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 Traffic back up on Hope Street waiting to turn into South Elementary at 3:15p.m. March 11 in Jackson. (Elizabeth Dodd) [Click to enlarge] |
A stoplight and turn lanes will be installed at the school entrance on Highway 25, said Jackson city administrator Jim Roach.
During peak times before and after school, traffic backs up for about 15 minutes on school property and onto the highway. The congestion has caused accidents and has raised student safety concerns among school and city officials.
Roach said the Jackson Board of Aldermen approved the project Monday. The Jackson School Board approved the agreement Tuesday, said superintendent Dr. Ron Anderson.
The school opened in 1998, and the district started its first preschool program there in 2002. As its enrollment grew, traffic congestion increased, Anderson said.
During school, teachers help keep the line of traffic moving and the bus schedule is staggered to avoid the heavy traffic.
"We do our best to keep it moving and be safe, but it's just a challenge," Anderson said.
Additional programs brought in more staff and vehicles in the parking area. The plan will include an expansion of the school's parking lot. The entrance lanes will also be widened, Anderson said.
"It'll improve the school side of it, and it will improve the road," he said.
The city, school and MoDOT have been meeting for almost a year to solve the problem but could not agree on a solution.
"We all had our own ideas," Roach said.
The three entities hired Burns and McDonnell, a consulting firm in St. Louis, to do an analysis. The cost of the study, $12,600, was split between the three organizations. Roach said the groups agreed to accept the firm's recommendation going into the study, which was completed in May.
The project will cost $750,000 with each entity contributing $250,000 unless federal funding can be secured. In April, U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson of Cape Girardeau requested funds for the project in the federal budget. The appropriation cleared the subcommittee on transportation, housing and urban development. It is being considered in the House version of the budget.
MoDOT is working on the design plans, said Craig Compas, District 10 traffic engineer. Crews have been surveying the property. Construction should begin in next summer and be complete by the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year, he said.
"It's one of those deals, it's extensive enough that work could not be done while school's in," he said.
388-3627
Pertinent address:
1701 S. Hope St. Jackson, MO
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It's pretty amazing that a bunch of bored soccer moms who have nothing better to do than use picking the kids up from school as an excuse for getting out of the house will end up costing the city $500K-$1M. How about this: since taxes are being paid to provide bus service, the kids who are eligible to take the bus, take the bus unless there is a specific reason mom needs to pick them up that day. And if this problem is b/c all of these kids are not somehow eligible to take the bus, why is that? (I doubt this is the case) And if these are all kids who live close to school and can't ride the bus, they should walk or ride their bikes. The exercise is good for them. It's the same at the Middle School on Independence. It's nuts and it's dangerous. I've lived from 1 end of this country to the other, and I've never seen anything like Jackson when it comes to picking up kids from school.
Traffic congested for 15 minutes? Oh noes! Leave the house earlier and beat the buses is one solution. There is a solution for every problem and it doesn't have to be solved with taxpayer money everytime.
Ride your bike or walk, now thats just funny...have you ever drove out on hwy 25...that is a major highway, on top of the fact this is in elementary school with Pre K thru 5th, kids that age are too young to be walking to school anyways. And no the bus is not the answer, once again highway 25 is a MAJOR highway, the traffic congestion is caused by more then just school traffic. I challange you negaitve mouthy people to go park your cars across the street from South Elem next month and see if you dont change your mind!
I cant belive that no one tought that building the school next to Hwy.25 might cause traffic issues. Now, who is going to have to pay. Everyone!
Great!! Nothing like job security. After this is completed and everyone sees there isn't enough surge room between the current entrance and the school, we can kick in another million or two and go in off Jackson Trail.
Spend the money now and do it right THIS time. Keep the buses and cars off Highway 25 as much as possible. Anyone with half a brain knows this new plan is just a Band-Aid, just prolonging the problem.
Hard to park my car then when I don't live there. Buses are part of the answer. Not a full answer, but yes, part of it. That is what buses are FOR afterall. Maybe if the people driving and congesting wouldn't be such idiots, then there wouldn't be a problem. Like I said, leave the house earlier. Most people are driving idiotically because they are late for work. Easy to fix, set the alarm half an hour earlier and the problem wouldn't be there. Common sense should fix this, not money.
From the building of the school close to Hwy 25 to the current issue of installing traffic lights, there are always a plethora of details that do not get published. The whole process takes a considerable amount of time in working through numerous issues. Some significant and some not so significant, but you have to negotiate with those who think they are. It all has to be considered and it all takes time. In the short term, it may seem not necessary. However, it is appropriate in forecasting long term growth for the community and increases the safety for the children. Burns and McDonnell are in the elite of engineering companies so we will get the best plans possible. Jackson is fortunate to have a city manager who keeps the budget in the black so the town is able to grow when necessary in an economy in which most other cities are in decline.
