Below is a copy of the letter i sent to the local Chamber of commerce to solicit their help in fighting a recent local development.  UDOT Region 3 Traffic Engineer Doug Bassett, conducted a survey sometime in 2005 and determined that it was safer for pedestrians to cross Main street in Spanish Fork without crosswalks than it is with crosswalks.  I was appalled at the why UDOT handle this issue.  Have they ever tried to cross Main Street?  It is like life a near death experience.  Just today an elderly man was trying to cross Main Street and the cars just whizzed past honking.  No one stops if you are not in a crosswalk.  Drivers in Utah do not know the rules and laws of the road.  They are required to stop for pedestrians.  Why are so many people in such a hurry they cannot stop and be courteous?

here is a link to story the Daily Herald did  Click here

Donnie Morris

Confetti Antiques & books

273 North Main Street

801-798-0137

Donnie@confettiantiques.com

Cary Hanks
Chamber Director – Spanish Fork – Salem Area Chamber of Commerce
40 S. Main, Spanish Fork, UT 84660
801.798-8352
801.360-6962

www.spanishforkchamber.com

Dear Chamber Director and Board, and other concerned Citizens and Business Owners:

Here is a brief list of Issues concerning the removal of crosswalks on Spanish Fork Main St.

General Purpose of this action:  UDOT claims pedestrians are safer without crosswalks, so they removed them.  This sounds absurd but it is the basis for the action taken by UDOT.

In 2005 UDOT did a study to see how many people are using the crosswalks.  They determined at that time to remove the crosswalks because no one was using them.  They decided to let he crosswalks just fade away, but it was taking too long so they paid to have the crosswalks removed, Dec 2009.

I do not believe this claim, and have asked for a copy of the study done in 2005.  I have yet to receive it from city officials at the time of this letter.  I also asked UDOT if an impact analysis of the action was done and was told one was not done.  No one at UDOT knows what the consequence of the action would be, other than a decrease in the total number of pedestrian and motor vehicle accidents.

I feel this is an erroneous assumption without an impact study to see what the cause and effect will be.

Items of impact that I think should have been addressed.

• Why no one from The City administration contacted the chamber, the businesses or the community when UDOT contacted them and told them that the crosswalks were to be removed.
• The State has come into our community and asserted claims which they have not verified.
• No input from a single member of our community, or City Elected Officials.
• Will this impact business in the business district of our city?
• Will people move their vehicle to the other side of the road, or will they just go home?  I think with the parking troubles we have downtown, people will just go home.
• Will J-walking increase?  In some instances people will be forced to walk 4 blocks out of the way to use a crosswalk.  Will they do it? Or will they just cross wherever, since the corner no longer has a crosswalk.
• Will people still use unmarked corners as a crosswalk?  Do people even know they can?  The small sampling of people I spoke with indicated that they do not know they can.  Once the Crosswalk disappeared they felt like they have to go to the light.

We want to thank Steve Leifson (SF City Council), Wayne Anderson (SF City Mayor), and Mike Morley (Utah State Representative, for there support.

A CALL TO ACTION – What you can do

1-    Call your elected officials and let them know of the issue (many are unaware of it) and how you feel about it

2-    Let the Chamber of commerce know how you feel about it. – 801-798-8352

3-    Call UDOT and let them know how you feel about it – Doug Bassett UDOT Region 3 Traffic Engineer  801-227-8019

4-    We (Confetti Antiques & Books) are organizing a “crossing-the-road” protest

1. When: January 22^nd at 4pm
2. Where: Meet at the intersections of Main and 400 North Main Street
3. Who: Citizens, Business owners, and anyone and everyone who is interested
4. What to bring: Signs, dress warm, We are going to walk from 300 North to 600 North Signs
5. We need 1000 people to be there.  Mark your calendar.

Thanks for your support

Donnie Morris

Confetti Antiques & Books

Concerned Business Owner and Citizen

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