LINDON — The potential of a change in Lindon's transportation master plan evoked impassioned responses from residents who clamored both for and against it — all in the name of safety.
"We're fine with using 400 West for the purpose it was designed for," said Lindon resident Jolene Campbell. "We're fine with doing a little backtracking if it means keeping tens of thousands of drivers off our streets."
Campbell said she saw no positive outcome of changing the master plan to allow 400 North to go through State Street to connect with 400 West — taking out Fellowship Bible Church and part of the Los Hermanos restaurant in the process.
The Planning Commission meeting Wednesday night was packed with residents who gasped and whispered among themselves as city officials presented potential traffic numbers, increasing from hundreds to thousands.
The commission made no decision Wednesday, but will pass along the public's recommendations to the City Council for a decision Sept. 4.
"While thousands would be able to cut 1 or 2 minutes off a commute time, a few would have their safety and their quality of life greatly diminished," Campbell said. "I hope that you would have the integrity to let all of Lindon know that the safety and quality of life comes before minor conveniences."
Campbell sat down to applause and the line for public comments grew even longer.
The possibility of a road from 400 North across State Street has bounced on and off the city's master plan like a pingpong ball for the past 40 years.
It's shown on the 1968 master plan, but not on the 1995 to 2000 master plan. It jumped back on for the 2000 and 2006 master plans.
But it would benefit the city of 10,300 residents that has a potential build-out of 17,000, city engineers said.
"The greatest ... benefit (is for) people on the west side of Lindon to safely and efficiently make left-hand turns onto State or get across 400 North," said city engineer Mark Christensen. "People from the east side will also use that as a more convenient way to get to the west side of Lindon."
Without that connector, drivers will continue to struggle with left-hand turns onto State Street or go elsewhere and flood smaller streets with more traffic, Christensen said.
"We recommend, from a technical standpoint, that it continue to be on the master plan," he said.
But many residents expressed concerns that increased traffic and speed would only augment the danger, not decrease it.
"I don't want the speed limit to go up, because it will," said Jim Ottens, who lives on 200 South and 400 West. "I don't want this road to go through. It will double the traffic in front of my house. I can't get out of my house now."
However, some residents argue that the increased safety is a huge plus if they can cross State Street at a light, rather than trying their luck with left turns without signals.
"We've spoken with a great many residents in Lindon who live on 400 North," said Doug Christiansen, who lives on Lakeview Road. "There are about 75 people in this area, only two people were opposed to this project. They didn't see it should be taken off (the master plan)."
Others commented they would be willing to drive north or south to connect with State Street, even if it's not exactly a direct route.
"For the last 20 years, as my kids have gotten drivers' licenses, they've always been trained to go to the light," said Mike Marchbanks, who lives on 400 West. "Even though they might be backtracking, they go to the light."
Others called it a north/south, not an east/west route and one that would only encourage an influx of people rushing to I-15.
"If you called it a State Street alternative and a shortcut to the freeway, you'd have folks screaming like a bunch of mashed cats," Campbell said. "I'm feeling a bit mashed."
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