These kids could learn to walk or take a bus but that would give them exercise.Jackson and Cape county both love stop lights they must be getting a little pocket money from somewhere.
Hello,
The plans are being designed by MoDot not B&M.
The cost will be $250,000 for the city not $500,000 to $1,000,000.
Thank you,
Nodisclosure
To: NoDisclosure
You are correct about the cost, but MoDot could not reach agreement with the city and school district on the solution.
Therefore....
The three entities hired Burns and McDonnell, a consulting firm in St. Louis, to do an analysis. They agreed to accept the firm's recommendation going into the study.
To: NoDisclosure
You are correct about the cost, but MoDot could not reach agreement with the city and school district on the solution.
Therefore....
The three entities hired Burns and McDonnell, a consulting firm in St. Louis, to do an analysis. They agreed to accept the firm's recommendation going into the study.
"Burns and McDonnell are in the elite of engineering companies so we will get the best plans possible" While this may be correct it is not a complete statement. It should be - - best plans possible given the limiting parameters.
One of those parameters is the use of the existing entrance. Take their blinders off and let them look for the best solution and I'd bet money it wouldn't include the current entrance remaining the main entrance.
These problems were known before the first blade of grass was bent at this school location. Yet, they were ignored. It's long been the Jackson way to forgo any advice or watch outs that doesn't fit the current agenda then scream "Safety" in order to get additional help. Not using the current entrance in the project probably would knock out the majority of the Modot money. Can't have that now can we!
You are either part of the solution or part of the problem. While most concerns mentioned are very valid, have you been in touch with the city, school district, MoDot to voice your concerns and get feedback on how your good ideas can or cannot be used? Have there been meetings to voice your input or have you been in touch with reps? Sounds like we have a lot geniuses who have missed their calling and are relegated to whining and complaining on blogs instead of being actively involved in the reality of the community.
I agree that the main problem is people picking-up and dropping-off kids. Try making them ride the busses and that would show you the main problem. 20 busses and 200 parents in their SUVs.
Some kids such as my son are unable to ride the bus, because they go to South instead of Orchard due to overcrowding of the school, therefor he has to be picked up. There are many kids in the same situation. I also would prefer to pick him up, I don't want him in an environment where he might pick up on some of the older kids inappropriate behaviors. Alot of the traffic problems are caused by people who think they are helping by blocking traffic so 20- 25 cars can enter and exit the school. I have never had a problem getting in or out of the parking lot, because I know how to drive a car and hit the gas pedal when there is an opening, all being done while keeping my child safe.
Whats wrong with kids riding the bus? Is it some kind of a disgrace to put your kid on the bus? We tax payers are paying for bus, I want to see them used. All these parents don't need to pick up and deliver little Johnny. He will be just fine, and the experience would be good for him. Save the money, whats a little traffic problem hurt. Go by jackson high and see all the cars on the parking lot. This is nonsense. Then after schools out, they are driveing around town like idiots, causing more traffic problems. I bet 75% of these kids don't need a car at school, to go to a part time job after school. While I am on the bus thing, I, my kids, and grand kids also, grew up in a prochial school. We couldn't ride the public bus, but us parents paid school taxes anyway. It's not right.
"You are either part of the solution or part of the problem."
That is such an outdated, overused, and totally untrue statement. Nothing is quite that simple though it always has sounded really impressive.
I've tried the good citizen route. I've gone to meetings, I've expressed my concerns and ideas, etc. But, unfortunately I feel my mannerisms are a bit outdated. I don't think political correctness should ever take precedence over common sense and trying to do what is right. Call me old fashioned but I believe in calling a spade a spade. Doesn't mean I'm rude or nasty but some folks can't handle being questioned and others refuse any idea not their own.
There is a traffic congestion problem on highway 25, Jackson created it and Jackson should fix it. But, look ahead more than the next year or so, fix it once and fix it right. If that means Jackson has to foot the whole bill then so be it.
Do any of you complaining even have kids? My kid is the first to be picked up and the last to be dropped off. That's around 50 minutes on the bus one way. Not to mention standing outside a block from the house in the cold at 6:50am. Call me crazy or protective, but a 7 year doesn't need to do that. It is much easier for me to drop him off on my way to work. Also, he is with his mother one night a week in Cape. She has to drive him and pick him up. I see plenty of working dads picking there kids up, too. Hardly anyone doing pick-ups are bored stay at home mom's. Just parents that can't wait to see their kids and ask about their day. This first comment on here is the lamest I've seen. Stay in Cape and quit whining about stuff you know nothing about.
