By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Sidewalk is being installed in Nephi near the freeway in the center of the city.
"The current pedestrian safety project will install sidewalk along the south side of State Route 132, from approximately 900 East to the south-bound ramp of I-15 and from the north-bound ramp from 1-15 to approximately 1150 East," said Randy McKnight, city administrator.
The project is financed by UDOT (Utah Department of Transportation).
Those funds are dedicated to safe sidewalk projects along state highways.
"Nephi City provides a match for these projects, usually in the form of labor, equipment and materials," said McKnight.
He said that when Wendy's and 7-Eleven, had built the complex, they had installed sidewalk. However, when One Man Band was built, the sidewalk was not extended in front of that property.
"Now all of the sidewalk in that area will match up," said McKnight.
The legislature of the State of Utah has recognized the need for adequate sidewalk and pedestrian safety devices. State policy declares that "pedestrian safety" considerations be included in all state highway engineering and planning for all projects where pedestrian traffic would be a significant factor.
The Safe Sidewalks Program provides a legislative funding source for construction of new sidewalks adjacent to state routes where sidewalks do not currently exist.
For a proposed sidewalk location to be considered for the Safe Sidewalks Program, it must first meet the following criteria: it must be located adjacent to a state highway; it must be located within an urban area or an area where the immediate environment of the project is of an urban nature; significant pedestrian traffic; 25 percent local government match.
"The current project will close gaps in the sidewalk between the businesses located at 800 East and those located at Sheep Lane," said McKnight.
The purpose of the Safe Sidewalk Construction Program of the Department of Transportation is to fund the cost of correcting pedestrian hazards and other safety projects on State highways.
The Department of Transportation has been appropriated funds by the state legislature annually for its sidewalk safety program. These funds are then obligated for pedestrian safety projects when matched with funding from local governments.
It is not the first time such a safe sidewalk project had been completed in Nephi using the funds made available, said McKnight. Recently the work was completed to take the sidewalk from the grocery store and block of businesses on the north to the hospital along Highway 28.
"In an earlier project, the sidewalk was completed along the south end of Main Street to Red Cliffs Elementary," McKnight said.
Ilene Sorensen asked if crossing in front of the on and off ramps at the freeway would be safe for foot traffic. In some areas where she had lived, she said, bus stops were located near those entrances/exits. Though the location could be debatable, they were done that way so that traffic could move quickly with bus passengers getting off and on busses with ease.
Perhaps a stop bar could be placed there she suggested.
In the case of stop bars, a stop bar (line) is a solid white line, normally 12 to 24 inches wide, extending across all approach lanes to a stop sign or traffic signal.
A stop bar is used in both rural and urban areas where it is important to indicate the point behind which vehicles are required to stop. A stop bar, when used, should ordinarily be placed 4 feet in advance of and parallel to the nearest crosswalk line.
"UDOT adheres very rigidly to federal government rulings," said McKnight.
Since UDOT puts up 75 percent of the funding, the ramp markings, if any, will be done by UDOT, said McKnight.
Since State Road 132 (100 North in Nephi) is a state highway it is governed by UDOT. As such, they control the markings, cross walks, signage and semaphore lights.
The current formula for distribution of appropriated Sidewalk Program Funds is based on three areas of criteria. Population estimates make up 25 percent of the formula. School enrollments for the previous school year making up another 25 percent, while pedestrian accidents on state highways make up the remaining 50 percent of the criteria.
"There are stop signs at the bottom of the exits," said Kent Park, council member.
Some of the sidewalk was poured before the recent snow storm, said McKnight. It has been protected against the weather and the rest of the project will continue as the weather allows.
