The city of St. Joseph is creating a new school safety zone in the area of Lincoln Elementary School as it’s received complaints from parents about drivers ignoring the signs at the Langley and Orchard Avenue crosswalk.
Speaking to city commissioners this week, St. Joe City Engineer Tim Zebell said just reducing the speed limit in that area isn’t an option.
“We designed that road for a 30 mile an hour speed limit and the traffic data confirm that,” Zebell said. “So state law actually says you look at the 85th percent. They actually kind of softened it a little bit. I’m not going to try to get in and explain that, but basically it meets the requirement for 30 miles per hour and we can’t legally change that.”
But Zebell said the city does have another option, and that’s establishing a school safety zone.
After working with the department of public safety and public works, new signs will be put up designating a 25 mile per hour speed limit for the 30 minutes before and after the start and end of the school day.
Commissioner Michael Fernandez, a Lincoln Elementary parent, was glad to hear drivers will have to slow down.
“I see that every day and this will make a lot of happy parents,” Fernandez said. “So thank you for all the work that went into making that happen.”
Zebell said the city has also been able to post a position for a crossing guard, a job that should be filled soon. He said that ought to help. Plus, the city’s school resource officer will keep an eye on the new speed zone to ensure drivers comply.
Zebell said the new signs have already been ordered and should be installed soon.
