School drop-off and pick-up causes traffic trouble in Ashland
ASHLAND, Mo. (KMIZ)
School-related traffic has increased in Ashland thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic changing the way many students get to and from school.
The Ashland Police Department, assisted by the Boone County Fire Protection District, flew a drone to monitor traffic on Tuesday morning.
The department says it monitored traffic to analyze how it can better assist with traffic control.
The intersections monitored were near East Liberty Lane at South Henry Clay Boulevard where Southern Boone Primary School and Southern Boone Elementary are located; and North Main Street at West Broadway, near where Southern Boone Middle School and Southern Boone High School are located.
Ashland Police Chief Gabe Edwards said they will analyze the traffic data internally.
"We will take the information gleaned from video captured by the drones combined with information from a traffic engineering study recently conducted due to a nearby planned development to formulate a recommendation we can take to the school for their consideration, and for us to implement along roadways off of school property," Edwards said.
The police department said the Southern Boone School District has implemented some changes to drop-off and pick-up procedures to reduce some of the congestion.
Southern Boone School District superintendent Chris Felmlee said that as a result of trying to do what’s best for students, the district asked parents to drop off and pick their students up if possible this school year.
He said more parents are dropping off and picking up their kids than in the past which has caused some traffic troubles in Ashland. He also said this has caused the school district to make some updates.
“We put in more drop-off and pick-up points around the district especially around our elementary and primary buildings,” Felmlee said.
He said the district will look over the footage from the flyover with the Ashland Police Department on Thursday to see what other changes can be made to keep traffic moving.
The Missouri Department of Transportation is also in the planning phase to make improvements to Broadway and Henry Clay. A roundabout has been proposed to improve traffic flow at this intersection.
Construction on the roundabout is scheduled to begin in 2021 and will cause one lane to close while the other will be open for traffic. A public hearing is scheduled for Sept. 26. More information can be found here.
