City Commission approves School Area Traffic Control Policy; determines adult crossing guard placements for 2021-2022 school year

Kevin PowellCity, City Commission, Metropolitan Planning Organization, Municipal Services and Operations

At the City Commission meeting on Tuesday, August 17, commissioners voted to adopt Resolution Number 7390 and approve the School Area Traffic Control Policy. They also authorized the City Manager to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with USD 497 that formalizes the coordination between the City and USD 497 to implement the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program.

Adopting the School Area Traffic Control Policy was an action item in the SRTS Plan to address concerns associated with traffic control around schools and the safety of intersections and crossings, which were identified in the 2019 Parent Survey.

The City’s previous School Crossing Control Policy (SCCP) was used as a guideline for installing and maintaining traffic control devices and crossing guards at elementary school crossing areas. In 2015, the need to update the policy was identified, particularly to improve the process of requests and changes to traffic control around schools. The recently approved School Area Traffic Control Policy will replace the SCCP while updating and expanding upon it. The revisions include:

  • Addition of middle schools
  • Addition of new traffic control devices: Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons and Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons
  • Establishes evaluation criteria for Adult Crossing Guards
  • Addition of Safe Routes to School maps on the school website
  • Establishes processes for community members to request elements and to allow evaluation by the SRTS Working Group, which includes the City of Lawrence, USD 497, Lawrence – Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Organization and Lawrence – Douglas County Public Health

The updated evaluation criteria for the Adult Crossing Guards program establishes new recommendations for crossing guard placements for the 2021-2022 school year. As a result of those revisions, there will be 16 adult crossing guard locations this year. It is the City’s best intention to ensure a guard is at their assigned location on school days; however, there may be instances a guard is not there due to absences and staffing constraints. The first day crossing guards will be in place for the 2021-2022 school year is Thursday, August 19.

More information on the School Area Traffic Control Policy and Adult Crossing Guards program are available on the City’s website: lawrenceks.org/school-traffic-control. The website also includes a map of the crossing guard placements for the 2021-2022 school year.

Contact: Porter Arneill, Communications & Creative Resources Director, parneill@lawrenceks.org.