SIGNIFICANT FINDINGS OBSERVATIONS AND WALKING AUDIT
Traffic speeds and traffic volumes on U.S. Highway 59 were observed to be high with a high number of trucks and commercial vehicles. These observations are confirmed in the MnDOT traffic volume data.
There were at least three students who walk to school and crossed U.S. Highway 59 at County Highway 18 and 370th (Kolb) Street. None of these three students were observed using the pushbutton-activated, LED-embedded “School Crosswalk Warning” signs.
There were concerns expressed by some observers about how some of the students walked through the parking lot after being dropped off by parents in family vehicles.
There was also some confusion as to how parents dropping off students in family vehicles should navigate the parking lot and where they should actually drop off students.
In the afternoon, a police car was parked on Feather Street near U.S. Highway 59, just north of the school. The vehicle’s presence seemed to have an effect on drivers, as vehicle speeds appeared to be reduced.
Number of students walking and biking to school in the morning: o
3, possibly 5 Pedestrians
o
0 Bicyclists
Number of students walking and biking to school in the afternoon: o
3 Pedestrians
o
0 Bicyclists
Use of the crosswalk and pushbutton-activated, LED-embedded “School Crosswalk Warning” signs at the intersection of the intersection of U.S. Highway 59, County Highway 18 and 370th (Kolb) Street was sporadic at best.
The pushbutton-activated, LED-embedded “School Crosswalk Warning” signs may not be having the desired effect of getting a majority of drivers to yield to pedestrians crossing U.S. Highway 59 when activated.
P a g e 10 | Executive Summary
