A. Purpose
The City Transportation Management section discusses best practices to ensure the City develops and maintains a safe and efficient transportation network. This section includes the following:
• Transportation Safety analysis
• Traffic Calming
• Access Management
• Connectivity
• Traffic Impact Studies
• East/West Visioning Study
• Transit Oriented Development Feasibility Study
• Areas of Concern (RFP)
• Truck Routes
• Traffic Signal Coordination
• Corridor Preservation
B. Transportation Safety Analysis
A safety analysis was performed for all roadways within West Jordan City. The most recent five full years of available crash data (January 1, 2018 to December 31, 2022) from UDOT Traffic & Safety were used to perform a safety analysis. Historic crash patterns were analyzed within West Jordan City to develop project and policy recommendations.
In total, there were 9,271 crashes reported within West Jordan City between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2022. Preliminary 2023 crash data were also analyzed. All of the 2023 severe crashes are validated, while non-severe crashes are not yet fully validated. Therefore, 2023 non-severe crashes are not included in the chart below. Of these 9,271 crashes reported, 255 involved suspected serious injuries, and 23 were fatal. Crashes have been steadily decreasing in West Jordan City since 2019. There was a large decrease in crashes in 2020 since fewer drivers were on the roads due to the COVID-19 pandemic. There were fewer fatal and severe injury crashes in 2022 and 2023 than previous years. There was a 38 percent reduction of severe crashes between 2021 and 2022.
Crash severity is reported according to a five-category scale ranging from no injury to fatality. UDOT, like many other places, has taken on the goal of Zero Fatalities 3 . This zero fatalities approach is guided by the Safe System Approach framework. The Safe System Approach consists of the five elements presented below 2 .
Given these goals, and the very significant cost of severe crashes (both fatal and serious injury), these crash types are the focus of the analysis.
The figure below illustrates the fatal and serious injury crashes in West Jordan City. For the analysis period, there were 23 crashes with a fatality and 255 serious injury crashes. The number of fatal and serious injury crashes in West Jordan City as a percentage of total crashes is 2.99 percent, which is above the Salt Lake County average of 1.9 percent during the same time frame. Of these 278 severe crashes, 136 were on a UDOT roadway and 142 severe crashes occurred along a West Jordan City roadway.
Based on this review, the following recommendations are made:
• Roundabouts/Signals: Approximately 16 percent of severe crashes in West Jordan can be potentially mitigated by a roundabout or a signal. West Jordan may have too many uncontrolled side streets. Signal warrant and roundabout studies can be done. In almost all cases, installing a roundabout will increase safety. However, signals do not necessarily always improve safety. It is important to recognize that when signals are installed without a warrant or installed at a location with a low history of crashes, signals can increase the number of crashes at these locations. Additionally, raised medians can be installed to reroute vehicles away from uncontrolled intersections.
• 1300 West & 7800 South: Four severe left-turn crashes have occurred at this intersection since 2018. One of them involved a pedestrian. Therefore, protected left-turn phasing is recommended at this intersection.
• 3200 West & 7800 South: Seven severe crashes have occurred at this intersection since 2018. Two of them involved a pedestrian and two of them involved left-turns. Protected left-turn phasing is recommended at this intersection.
• 2700 West & 7800 South: Two severe left-turn crashes have occurred at this intersection since 2020. This intersection is located near West Jordan High School where there is a larger number of inexperienced drivers. Therefore, protected left-turn phasing is recommended at this intersection.
• Jordan Landing Boulevard: 10 severe crashes have occurred at the intersections along Jordan Landing Boulevard since 2018. From review of crash narratives there is a common theme of high speeds. Due to this, reducing the speed limit and providing traffic calming along this roadway is recommended.
• 5600 West & 7000 South: Five severe crashes have occurred at this intersection since 2019. Four of them are due to vehicles traveling straight along 5600 West. A roundabout is a possible mitigation measure at this location to reduce speeds and reduce the severity of angle crashes.
Notes
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C. Traffic Calming
The Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) has established a definition for traffic calming that reads, “Traffic calming is the combination of mainly physical measures that reduce the negative effects of motor vehicle use, alter driver behavior and improve conditions for non-motorized street users.” Altering driver behavior includes lowering of speeds, reducing aggressive driving, and increasing respect for non-motorized street users.
Traffic calming provides many benefits to pedestrians and to the creation of livable neighborhoods. Traffic calming and slower traffic enhances pedestrian safety by:
• Decreasing the chances of a car-pedestrian collision
• Reducing the severity of injuries should a collision occur
• Making it easier and less intimidating for pedestrians to cross streets
• Producing less traffic noise
• Reducing the level of air pollution
Street patterns are typically developed at the time of construction. In Utah, the history of using a grid system for planning and development purposes started with the first settlers and has proven efficient for moving people and goods throughout a network of surface streets. However, the nature of a grid system with wide and often long, straight roads can result in excessive speeds. For that reason, traffic calming measures (TCM) can be implemented to reduce speeds, particularly on residential roadways. West Jordan follows the Utah grid system with some interruptions due to the airport, existing state highway layout, terrain, and railroad tracks. Traffic calming is applicable to many neighborhood and local streets and should be given consideration on a case-by-case basis.
Traffic calming may be applied to existing City streets when requested by the neighborhood but should always be included during the development of new neighborhood streets and subdivisions. West Jordan City has adopted the Neighborhood Traffic Management Program (NTMP) that addresses the desire of residents and City leaders to organize a method for addressing high speeds through residential neighborhoods. Additionally, West Jordan is currently developing a Safe Streets Study and Implementation Plan. This project aims to provide guidance on how to install traffic calming in both existing and future neighborhoods. It is anticipated that the Safe Streets Study and Implementation Plan will be completed at the end of 2024.
The NTMP for local residential streets represents the commitment of the City of West Jordan to the safety and livability of residential neighborhoods. The program provides a process for identifying and addressing problems related to speeding, excessive traffic volume, and safety on streets classified as “local residential streets.” Under the program, the engineering department will work with residents within neighborhoods to evaluate the type and severity of traffic problems. If the required approval by residents and the city council is obtained, the City will install traffic management devices, such as traffic circles, diverters, traffic signs, crosswalks and speed humps, to manage the pattern and flow of neighborhood traffic.
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