Why Vote NO?

You may or may not be aware that American Fork Citizens will be voting on several bond proposals on Tuesday, November 4th. One of those bonds involves money slated for road improvements. We would like to encourage you to vote NO on the road bond for the following reasons:

1) 1120 North (the road that runs in front of AF Junior High School) will become a major road with major traffic. Connecting 1120 North through the wetlands to 900 West (the road east of Costco) will significantly increase traffic along 1120 North. Recent traffic studies commissioned by American Fork City estimate that once 1120 North is connected, traffic volume will essentially double on this road by 2030. Because of the light at 100 East, we are concerned that 1120 North will become the east/west road of choice for all of the Highland, Cedar Hills and Alpine traffic on 100 East traveling to The Meadows or I-15. Additional traffic lights need to be put in along 100 East as well as in Highland BEFORE connecting 1120 North in order to distribute traffic evenly among all roads and to avoid sending the brunt of the Highland/Cedar Hills/Alpine traffic through one American Fork neighborhood.

2) There is no funding in the proposed bond to improve 900 West (the road on the east side of Costco). As it is proposed on your November ballot, the bond does not include funding to install the traffic light planned for 700 North. Only right-hand turn lanes at the 700 North/900 West intersection are funded by the bond. Connecting 1120 North to 900 West will send a significant amount of traffic to 900 West, which will make it even more difficult and dangerous to turn left from 700 North. Also, the bond does not include funding to improve or widen 900 West from 700 North up to 1120 North (it funds widening at the intersection only). 900 West is a narrow road without a shoulder. This will be a nuisance and a danger to all drivers using 900 West, especially since the road is already congested with traffic from Costco and elsewhere. 900 West needs to be improved BEFORE 1120 North is connected.

3) The bond will cost American Fork homeowners approximately $1100 spread over the next 22 years. The bond's proposed road extension, which all American Fork taxpayers are being asked to fund, will run for two blocks along the extreme northwest corner of our city. Are you willing to pay an additional $50 per year for 22 years (on a $325,000 home) on your property taxes so that Highland, Alpine, and Cedar Hills residents can get to their shopping destinations more conveniently without having to bear any of the tax burden themselves?

4) Increased traffic on 1120 North will put American Fork Junior High students in danger. During American Fork Junior High School start and end times, the section of 1120 North in front of AFJS is incredibly busy, with cars dropping off or picking up students and students crossing the road. As the situation currently stands, AFJS has 10 crosswalks that cross 1120 North or are adjacent to it. Two of these crosswalks fall in the middle of the block in front of AFJS, not at intersections. Let's insist that our city council address these traffic dangers to our junior high students BEFORE they increase the traffic volume passing through these areas by connecting 1120 North and 900 West. Blinking lights at the crosswalks and speed tables (similar to a speedbump) are just two ways they could decrease speeds along 1120 North and increase visibility on a road used by hundreds of students and their families. They should fund safety measures for our students first.

For more information as well as the official text of the bond resolution, please go to: http://AFroads.blogspot.com/

Please vote NO on the road bond! Let's make sure we do it right.