Existing Infrastructure

Main entrance to Morris Area Elementary School, showing the crosswalk to the parking lot.

The entrance to the school is very busy during school arrival and dismissal times and can be challenging for students to cross.

The intersection of Columbia Avenue and South Street is very busy with bus and drop-off traffic and can be challenging for students to cross when walking and biking to and from school.

This area along East 4th Street is very busy with drop-off traffic. Students were observed crossing the street at various mid-block points to reach the school grounds instead of going to the corner to use the crosswalk.

The paint on this crossing has faded and it is exceptionally wide, making crossing challenging. Vehicle speeds tend to be high for a parking lot, as vehicles are exiting from Columbia Avenue into the parking lot here.

The wide curb radius at the elementary school entrance induces high speeds for vehicles entering the parking lot. The volume of traffic also results in vehicles blocking the sidewalk and backing up into the roadway. The location of the curb cut also makes for a sharp turn for a child on a bicycle who is heading to the bike rack.

Parallel striped crosswalks are less effective than high-visibility crosswalks (e.g., continental style)

Vehicles parked blocking or protruding onto the sidewalk can be challenging to navigate around – especially for those with physical disabilities or limited mobility.

Heaving and cracked sidewalks can be challenging to navigate – especially for those with physical disabilities or limited mobility.

While there are not many intersections like this in Morris, the lack of a curb cut at this intersection can make it challenging for those with physical disabilities or limited mobility to navigate.