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Poland village council considers improvements to traffic near middle school
POLAND
Village council members would like to see changes made to the traffic conditions near Poland Middle School and Poland McKinley Elementary.
One concern members expressed at a council meeting Tuesday is that many children cross South Main Street from College Street, where the middle school is located, and from the area near village hall.
“What we’re concerned about is crossing the street, with kids running across,” said council member Linda Srnec. “We’d like to get together with [the schools] and resolve something.”
Possible solutions council discussed are crosswalks and better signage along South Main, which would require discussions with the Ohio Department of Transportation since it is a state road.
Parking also is an issue near the two adjoined schools, said Russell Beatty Jr., village police chief and streets commissioner. Buses park along Cortland and Elm streets while waiting for students to load onto them.
“If you get the buses to load off the road, it’s a ton safer,” Beatty said.
He said a possible solution would be for buses to park in a lot or driveway near the schools rather than on the street. That would require building an area for buses to wait, he said, since there are no parking lots in the area that can accommodate buses.
Another issue is that motorists often park illegally during drop-off and pickup times, Beatty said.
Council members plan to meet with Poland School District Superintendent David Janofa to discuss possible solutions to the problem.
“We need this to be the village and the schools working together on this,” Srnec said. “Right now, we’re thinking signs for sure and enforcing traffic laws — whatever we need to do to make it safe for the kids,” she said.