Lehi City leaders are exploring ways to get drivers to slow down along residential streets and neighborhoods.

The city has implemented a test run of traffic-calming measures during the spring and summer at different crosswalks near parks, schools and trails in efforts to improve safety for pedestrians.

Those in Lehi will notice flexible reflector poles at about a half-dozen locations that will mimic curb extensions.

The poles will temporarily remain in place at each location as traffic engineers gather data both before and after the installation to see how well they help slow traffic and increase visibility.

Traffic engineer Luke Seegmiller said it’s not the first time Lehi has tried this measure.

“We have implemented permanent curb extensions at multiple locations in Lehi City in the past but we’ve not collected before and after data on the effects of vehicle speed nor how it changes pedestrian behavior,” he told the Daily Herald in a statement.

Seegmiller said the city had been thinking about testing curb extensions again, and after taking note of recently implemented traffic-calming efforts in Park City, Lehi decided to move forward with it.

“After collaborating with (Park City) we decided to do our own curb extension testing,” he said.

Testing at the different locations will happen about a month apart, with the first one being at 1580 E. 900 North, which is already underway.

Other locations will include:

• Airport Road at 600 East.
• Jordan River Trail crossing at 1500 North.
• 3830 W. 1500 North.

The city also intends to announce additional test sites at a later date.

But even once data is collected, Seegmiller noted there’s no guarantee that some or any of the sites will have a curb extension permanently put in place.

“The intent is not that these locations will have permanent curb extensions installed,” he said. “In fact, at some of the test locations it would not meet our transportation Master Plan for permanent installation.”

Across Utah, various traffic-calming measures such as speed bumps, raised crosswalks and other methods have been implemented with the goal of lowering vehicle speeds and boosting pedestrian safety.

Seegmiller says research has shown that the methods are effective, and the city looks to do its own independent data gathering as well as gathering input from residents.

“We are planning to test other traffic-calming measures as well. This effort will evaluate what additional traffic-calming tools make sense for Lehi City,” he said.