By David Lazenby
Editor
TRUSSVILLE — City councilors tonight discussed methods for making it safer for students to cross Chalkville Road while walking to and from Cahaba Elementary School.
“I have some concerns our signs for crossing are just not enough,” said Councilor Zack Steele who brought up the matter during a council workshop held in the council chamber at Trussville City Hall.
“People are not really slowing down there,” Steele said. He added that school zone road signs on Parkway Drive and Chalkville Road seem to have minimal effect on the speed of motorists near the school that first opened for the 2016-17 school year.
Steele said he spoke earlier this week with Mayor Buddy Choat about seeking volunteers to serve as crossing guards.
Council President Brian Plant brought up the liability the city might have to assume if it incorporates crossing guards near the mall where the school is located. He said school officials declined to accept legal responsibility for the crossing guards.
Choat said he has been in contact with three companies about installing flashing signs designed to alert drivers in regard to reduced speed limits before and after school hours.
“They’re expensive, but it’s not the money I”m worried about; it’s the effectiveness of it,” he said.
Choat said because Chalkville Road is officially designated as a county road, city officials would have to get approval from Jefferson County authorities before it could install flashing lights.
Streets and Sanitation Superintendent Wayne Sullivan said county officials told him they are not opposed to the flashing signals the councilors discussed during tonight’s workshop.
“We have those on Clay Trussville Road at the middle school that have been there forever,” Sullivan said. He added that the county installed the signs and helps to maintain them.
Choat said he spoke with Trussville Police Chief Jeff Bridges about having a squad car with its lights on near the portion of the mall closest to Chalkville Road during the times immediate before and after school to get drivers’ attention.
All of the councilors agreed the safety of the school crosswalks needs to be a priority.
Councilor Alan Taylor suggested the officials get the city’s public safety committee involved in the development of a plan to increase safety at the school crosswalks. City officials agreed to continue its discussion on the matter after the public safety committee has its next meeting on Sept. 7.
Steele said he suspects motorists on Chalkville Road have not yet gotten used to the busy street being adjacent to a school
“I think people are just not used to this yet,” Steele said. “We’re just having folks not paying attention and I’m worried about a dangerous situation that’s going to happen unless we do a little bit more to make the public aware.”
34 Comments
Jennifer Little Savage
I’ve noticed this is a huge issue! Cars do not stop at all at the crosswalk. Parkway Dr. in front of the school needs crossing guards as well!
Gretchen Larsson Bichler
This is a MAJOR problem!!! The school and the city need to take responsibility for helping its smallest citizens get to and from school safely. There should be crossing guards in front of the school and on Chalkville road. The police has no problem directing traffic getting people in and out of churches, and Paine. Why is it a problem to direct traffic so our children can cross the street????
Erin Mathews
This is an everywhere problem. Designated crosswalks, crossing guards, speed bumps, flashing lights…sometimes I feel like a wall in the middle of the road wouldn’t make people take notice and slow down.
Sheila Richards
Stacy Holley Smith
Stacy Holley Smith
🤔
Anne Snider Steward
What year is Trussville still in? These people are so out of touch with reality.
“Council President Brian Plant brought up the liability the city might have to assume if it incorporates crossing guards near the mall where the school is located. He said school officials declined to accept legal responsibility for the crossing guards.”
This quote right here shows how truly oblivious they are to having a school that is advertising and encouraging walkers and bike riders to go to school.
I lived in Gwinnett County, GA, TWENTY years ago and ALL of the schools which children were able to walk to, had school crossing guards. I guess they’re waiting on a child or parent to get hit by a car before it actually sinks in. The ignorance here can be embarrassing here at times!
Anne Snider Steward
Churches pay for police to be there. FYI
Gretchen Larsson Bichler
If that’s the case, so could the school! Do they pay for the police to be directing traffic at Paine?
Gretchen Larsson Bichler
Exactly! Trussville is soooooo far behind in many ways. Schools all across the country have crossing guards. The need to have “safety patrol” opening car doors at the school is ridiculous….. we need real safety patrol on the street corners! Pay someone for that. My kids have no problem opening up their door and getting out of the car.
Michael Tarassoli
Build a bridge!
Kristal Kizer
There are no police directing traffic at Paine any longer, unless they come before or after I’ve been through there.
Anne Snider Steward
Gretchen Larsson Bichler I see you’re not originally from here either? Lol! I think this is why we oppose the way the city council thinks here. We’ve seen other school systems.
Harold Clements
Orange County Schools in Orlando have crossing guards. How do they do it? Let volunteers sign an agreement with the city stating the city isn’t liable for the time they spend during the time they are needed for children to go to school.
Anne Snider Steward
School crossing guards are normally hired through the police department and trained to know the laws. They can also write tickets for offenders who do not obey the law. This is the only way it will work legitimately for people to abide and respect the law.
Gretchen Larsson Bichler
No, I’m not from here. Everything is done soooooo different and the hard way here. I struggle daily.
Carrie Anne Chapman Willingham
Kendra Brown Rushing
Joanna Shepherd Edge
Whitney AndBeau Mosley Mandy Shepherd Flournoy
Melanie Smoke-Kollars
We have no police officers at Paine anymore. But we really need one.
Laura McCants Reddick- Reichert
Anne Snider Steward , I agree. Our church has to pay for officers to direct traffic at our exit/entrance during weddings and funerals.
Gretchen Larsson Bichler
Whether a church pays or not is not the issue…. our kids on bikes and walking should be more important.
Elizabeth Thames BeShears
Also a problem for runners and walkers in the area. I’ve almost gotten hit multiple times because drivers don’t seem to realize a pedestrian has the right of way in a crosswalk.
Katie Karhan Amberson
Kristie Lawrence
Katie Karhan Amberson
Lee Amberson
Jana Lile
I was complaining about this when you went to school there, Katie Karhan Amberson
Jana Lile
We needed crosswalks on chalkville road & speed bumps on the mall. Remember when they tore up the road on south mall? That would have been the perfect time to add a speed.bump, but they added some on oak street instead.
Katie Karhan Amberson
Jana Lile yes!! They need something at these crosswalks. People do not yield to the pedestrians!
Hilary Vrocher
This is all over trussville – not a very runner friendly area 😕
Dawn Armstrong-Allen
Saw 2 kids on bikes almost get hit yesterday!!!
Jana Lile
It would be expensive, but a “walk” button would be nice with flashing red lights to stop traffic when someone pushes it.
Allen Long
Put some cops out there helping direct traffic in the mornings and afternoons. Chalkville elementary and the odenville schools have them out directing traffic and it works great. If schools in those smaller communities can do it so can Trussville.
Kristen Sittre Jones
http://abc3340.com/news/local/trussville-looks-to-increase-pedestrian-safety-around-cahaba-elementary-school
Alex Deal
Seems to me the police could/should do it. What about the SRO? I know Alabaster had uniformed police (one of which is the SRO) with flashing lights, whistles and all. They direct traffic at the most congested area but also stop all traffic to let the children cross. Wouldn’t think there’d be any liability issues. Maybe some extra work for PD- hire more if we need them.
Alex Deal
*has, not had
Gretchen Larsson Bichler
That is one thing that drove me crazy last year…. the police officer on duty was standing in the doorway of the school greeting the children. Kids don’t need another greeter at Cahaba. That officer should have been out helping little ones cross the street!!!!