As Springfield Public Schools’ students head back to school Wednesday, Aug. 16 and area universities start their fall sessions, Public Works Traffic Engineering reminds drivers to slow down and watch for pedestrians.
All school speed zones will be back in effect starting Aug. 16. The flashing beacons are programmed to flash for 50 minutes in the morning before the school day begins until five minutes after the start time, and then again in the afternoon starting five minutes before dismissal time until 30 minutes after school is out.
Locations with crossing guards will have guards present when the speed zones are in effect. Public Works is also re-striping school crosswalks that need it.
In order to assist the families of students who walk or ride their bike to school, the Traffic Engineering division has developed recommended school walking route maps for all SPS elementary schools, available at springfieldmo.gov/schoolsafety.
Each map features the location of the school, existing traffic controls, sidewalks, crossing guard locations, and arrow head markings that suggest the walking route for each child from his or her home to the school utilizing the recommended school crossing locations.
The maps are updated annually for each elementary school in the Springfield R-12 School District, with the following objectives and considerations:
Routes combine as students approach the school to group the students as soon as possible for greater safety and to consolidate the number of street crossings to reduce total vehicle-pedestrian exposures.
Routes should make the maximum use of existing traffic control (signals and stop signs).
Adequate sight distance between the motorists and the pedestrian must be available at all crossings.
In addition to the maps, several schools have signalized school crosswalks. Signalized school crosswalks are equipped with “kid friendly” pedestrian push buttons and educational signage. The push buttons are activated by the touch of a finger and the button responds with a single “chirp” sound along with display of a continuous red LED light. Two separate education plaques are used at school crosswalks.
The City reminds drivers that the speed limit in Springfield neighborhoods is 25 mph.
For more information about the city’s Drive 25 program, please visit springfieldmo.gov/Drive25.