Central Iowa Times

The Webster City Council discussed potential improvements to traffic safety around their local schools during a Feb. 6. meeting.

Andy Swisher and Chase Cutler, representatives from engineering and consulting firm HR Green, spoke about a traffic analysis study conducted by their company around several local schools to find weaknesses and provide alternatives to keep pedestrians and cyclists safer in said areas. Following repeated complaints about traffic-related dangers in the areas, the council hired HR Green in 2022 after soliciting the agreement through the U.S. Department of Transportation. The company then examined traffic and collision data, pedestrian safety and nearby roadways to come to its conclusions.

Swisher and Cutler had two areas of recommendations: short-term and long-term. Among the four studied sites, which were the locations of five schools -- Webster City Middle School, St. Thomas Aquinas Elementary School, Pleasant View Elementary School, Sunset Heights Elementary School and Webster City High School -- the short-term recommendations were fairly consistent.

The consultants suggested that much of the signage be updated or replaced, more "School Zone" signs should be added, four-way and two-way notices should be put on stop signs, and large "Entrance Only" and "Exit Only" signs should be added for school drop-offs and pickups.

Swisher and Cutler also suggested painting directional arrows on the school drive pavements for some of the schools. The joint middle/elementary school property received the most recommendations, including training some staff members to direct traffic during times of high density on the streets. Both Pleasant View and Webster City High received recommendations to increase police presence slightly to enforce school zone speeds.

Only Webster City High didn't receive long-term recommendations. The middle school and St. Thomas Aquinas Elementary were advised to construct a permanent median closure at Des Moines Street and Water Street and add one-way signs to it. The consultants also suggested adding a raised crosswalk at a nearby intersection. Pleasant View Elementary was asked to consider building a sidewalk extension from Brewer's Creek Trail, as well as to paint their crosswalks and install pedestrian warning signs. Sunset Height Elementary was also asked to consider building a new sidewalk extension along the west side of Beach Street, as well as to paint the crosswalk at the new crossing location.

"There were a few areas that we recognize could be improved here," Cutler said. "One was student parking around the school itself. You've got a lot of on-campus parking, and a lot that's not utilized. But we did observe a lot of students using Lynx Avenue to park. I can see why it's a little more convenient. It's adjacent to the front door of things, but it introduces that potential for pedestrian-vehicle conflicts. So if we can move some of that student parking back into the parking lot and away from Lynx Avenue, that could provide some benefits."