Last I checked, we're free to take our children to school if we want. Some people value that one on one time with their children. Others don't want their young children exposed to the negative influences of the older students on the bus - and believe me, there are plenty of negative influences from the older riders. There is also the problem of overcrowded buses. Parents who choose to take their kids to school are not just overprotective stay at home moms with nothing better to do. It's often a matter of trying to do what's right for their children physically, socially, emotionally, and morally. Nothing wrong with that!
And as far as walking to South Elementary - you'd be arrested for neglect or child endangerment if you made your child walk to school along Highway 25 - plus there are few students that attend South that live within a mile of South. But that's true for most schools in Jackson.
15 minutes . . . good grief
We cannot expect K-5 kids to walk or ride their bike on 25 to South. There aren't any sidewalks.
Whoever posted that kids should ride their bikes or walk obviously has never driven down that busy and dangerous highway. It would be CHILD NEGLECT to have child walk a highway with no sides walks. DUH!
What do you expect from a government school?
xXAngelicEvilXx
Do I understand correctly that you do not even live in the area? If that is correct, then I suggest you do a little more fact finding other than the newspaper articles before you voice your opinions and look like a fool.
I do not have children at South Elementary BUT occasionally I have to drive out Hwy 25 in the mornings and in the afternoon and end up in this mess. I CANNOT leave earlier, trust me if I could, to avoid this mess, I would. Let me explain why. I leave my house between 6:50 and 7:00 to drive across town to drop my youngest child off at daycare. Then I have to come back into town to drop my grade school child off at his school. (BTW it is a private school so I do not have the advantage of using the the taxpayer bussing). I cannot drop him off before 7:30 because that is when the doors are unlocked. Then, when needed, i have to then take my oldest son to his high school in Cape (again a private school so no taxpayer bussng) which is why i head out hwy 25.
It is very frustrating when I am traveling this route because parents of South Elementary children stop without any warning in the middle of Hwy 25 to let buses and other cars out of the school parking lot.
I am one who called the city, the school district and modot regularly. If asked, I would say I lay responsibility of this stituation on the both the school district and the city admistration at the time the school was built. They should have anticipated and planned by the size of the school when it was built and the future plans they had for the school that the traffic was going to be an issue. Unfortunately this is just another of the poor planning and excessive unnecessary spending from our school district. Which is one of MANY reasons we pulled our children out of the government schools and placed them in a private school.
So before you keep pushing your "leave earlier" opinion, I suggest you open up to the fact that is not always possible.
Sometimes the future growth and development in a building is unknown. Along with future growth and development along Highway 25. I'm relatively certain that there is more traffic in the mornings now than when South opened. Some of these things cannot be anticipated.
I'm sure best case scenario, Jackson would love to build a new building instead of increasing programs (and traffic) at South, but then people would complain about that spending, too.
I would also venture to say that Jackson has far less "excessive unnecessary spending" than most other districts in the state, according to statistics that are readily available on dese.mo.gov
If we had those flying cars like they promised us back in the 50's, this wouldn't be an issue. Thanks for nothing Ike! Next time, I'm voting for Edmund Muskie!
If you folks have ever driven anywhere close to a school in Jackson in the morning or evenings, then you surely can see that a severe problem exist! Not everyone will be happy with this plan, but at least it is an effort. From my personal experience, my kids never ride the bus and my reasons are legitimate. In the mornings, the problems are compounded by parents (usually mothers) who wait until they are at the front door of the school to ensure that junior/sissy have their backpacks, lunches, and then spend time saying their good byes, and everything else that should have been done either while en route or before they leave home. Get in and get out of the way because some people need to get to work on time, while some can go back home and have their morning coffee!!
Well said Chocolatte. You obviously have researched the issue and understand it from a logistics perspective as well as a personal issue.
They should have anticipated and planned by the size of the school when it was built
-- Posted by havefaith64 on Fri, Jul 24, 2009, at 9:07 AM
Perhaps you should have planned and anticipated before you decided to bus your children all over god's creation before you go to work
arrestthem...you're right...lots of parents "loiter" at the drop off spot, and then watch their child walk ALL THE WAY to the door before moving on. These same parents stop right in front of the door instead of pulling ahead (so several parents can drop off at a time) or letting their child out before they reach the front door (gasp!). With a principal or teacher right there on duty, I don't think much can happen to the child from the car to the door...
havefaith...if those folks didn't stop to let people out (the brake lights are the warning...don't follow too closely and you'll have time to stop, too), there would be no more room in the parking lot for cars to enter, and traffic would STILL be backed up on the highway. It's a common courtesy that helps keep traffic moving by freeing up some space in the parking lot so more people can get off the highway. (Are you one of those people who lays on their horn when someone is nice enough to let a few cars out of the parking lot before turning in?)