UDOT upgrades school zone safety in Sanpete County

MANTI—The Utah Department of Transportation has rolled out school-zone safety improvements on Main streets in Manti, Gunnison and Ephraim.

The statewide initiative includes overhead flashing beacon systems, illuminated crosswalks, striping of new crosswalks and other modifications designed to improve visibility and safety for students, other pedestrians and drivers.

Kevin Kitchen, communications director for UDOT Region 4, said school zone safety projects are a top priority for the department as students return to school.

“School children, particularly, are some of our most vulnerable users of the road,” Kitchen said. “It’s really important for the rest of us to be watching out and, you know, we don’t take these things lightly when it comes to school crossings.

“We’ve expended a special amount of funds just to make people aware of those specific crossings,” Kitchen said. “As we get more and more motorized vehicles, it’s important for us to be able to make people aware, specifically people that are not familiar with the areas, of what they may be getting into.”

In Manti, new overhead flashing pedestrian beacon systems have been installed at 400 N. Main Street and on both sides of 100 South and Main. Gunnison has received a system at 100 South and Main Street, while Ephraim’s improvements are at 400 South and Main.

The overhead beacon systems are designed to alert drivers when they are entering school zones and increase awareness of pedestrians crossing the roadway.

The illuminated crosswalks are intended to improve visibility at night, giving drivers and pedestrians a clearer view of crosswalks.

O’Dee Hansen, superintendent of the North Sanpete School District, said communities throughout the area have taken steps to address concerns about students crossing busy roads.

“We have had lights in Mt. Pleasant for years,” Hansen said. “Crossing Highway 89 is concerning, and I believe Mt. Pleasant City has done some amazing work to mitigate safety concerns.”

Hansen pointed to a stoplight at Main and State streets and a crosswalk at 500 South on State staffed by a crossing guard and equipped with overhead lights.

Moroni is also working with UDOT on safety improvements near the middle school and will be hiring a new crossing guard for a crosswalk near the school, Hansen said.

According to UDOT, Utah sees more than 400 motor vehicle crashes involving crosswalks each year, with about 10 pedestrian fatalities occurring in crosswalks annually.

Pedestrian crashes are also significantly more likely to result in fatalities than other vehicle-related incidents.

State data shows that roughly 990 pedestrians were hit during the 2023-24 school year, primarily during peak commuting hours. UDOT has identified speeding in school zones and failing to yield to pedestrians as major factors in these crashes.

Hansen said his school district reviews safety procedures with students each year, including protocols for students who ride school buses.

 “Procedures are very important for their safety, and we have the best bus drivers around who are constantly thinking about student safety,” he said.

The recent improvements are part of the UDOT Traffic and Safety Division’s efforts to reduce crashes and improve pedestrian safety around schools.

UDOT promotes safer walking and biking routes through the Safe Routes Utah Program, which provides communities with resources, training and grants.

UDOT also administers the Safe-Routes-to-School federal grant program, which can provide funding for infrastructure projects, including crossings and signage, as well as education programs.