Corner isn't eligible for a light, UDOT says

By Nicole Warburton
Deseret Morning News
Published: Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2006 10:10 p.m. MDT
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Two auto-pedestrian accidents within a year of each other — one of them fatal — don't qualify the intersection of 1300 East and 700 South for a stoplight. Nor does the intersection's proximity to four schools, according to a study by the Utah Department of Transportation.

This past February, 16-year-old Sebastian Osman, an East High student, was struck by a minivan and killed at the intersection. A year earlier, 10-year-old Riley Huefner was struck and injured in the same location.

During a meeting tonight, UDOT is scheduled to discuss the results of a study that showed the intersection didn't meet national criteria for stoplights. The agency is planning, however, to install a yellow warning light at the location. The light will be pedestrian-activated.

By law, UDOT cannot install a stoplight unless it meets the criteria.

Gerri Osman, the mother of Sebastian, said Tuesday that a yellow light would give "a false sense of security" to children who cross the street each day.

"A lot of kids will feel that when they push they button, they'll be safe," Osman said. "They'll step into the road and not understand the ramifications of whether a car is going to stop or not."

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Also included in the UDOT study is a recommendation from the agency that a bus stop that was once located on the southeast corner of 1300 East and 700 South be returned to that location to accommodate people with disabilities. The stop was moved to the northeast corner of the intersection after the death of Osman's son, who was walking in front of a bus and was hit by a minivan whose driver didn't see him because of the bus.

Mark Maxfield, chairman of the Douglas Neighborhood Association, said Tuesday that his community would prefer to keep the stop at its present location, north of the intersection. That way, drivers are able to see pedestrians crossing the intersection, he said.

At least one resident, however, Michael Blomgren, is pushing to get the bus stop moved to its original location. The stop now is in front of Blomgren's house. He said that he still feels the current location is unsafe.

Today's meeting will be at 7 p.m. at Emerson Elementary School, 1017 E. Harrison Ave., in Salt Lake City.

E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com

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