Jared Siver
Mike Quinones
Fire & Safety Information Coordinator
Summit Park HOA
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I also would like to voice my concern that we have a significant safety problem on Parkview, Crestview, Aspen, and others. I’ve seen several near-accidents and was involved in my only bumber-denter in my 30+ years of driving by an impatient driver who tried to get around me while I was backing into my driveway. My wife was chastised for using Parkview as part of her jogging route.
Having moved here recently, and having gone through my own learning curve, I think I can pinpoint what I think is the main issue. Most residents have had their near-misses and have learned which corners to take slowly, but the occasional non-resident trailhead users and visitors seem to treat the road as a rural county road and don’t realize that we have the density of any other residential neighborhood in SLC, but we do not have sidewalks or walkable/ridable shoulders. It’s not a common situation that a residential area has traffic lanes are shared ped/bike/car lanes. Drivers need to be aware that they can’t just squeeze past peds and bikes at any location. They need to be sure the oncoming lane is clear and pass at a legal distance (4 feet?)
One thought I had that might make this clear is a continuous green stripe down the center of all lanes and signage near Aspen/Parkview that clearly indicates mixed ped/bike/car lanes ahead. I know the extra paint comes at a cost but it would make a clear distinction to the occasional user that Summit Park is a bit different than most and requires special attention.
I also think things could have been designed with better traffic-calming techniques. (for example, straightaways should be avoided. When an intersection requires a stop, the stop should be on the straightaway, Or simply make all intersections uncontrolled or all-way stops)