Public Hearing on Theatre Road Speed Limit and Sidewalks (11/13/15) //www.williamsbayschools.org/pro/bulletin/rss_posts.cfm?threadid=8&memberid=886 Dr. Anderson's Blog - Public Hearing on Theatre Road Speed Limit and Sidewalks (11/13/15) en-us Wayne Anderson //www.williamsbayschools.org/about/blog.cfm?posts=1&threadid=8#item_8 If you have been following the progress of the new elementary school, you can see that the steel frame of the building is beginning to take shape. As the physical construction of the building is moving forward, other important issues associated with the new elementary school are also being addressed – one of these issues is how students will be able to safely get from their home to the new school.

This issue is going to be discussed by the Streets and Highways and also the Protective Services Committees of the Village Board on Thursday, November 19 at 6:30 p.m. at Village Hall. During this meeting, the Village officials will be discussing two issues that center around student safety issues associated with the new school campus:

1)      The speed limit on Theatre Road; and

2)      How students will safely get across Theatre Road from the Lakewood Trails and Baywood Heights subdivisions.

The speed limit on Theatre Road is now 35 mph and the Village is considering drafting a position statement to reduce the speed limit to 25 mph. This reduced speed will make crossing Theatre Road safer for our students and other community members. If the public is supportive of this idea, the Village officials will then work with the Town of Walworth and the State Department of Transportation to achieve this goal.  Since coming to Williams Bay, I have had the opportunity to travel on Theatre Road numerous times and from personal experience I know that having a speed limit of 35 mph on this road does not mean that individuals always drive at 35 mph. I am not casting stones, I have to be very diligent to make certain that I keep my own speed limit in check because it is easy to start picking up speed especially as you are leaving town. I am in favor of reducing the speed limit because I do think that the slower we drive in student filled areas, the safer it will be for everyone. During the speed limit discussion, one aspect that will be debated is what part(s) of Theatre Road should have this reduced speed limit. One suggestion was that the new speed limit should start at the intersection of Theatre and Bailey Road. Another suggestion was to start the new speed limit at the Theatre Road athletic complex, which is near the beginning of the Prairie View subdivision. If you want to be part of this discussion, the Village officials would appreciate having your feedback before making any final decisions.

The second issue that will be discussed at the Village meeting is where individuals will cross Theatre Road safely from one side to the other. The Village will move the two crossing guards from their current locations to their new locations. One of these locations will be at the intersection of Theatre Road and Geneva Street (Highway 67) and the other will be farther down Theatre Road, at a location yet to be determined. So far the Village has discussed building sidewalks on Theatre Road that would connect with the new crosswalks. However, this solution may be costly and would require the Village to remove trees along this route. Another possibility would be to route individuals into the Prairie View subdivision. Currently, an easement exists off Prairie View Road that connects the Prairie View subdivision with the back of the school district’s property. This easement is currently a dirt walking path, but it could be blacktopped to create a more formal and secure walkway from the Prairie View subdivision to the new elementary school. Under this option, the Village would create a crosswalk which would be staffed with a crossing guard at the entrance of Lakewood Trails on Theatre Road.  This opiton will direct students from the Lakewood Trails subdivision to the Prairie View subdivision where they could then cross to the elementary school using the paved easement. The students from the Baywood Heights subdivision could get to the new elementary school by exiting the subdivision from Sunset Blvd. and walking down Theatre Road to Geneva Street and then using that crossing guard to get across Theatre Road. The students could also go from Baywood Heights to Lakewood Trails by using Forest Drive and then use the crosswalk at Lakewood Trails, enter the Prairie View subdivision and then use the paved easement to go to the new elementary school. Another idea that was discussed for Baywood Heights residents was to create a paved easement from Frost Drive to Theatre Road that would come out closer to the West Geneva Street crosswalk.

The final decisions the Village Board makes on these topics will have a major impact on the students's safety that live in this section of the Village. I hope if this is a topic that interests you that you will take the time to attend this meeting and voice your opinion. Thank you for your involvement in our school district and community.

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