Fri Jul 30 2010
by Laura Freeman
Reporter
Hudson -- Drivers at Western Reserve Academy will need to slow down if Council approves making the campus a school zone.
At the request of WRA officials, the city proposed adding school zone signs to the Western Reserve Campus March 9 at a Council workshop. The signs would restrict speed to 20 mph from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday and 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays.
The impacted streets would include College, Hudson, North Oviatt, Chapel, High and East Prospect. The speed limit there now is 25 mph.
WRA requested the signs for the safety of students, who cross the streets frequently during the day, WRA Director of Marketing and Public Relations Russ Morrison said.
City Engineer Thom Sheridan said the city proposed 12 signs -- six going into the school zone and six exiting the zone.
Sheridan said WRA officials requested additional signs near intersections for a total of 21 signs.
Council members said they want to phase in the number of signs beginning with 12, and if that doesn't slow traffic enough, add more at a later date.
Council member John Jeffers said students need to be more careful and should be instructed on looking for traffic before crossing streets on the campus.
Morrison said school officials talk to students all the time about being careful when crossing.
"But if we can get drivers to slow down, that would help," Morrison said.
Morrison said there have been no instances of students getting hurt while crossing streets, but drivers treat the streets as city streets, not as a school zone, even though the school has been there for 180 years.
Morrison said the campus has seen an increase in traffic, especially at mid-day.
"We've got more traffic during rush hour," Morrison said. "Traffic backs up to St. Mary, and people will cut through East Prospect Street and College Street about the time students finish their classes and are going back to dormitories or sports activities."
WRA also is asking for an elevated crosswalk in front of the Ellsworth dining hall on College Street to slow traffic. Council members proposed a striped crosswalk instead.
Council members said if the striping and initial 12 signs don't solve the problems, they would look at additional signs and a raised crosswalk.
Council will likely consider legislation regarding the signs and crosswalk at a future meeting.
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