Park City explores safer pedestrian crossing at problematic intersection

PARK CITY, Utah — The Park City City Council is set to discuss pedestrian crossing alternatives at Kearns Boulevard and Snow Creek Drive during its scheduled meeting on March 13, continuing a years-long effort to improve safety at the intersection.

City officials have explored multiple options, including an at-grade crossing, a tunnel, and maintaining the current configuration. The discussion follows an April 2024 request from the council for further evaluation of an at-grade crossing in coordination with the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT). The study was delayed to incorporate UDOT’s updated policies, which allow greater flexibility in assessing pedestrian crossings.

Council members will consider three primary options. The first is to reassess whether a pedestrian crossing is still necessary, allowing private property redevelopment to proceed before making public infrastructure decisions. Delaying or forgoing a tunnel could result in the loss of grant funding already secured.

The second option is to move forward with constructing a tunnel, using existing funding sources while preparing for increased costs due to inflation. The estimated cost of the tunnel project, initially set at $16.7 million in 2024, remains largely unchanged in updated 2025 estimates at $16.6 million. The tunnel is included in both Park City Forward and the Summit County Active Transportation Plan, and it has been the preferred option in prior evaluations by the Walking and Biking Liaison Committee (WALC) and the City Council.

The third option is to install a high-intensity activated crosswalk (HAWK) signal at the intersection. The HAWK system, projected to cost between $500,000 and $800,000, would be primarily funded through UDOT Region 2 grants, with the city contributing a smaller portion. This option is considered less permanent and less safe than the tunnel but is significantly more cost-effective and would minimize construction impacts. If a tunnel is built within the next four to six years, the city may be required to reimburse UDOT for the crossing installation.

The Kearns Boulevard crossing project has been in development since Park City voters approved a $15 million Walkability Bond in 2007 to enhance pedestrian connectivity and safety. Over time, the preferred location of the crossing has shifted north to better align with key pedestrian and bike pathways. Since 2021, the council has reaffirmed support for a tunnel at Snow Creek Drive over other alternatives.

Council actions related to the project include a May 2021 directive to reconvene WALC, an October 2021 decision in favor of a tunnel over a bridge, and a June 2023 approval of engineering contracts to refine tunnel costs. In April 2024, the council reviewed updated tunnel cost estimates and requested additional analysis on at-grade options.

UDOT’s recent study initially found that pedestrian counts at the intersection did not meet criteria for an at-grade crossing under previous policies. However, with the updated guidelines, UDOT determined that a HAWK system could be considered under a new review process. The agency supports the installation of a pedestrian hybrid beacon as a viable at-grade solution, provided that the city contributes funding.

While a grade-separated tunnel remains the safest option by eliminating pedestrian and vehicle interaction, its high cost and aesthetic concerns remain key issues for the council. The total project funding remains in deficit despite available contributions from the Walkability Bond, UDOT’s Transportation Investment Fund, and other city and county sources.

City staff will present the project’s history, recent developments, cost estimates, and a SWOT analysis of the crossing options during the March 13 meeting to guide council discussion and potential