New committee in Logan is working hard to improve pedestrian safety

With daylight savings in full effect, the sun sets in Logan around 5:30 p.m., causing many Utah State University students to walk around campus and many surrounding areas in the dark. 

Kenzie Platt, a student at USU, noticed a lack of street lights in Logan. “It is hard to see pedestrians at night, especially when another car is coming in the opposite direction,” she said. “As a pedestrian, I avoid crossing the road because I know how difficult it is for drivers to see me.” 

USU Student Association executive vice president, Dexton Lake, has created a new committee, the Vice President’s Chamber, to promote initiatives that will improve USU’s lighting on campus. 

Recently, the committee met with Logan Municipal Council member Herm Olsen to discuss potential changes to improve pedestrian safety, especially at night. 

The proposed changes will increase street lighting along 800 East by the fraternity and sorority houses and add flashers to crosswalks at 700 East and 1000 North, along with 600 North and 700 East. 

“We just felt like these were areas that pose high safety concerns but just never have really been considered because the city has other concerns that they are dealing with,”  Lake said. “It’s been my priority to improve safety in previously unidentified areas, and we felt like these three areas were some of those.” 

“[Crosswalk flashers] are even more important for the crosswalk by Aggie Terrace,” Lake continued. “When you are coming down the hill in a car, you almost have to slam on your breaks when there is a pedestrian in the crosswalk.” 

He said these flashing lights will greatly improve pedestrian safety because they give practical and bright warnings to cars that there are pedestrians in the crosswalks. 

The committee has only recently started working with Logan City and is focusing on making this issue a priority of the city council. The changes are in the beginning stages, so there is no expected completion date yet. Though, Lake said, “The ball is definitely rolling.”