City plans traffic signals to ease flow near schools
Posted on Thursday, January 8, 2009
ANTHONY REYES Northwest Arkansas Times A vehicle waits for traffic to clear before making a left turn off Starr Drive onto Mission Boulevard Wednesday in Fayetteville. The city is planning to install a traffic light at the intersection to improve safety and ease traffic in the area, which is adjacent to three schools.
Two Fayetteville intersections near schools on opposite sides of town may receive new traffic signals in the coming months.
The intersections are Garland Avenue and Sixth Street by Fayetteville High School and Mission Boulevard and Starr Drive near St. Joseph Catholic School, Vandergriff Elementary School and McNair Middle School.
Brad Anderson, traffic control supervisor in the city's transportation department, said he hopes to have the traffic signal installations completed in April.
The new signals are two projects the department hopes to complete within the first quarter of the year.
FHS School Resource Officer John Foster said he believes the traffic signal at Sixth Street would be a much needed improvement for the area. During the school's lunch hour, many students cross the road there at a crosswalk that currently features no signal.
"The safety of the kids, every day that they use that crosswalk, is in jeopardy," Foster said.
Vandergriff Principal Bert Stark said he is hopeful the signal will improve traffic flow in the area and make it easier for students crossing Mission Boulevard to get to school in the morning.
This could be particularly helpful depending on how the new light and the light at the Crossover Road and Mission Boulevard intersection west of the school are coordinated.
"Absolutely, we certainly think it will," he said. "Our biggest issue is student safety."
McNair Principal Michelle Hayward said she believed a traffic light at Starr Drive would make crossing the road safer for students. Even though it will not be directly by the school, it will help slow traffic on Mission Boulevard.
"The break in the traffic is going to be very helpful," she said.
Stark said he hopes the new light helps traffic move more smoothly for all cars passing through the area.
The signal could also potentially improve traffic to and from St. Joseph Catholic Church and School, which is at 1722 N. Starr Drive.
Pr incipal Ann Finch did not return a phone message for comment by press time.
Independent of the traffic signal project, the parish hopes to add a 31,000-square-foot addition with new classrooms and a gymnasium. Parish business manager Ken Warren said last week the school hopes to add eighth grade once the expansion project is finished.
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