By BECKY KISER
Hays Post
As back-to-school traffic picks up later this month in Hays, drivers and pedestrians on Hall Street near Thomas More Prep-Marian school will need to pay extra attention.
A new pedestrian crosswalk with flashing lights has been installed on Hall at the intersection of 19th Street.
A Kansas Department of Transportation Traffic Engineering Assistance Program study was awarded several years ago to the city of Hays. TEAP awards provide engineering services for small areas with things such as access problems or pedestrian issues.
The city looked at Hall Street between O’Loughlin Elementary School at the 14th Street intersection and TMP-M at 19th.
“We have a challenge at certain times of the day with pedestrians, with cars, with overloading access when people are dropping off or picking up their kids at O’Loughlin, and when school is getting out at TMP. There are short-term congestion problems,” City Manager Toby Dougherty said.
One of the suggestions made in the TEAP study was a pedestrian crosswalk.
The city met a while ago with TMP-M administrative staff and both groups agreed to the 19th Street location.
“We think that’s the best option right now. I think they’re very happy with the outcome,” Dougherty added.
TMP-M Principal Chad Meitner is so happy about the crosswalk he went to a Hays City Commission meeting to tell them about it.
“John Braun (Hays project manager) had worked with us and the administration at O’Loughlin … The (TEAP) findings made us look at how we could make the traffic flow there safer for the students, the families, and just for citizens in general going through that area especially in the mornings and afternoons,” said Meitner. “I thank the city for installing the crosswalk. It looks great. We’re excited not only for our students but even the folks who use the campus for walking their dogs or jogging (who) can now cross there.”
The TMP location was chosen for the crosswalk because O’Loughlin uses a staffed crosswalk when the school day opens and closes.
“The majority of those kids crossing Hall Street are doing so under controlled circumstances,” Dougherty said, “but TMP doesn’t have anybody posted there … so this actually gives them some kind of controlled access.”
The new pedestrian crosswalk is similar to the one further north on Hall Street in front of Cervs convenience store and another on 22nd Street near Roosevelt Elementary School. Each is activated by pedestrians.
“They’re very bright flashing lights that will get the attention of the vehicles so they can slow down and yield to the people in the crosswalk. … Traffic is usually pretty good about stopping for the kids. … But you never know with people on their phones not paying attention. That flasher adds another (safety) measure.”
Dougherty said he believes the city will look at installing a crosswalk at O’Loughlin sometime in the future, “but given the fact that they have no intention of doing away with their crossing guard right now, we feel it’s protected.”
There is no crossing guard station at Roosevelt.
Classes at TMP-Marian start Monday, Aug. 19. Hays USD 489 classes start Wednesday, Aug. 14.