Fort Scott crews hope new signals will make streets safer for kids

Fort Scott, Kan. -- Fort Scott Public Works crews will activate two flashing school zone traffic signals Monday along Margrave Street in an attempt to slow drivers down to ensure the safety of Fort Scott Middle School students.

Street crews installed the traffic signals last week at 824 and 1370 S. Margrave St. The zone stretches 2,314 feet, nearly double the distance of a similar lighted traffic zone on National Avenue.

Each school day, the dual blinking yellow lights will be activated from 7 to 8:30 a.m. and 3 to 4 p.m. Encased in the traffic sign will be an illuminated numeral "20" telling drivers to slow to 20 miles per hour. The normal speed limit when the signs are not activated is 35 mph.

"We need to make sure our kids are safe when walking to school," Fort Scott Mayor Gary Billionis said. Billionis is also a physical education teacher at the middle school. "It's important that we have them (signs) here with the number of kids that cross Margrave. It's a huge safety improvement."

The traffic signs cost $3,190 and the purchase was approved by the Fort Scott City Commission in December. They were purchased from Gades Sales, a company based in Wichita that specializes in traffic control safety equipment. The money came out of the city's streets and highways fund, Fort Scott Finance Director Susan Brown said.

The city moved forward with the plan in December to install the signals after a concerned resident talked with city officials about vehicles not slowing down in the school zone. In response, Fort Scott police increased patrols in the area before and after school.

When the issue was brought before the commission, city officials layed out two options to remedy the problem. The more costly option would have been to implement a stop light crossing similar to the one at the intersection of Eighth Street and National Avenue. That plan was projected to cost $45,000.

FSPD Lt. Travis Shelton said a patrol officer stopped a driver allegedly going 60 mph along Margrave earlier this year. The driver was cited for speeding, he said.

Shelton said the signals will not cause police to cease their routine patrols of the school zone area.

Penalties for speeding vary depending on how fast the driver is caught going, Shelton said. According to the Standard Traffic Ordinance for Kansas, a measurement system adopted by the city, it can cost a motorist $84 if caught going 11 to 15 mph over the speed limit. If caught going 41 mph or over, the fine will be $224.

Fines are doubled in a school zone at certain times of the day, like when the flashing signals will be blinking.

Public Works employee Michael Shaw conducted a traffic count on Margrave in January that gave the city a good indicator as to where to place the signals. Counters were placed in two locations on Margrave and arterial side streets like 10th, 12th and Emmert streets, Shaw said.

The study showed traffic was heaviest in the morning at the arterial side streets and the two locations on Margrave. For example, at 7 a.m. from Jan. 30 to 31, 1,680 vehicles traveled east and west on 10th. Also at 7 a.m. from Jan. 31 to Feb. 1, 994 vehicles passed at the 12th and Margrave intersection. The counter caught 3,523 vehicles traveling on Margrave around 7 a.m. on Jan. 26 to 27.

The school zone lighting area will encompass the majority of those side roads leading to the middle school, Fort Scott Public Works Director Eric Bailey said in a Feb. 16 letter to City Manager Richard Nienstedt.