HomeMy WebLinkAboutA002 - Letter from Edwards Elementary School dated June 2, 1997 ���ITY Sc�O
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EDWARDs ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
,.� 3622 WOODLAND STREET
5 AMES, IA 50014-3494
' ° ' 515-239-3760
• June 2, 1997
Ames City Council
515 Clark Avenue
Ames IA 50010
Members of the Council:
After several discussions with Scott Logan, City Traffic Engineer, it
is our understanding that the temporary stop signs near Edwards
Elementary School will be removed to comply with the Federal
Highway Administration's determination that such traffic controls
are not safe. It is our desire that two additional permanent stop
signs be established at the Westwood Drive and Woodland Street
intersection nearest the school.
The Westwood Drive and Woodland Street intersection is an irregular
corner. Westwood Drive jogs 75 feet east as it progresses
northward, resulting in two offset T intersections, one to the west
next to the school, and one to the east away from the school. The
temporary stop sign for west bound Woodland Street traffic is set
on the east T intersection, and makes west bound to south bound left
turns for car traffic approaching the west T intersection
complicated and potentially dangerous when children are crossing
Woodland Street at the west T intersection.
This west T intersection of Westwood Drive and Woodland Street has
a regular amount of automobile and pedestrian traffic, including
elementary students, parents, and ISU students, and at times can be
very dangerous. In May 1996 Edwards began a student safety patrol
at the intersection to assist students crossing Westwood Drive. The
student patrollers have been very helpful at safely getting students
across the intersection, but when the temporary stop signs are
removed their job will become more difficult and less safe.
Scott Logan has proposed that flashing beacons with a 20 mile per
hour speed limit replace the temporary stop signs. We believe such
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controls, because they do not completely stop traffic, will render
the intersection less safe than it presently is with the temporary
stop signs, despite the criticisms cited against the latter controls.
We propose therefore that two permanent stop signs be added to the
west T intersection of Westwood Drive and Woodland Street to
create a three-way stop near the school. There is already a
permanent stop sign for northbound traffic on Westwood Drive. The
two proposed new permanent stop signs would be placed to stop
west bound and east bound traffic on Woodland Street at the west T
intersection. The permanent stop control for east bound traffic
would be in the same position as the current temporary stop, but the
other permanent stop would be placed on the north edge of Woodland
Street 75 feet west of the present temporary stop for west bound
traffic. We believe this solution is cost effective, and creates a
safer corner than the present controls provide in their present
locations.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. We appreciate your help.
Rg� Meals
1 �
Edwards Elementary School Principal
Debbie Ramey
Edwards Elerne'ntary School PTO Safety Chair
controls, because they do not completely stop traffic, will render
the intersection less safe than it presently is with the temporary
stop signs, despite the criticisms cited against the latter controls.
We propose therefore that two permanent stop signs be added to the
west T intersection of Westwood Drive and Woodland Street to
create a three-way stop near the school. There is already a
permanent stop sign for northbound traffic on Westwood Drive. The
two proposed new permanent stop signs would be placed to stop
west bound and east bound traffic on Woodland Street at the west T
intersection. The permanent stop control for east bound traffic
would be in the same position as the current temporary stop, but the
other permanent stop would be placed on the north edge of Woodland
Street 75 feet west of the present temporary stop for west bound
traffic. We believe this solution is cost effective, and creates a
safer corner than the present controls provide in their present
locations.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. We appreciate your help.
Rq� Meals
Edwards Elementary School Principal
Debbie Ramey
rrm�c
Edwards Elerr�ntary School PTO Safety Chair