08.19.2024 OUTboard - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

• In the afternoon,traffic is backed up significantly in both directions. Some through traffic passes in the left lane from both directions,while some through traffic waits in the car line.Some through traffic turns down Lydia Lane and E Tryon Street to avoid waiting in the queue. • Due to the long queues on St. Mary's Road,several dangerous maneuvers were witnessed during the observation period. One car was observed turning left out of the school while families were crossing the crosswalk.Vehicles were observed turning out of the school while traffic is going by on St Mary's. Multiple vehicles were observed making a U-turn on St. Mary's Road to get out of the school carpool line. • Most of the 24 students that walked to school came from from Lydia Lane and 3-4 families walked from the west along St Marys Road. Families were observed using the crosswalk to cross St Mary's Road. • Traffic backs up into the crosswalk during the morning and afternoon,which limits the line of sight for pedestrians, creating safety concerns. • A sheriff was observed directing traffic and serving as crossing guard in the morning. The sheriff did not arrive until 7:33AM after several students had already walked to school.A sheriff directed traffic in the afternoon but did not assist with pedestrians crossing. Existing Infrastructure-Strengths River Park Elementary's location near downtown Hillsborough makes it a prime location for students to walk or bicycle to school.The following observations were noted as existing system strengths: • Clear school zone and pedestrian crossing signage is found along St Mary's Road. • There are on-campus sidewalks along the building front and side.There is a small section of sidewalk along St Mary's Road at the school front. • There is a crosswalk with crossing signage across St. Mary's Road at the intersection with Lydia Lane. Existing Infrastructure- Deficiencies There are multiple issues related to infrastructure deficiency and traffic issues that warrant improvement,create safety hazards, and prevent children from walking and cycling to school safely. Key weaknesses, barriers, and obstacles include the following: • There are multiple roadways in the area that pose safety barriers for elementary student pedestrians and bicyclists. • Neighborhoods to the north of US 70 do not have a safe crossing to the roads that lead to the school. • Besides the crossing on St. Mary's Road at the intersection of Lydia Lane,there are no other marked crosswalks within the vicinity of the school. • There are no pedestrian or bicycle facilities found on adjacent roadways.Table 2.12 summarizes key locations where insufficient infrastructure creates barriers to pedestrians and bicyclists. Safe Routes to School Existing Conditions Analysis 53