Safe Routes to School group ready to look at priorities

A group working to make Le Mars safer for bikers and walkers is meeting this week to talk about what would make that possible.

The group, working with the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program, brainstormed some possible priorities for the community.

Those ideas will be the center of a meeting this week, held from 7-9 p.m. Tuesday, in the Le Mars Public Library Meeting room.

The public is welcome to join.

First Priority

* Zebra painted crosswalks to make intersections safe for pedestrians. Some pedestrian crosswalk signs are needed where there is no stop sign or signal light. The group suggested several spots for these painted crosswalks including at the southern corners of the Le Mars Community Schools football field and track on 12th Street, across Business 75 at Highway 3, near Taco John's and near Dairy Queen; and the intersections with Plymouth Street near Gehlen Catholic Schools, for example.

* Push button activated Red "Stop for Pedestrian" lights with advanced warning signs as needed -- suggested for the intersection at the southeast corner of the LCS campus on 12th Street.

* Bike Lanes with painted bike silhouettes: along Fourth Avenue East from 12th Street South to the Le Mars Municipal Park on both sides of the street. Most of this route is already "No Parking" but a few blocks near Highway 3 may have to be changed to "No Parking." The other place suggested for bike lanes is Eighth Street South, the boulevard which runs near LCS, from Sixth Avenue West to Fourth Avenue East.

* Some vertical "Bike Lane" signs may be necessary or desirable: on Plymouth Street at Fourth Avenue East and possibly on Eighth Street at Fourth Avenue East and at Sixth Avenue West.

Second Priority

* Yellow flashing sign programmed for beginning and closing of school day: School Crossing / 15 mph when flashing / STOP for Pedestrians

* Adding a bike lane - continuing the lane on Fourth Ave. East, heading south of 12th Street to 18th Street.

* Bike lanes on all of 12th Street South -- however, major modification of the storm sewer openings will be required because of the past asphalt overlays.

* Another pedestrian push button and zebra crosswalk on the south side of Fourth Street and Business 75 Southwest.

Third Priority - A Dream

* Additional marked Bike Lanes that connect to all schools and parks.

These ideas were generated by the SRTS community meeting, the local SRTS committee discussions, the Le Mars SRTS Infrastructure and Engineering Committee, the Plymouth County Cyclists and a November meeting with Le Mars City staff.

"The methods of payment are yet to be determined," said SRTS member Wayne Marty, of Le Mars.

Already $4,000 of a $10,000 wellness grant received by a local health planning group has been assigned to the SRTS project.

Marty said group members will also meet with city officials to get a handle on price ranges for crossing signs and painting.

The Safe Routes to School not connected with Siouxland Regional Transport System, which also uses the acronym SRTS.