Effort designs new loading zones

SANDPOINT — Washington Elementary third-graders were somewhat disappointed to learn they would not be getting rainbow crosswalks.

Who wouldn’t be, after all?

That disappointment dissipated, however, when they learned they will get to spearhead an art project on the new gates in front of the school. Those gates, among other changes to the school’s loading and unloading zones, were the result of the students’ efforts in their Design for Change elective last year.

When Sandpoint Police Chief Corey Coon and Public Works Director Amanda Wilson broke the news to the kids on Wednesday, ideas began flying as to what could go on the art panels for the gates.

“Design for Change,” and “Slow Down,” were a couple of ideas the kids thought of for wording to go with the art, but they will be given time to decide what will ultimately go on the panels.

“You can be as creative as you want,” Coon told the kids.

Coon initially met with the kids last year after they wrote a letter, on a very large sheet of paper, to the city regarding their concerns over safety in the intersections outside their school. The following week, at the March 21 council meeting, second-graders Dakota Landwehr, Blake Bogadi, Colton Dickinson, Carlee Klippel, Addie Emch and Raina Shrestha explained the safety issues and possible solutions to council members.

“Following that presentation, (city) staff’s first step was really to fully assess what were the concerns and evaluate all of the factors that contributed to the safety hazards,” Wilson said during the Sept. 5 council meeting.

Safety concerns, which were captured on video by the kids, include cars parked in crosswalks, students and parents not using crosswalks and not listening to crossing guards, snow blocking ramps and crosswalks, faded paint, cars parked illegally and vehicles speeding.

Some of the solutions the kids came up with were flashing lights, ticketing violators, repainting red zones, deploying a large radar trailer and, of course, rainbow crosswalks.

It turns out rainbow crosswalks cost between $50,000 and $120,000, and there is also little evidence to show the effectiveness of slowing people down, Wilson said. However, several changes have been made to the area outside of the school where parents pick up and drop off their kids.

As of Sept. 10, gates were placed at two intersections along Erie Street, which runs east to west in front of the school. When the gates are swung into place, it creates a temporary one-way street during drop off and pick up times. Cars can only travel west on Erie between Lavina and Boyer for loading and unloading during morning and afternoon hours. Curbs have been repainted and school zone signs have been placed as well.

“The Design for Change project has made Washington Elementary’s morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up safer,” said Washington Elementary principal Natassia Hamer on Friday. “Parents no longer have to park on the streets surrounding our school, they can drive to our designated loading zone and safely deliver and pick their children. By improving the drop-off and pick-up process, traffic conditions become safer for all, including pedestrians and bicyclists.”

School officials ask that parents do not use Lavina as a drop-off and pick-up area, as the one way on Erie is the safest option for the kids.

There has also been changes made to how the students exit the building at the end of the day. Students who are picked up by a vehicle are required to exit out the main entry door on the south side of the building, by the new one-way area. Students who are on foot or a bicycle exit through door number two on the west side of the building by the playground. And students who ride the bus exit through door number three, on the east side of the building along Boyer Avenue.

While there are three exit points, the school will maintain a single point of entry by the front office.

A crosswalk safety video featuring the kids, school staff and Sandpoint Police can be viewed on the school’s website at wa.lposd.org.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.