— from Eric Webb, Orcas Schools Superintendent —
Over the past several months, I have been addressing a traffic safety issue at the intersection of School Road and Madrona Street. This has been an ongoing problem, which came to a climax in December when two students narrowly avoided being hit by cars in a single week. It is my opinion that this cannot be resolved quickly enough when the safety of our students is at stake.
As of today, March 14, we are awaiting a response from the county as they review a cost estimate on the revision plan and decide whether or not they will agree to add the proposed temporary traffic revision plan to their project list.
Below is a timeline of the actions that have taken place in the past few months:
December
- Two near misses of students by cars, one in crosswalk
- Letter from OISD to San Juan County requesting traffic revision based on safety
- San Juan County site visit
- Morning traffic video sent to San Juan County, https://drive.google.com/file/d/16Y-1FKc8W6oyZFlrEHM4sqs5pasdPyEN/view?usp=sharing
- OISD requests new crosswalks and signage
January
- San Juan County replaces crosswalk
- OISD implements crossing guard program and adds additional signage
- County Engineer drafts temporary traffic revision plan
- San Juan County and OISD review temporary traffic revision plan
- County Engineer researches property lines, right-of-ways, cost, and timeline
February
- San Juan County Council reviews traffic revision plan
- OISD School Board reviews traffic revision plan and commits to supporting the plan
- EPRC reviews traffic revision plan and supports temporary traffic revision plan
Temporary Plan:
The proposed temporary traffic revision plan will utilize one-way streets and construction barriers that are moveable to allow the plan to be adjusted and dialed in over the next two-three years.
Plan highlights include:
- Madrona Street one way to the north starting at the intersection with School Road
- School Road one way to the west from Madrona Street to North Beach Road
- New drop-off area created in parking area in front of elementary/garden
- Buses will use current drop-off area
- Parking near log barrier in front of elementary
- Parking created in current bus drop-off area in front of HS
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Why not have a police officer there to direct traffic and arrest speeders? That could be done immediately and at no cost. It might even generate revenue…