Southwood Elementary School is asking for improvements to be made to a speed zone edging its premises.
Marge Thiessen, principal of the school, says she and some parents in the catchment have been looking at the zone on Kroeker Avenue at Southwood Drive for several years now.
"We have... probably 35 kids who walk to Southwood School from the area east of the school, and there isn't a designated crossing," Thiessen says.
She says if there was better infrastructure there, it would be safer—especially given the presence of the school's bus loop exit at the intersection, from which busses can go straight onto Southwood Drive, or turn to the left or right onto Kroeker Avenue.
"With buses, there are limitations to what they see," she explains.
Right now, the school has designated a morning crossing guard to facilitate movement across the intersection.
It used to have one after school, but due to scheduling challenges and funding issues had to drop the resource.
This means students between four and nine years old cross independently, the school says.
The proposal that has been put forward
In a letter addressed to Steinbach City Councillors, Southwood School requested a reduced school speed zone of 30 km/h, with signage, on Kroeker Avenue between Second and Third Streets.
Right now, it says this measure exists for Barkman Avenue and Third Street.
In addition to this, it also requests one of the following:
- Signage and paint on roads indicating a crosswalk with potential speed bumps.
- Four-way stop signs at the intersection—including for the bus loop exit. Currently, it says the only stop sign is on Southwood Drive.
- Sidewalks and overhead, mounted, signalized lights. Right now, Southwood School says there are "no sidewalks along the southeast side of Kroeker along residential homes and landscaping that obstructs visibility of pedestrians and drivers."
- A curb cut, and ramp, up to a concrete pad on the corner of Kroeker Avenue and Southwood Drive.
- A different suggestion from the City of Steinbach that ensures students can safely cross the street.
In the proposal, the school says there is an imminent need for change.
"(This) measure is considered essential to update and correct a current safety issue that has resulted in complaints or incidents in the past," it reads, noting "Near misses have been witnessed on several occasions."
It adds the measures suggested have been successfully implemented at other schools.
The proposal put forward also included a letter of support from the Hanover School Division's board of trustees.
Find the proposal on the City of Steinbach's "Minutes & Videos" webpage, under April 15.
How Steinbach City Council is proceeding
The request was brought before Steinbach's City Council on April 15, where it was decided that the suggestions would be forwarded to the city's administration.
During the meeting, councillor Susan Penner remarked that the request from the school was thorough.
"They've obviously spent a lot of time examining safety around their school," she explained, and asked for the request be forwarded to the city's administration.
The plan is for the team to review Southwood School's suggestions and come up with recommendations for council.
These recommendations are expected to be made later this spring.
"They're the professionals, not us. It would be improper for us to be making decisions in terms of traffic engineering. But our administration will definitely do extensive research into that and then come back with recommendations for us," says Damian Penner, another councillor.
"An area that is lacking safety"
Damian Penner says, while there are speed zones marked by the school, "there is an area that is lacking safety."
He agrees that improvements for pedestrians can be made there, especially for children.
"Children aren't always the most aware of their surroundings, and we need to make sure that we're being safe around them. It's our responsibility as the adults," he says.
However, no matter what infrastructure is—or isn't—in place, he pleads with drivers to pay close attention in school zones.
"Slow down to 30 (km/h). There's a reason for that," he says. "Take that extra step and be safe for our children."
Written with files from Judy Peters