Superintendent Micheal Penca | https://www.fusd1.org/Domain/6
Superintendent Micheal Penca | https://www.fusd1.org/Domain/6
The Flagstaff Unified School District approved the sale of a small tract of land to the city of Flagstaff, partly to construct a roundabout aimed at improving traffic flow near the campus.
During the governing board's meeting on May 23, members discussed the sale of the land to the city of Flagstaff and a plan to construct a roundabout at a nearby intersection, hoping to improve the flow of traffic. The roundabout would be at the intersection of Fourth Street, Cedar Avenue and Lockett Road, on the front corner of Mount Elden Middle School’s campus. Superintendent Michael Penca said the project is badly needed in the area.
"The purpose of the roundabout is to improve safety and traffic flow in the area," Penca told the board. "We experienced difficulties in traffic, especially at our arrival and dismissal time. So, believe it'll be a benefit to the flow."
The district agreed to sell the city 1,277 square feet of land to be used in the new right of way, at a cost of $10.50 per square foot, or 13,309 in total. The district will receive an annual $2,765 for a temporary construction easement needed to complete the project, which is expected to last less than a year. The city approved the preliminary steps of the roundabout in June of last year, with the approval of the engineer’s design for the complicated intersection. The district’s legal counsel approved the contract sent by the city and recommended that it be accepted, Penca said.
Some board members raised concerns for the safety of students at the intersection, both because of the changes in traffic and because a roundabout routes all traffic around it.
“I, for one, don't think that this is the answer,” Board member Christine Fredericks said. Penca added that the district will still “want the kids to cross where we have our current crossings for those streets not to go in to the roundabout in the center and then that's what we'll have our crossing guards do and that'll be part of that educational component,” he explained.
The board discussed taking steps to ensure proper training for all crossing guards and parents to ensure safety, then voted to approve the sale for the roundabout plan.
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