City Completes Installation of 13 New School Zone Flashing Safety Beacons
The Department of
Public Service has finished installing new school zone flashing safety beacons
at 13 schools within the City of Columbus in time for the 2015-2016 school year. The beacons will increase safety for school
children walking or riding bicycles to classes.
“We continue in
invest in new signals, signs and other infrastructure to increase safety for
children around Columbus schools,” said Councilmember Shannon Hardin, chair of
City Council’s Public Service & Transportation Committee. “But we need everyone to do their part to
keep our children safe, and that includes motorists slowing down and observing
all traffic laws to protect pedestrians and bicyclists.”
The new school zone
flashing safety beacons were installed at the following locations:
- Beatty
Park Elementary School; 519 Trevitt Street
- Bishop
Ready High School; 707 Salisbury Road
- Columbus
City Preparatory School for Girls; 1390 Bryden Road
- Columbus
Spanish Immersion Academy; 2155 Fenton Street
- Cristo
Rey Columbus High School; 400 East Town Street
- Eastgate
Elementary School; 1925 Stratford Way
- Ecole
Kenwood French Immersion Elementary School (at Northgate School); 6655 Sharon
Woods Boulevard
- KIPP
Columbus Elementary School; 2750 Agler Road
- Linden
McKinley High School; 1320 Duxberry Road
- Mifflin
High School; 3245 Oak Spring Street
- South
High School; 1160 Ann Street
- Sullivant
Elementary School; 791 Griggs Avenue
- West
High School; 179 South Powell Avenue
The City is currently
updating all flashing signals to operate remotely or to use timers in order to
replace older models that require officials at the school buildings turning them
on and off each school day.
During the 2015-16
school year, the Department of Public Service will reach out to individual
schools, both public and private, to assist with school transportation plans,
assess potential needs and address any concerns or issues raised by the
schools.
Safety Tips
- Take
extra care to look out for children in school zones, near playgrounds and parks,
and in all residential areas
- Don't
block the crosswalk
- Don't
double park; it blocks visibility for other children and vehicles
- Don't
load or unload children across the street from the school
- Carpool
to reduce the number of vehicles at the school
- The
area 10 feet around a school bus is the most dangerous for children; stop far
enough back to allow them space to safely enter and exit the bus
- Be
alert; children often are unpredictable, and they tend to ignore hazards and
take risks
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