By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
Though several council members were surprised by the
outcome of a study, they all agreed a reduced speed school
zone crossing needed to be installed.
Mona Council members reviewed the results of a traffic
survey conducted at the council's request by Ludlow
Engineering.
Rick Schnurr, former council member, had received the
document from Ludlow Engineering after the study was
completed. He had earlier been assigned to request the study
and followed through with the assignment sending it to the
council meeting with Darlene Fowkes, council member.
"I questioned the need," said Cory Squire, council
member, "but after seeing the results I'm not questioning
the need any more."
Doran Kay, council member, also said he was surprised
by the results of the survey.
Stephen Ludlow, of Ludlow Engineering, said the
requested study had been completed. The study preformed was
a reduced school zone warrant evaluation on the intersection
of Main Street and 100 South in Mona at the crosswalk on the
South side of the intersection and going to the East and
West across the road.
"On Thursday, May 22, we conducted a traffic count
from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. to insure an average count to
exceed 500 in a 24-hour period," said Ludlow. "Our count
showed that 973 cars passed the intersection in an 8 and a
half hour period, exceeding the 500 count criteria."
Ludlow said a school crossing may be installed where
the volume of school children exceeds 10 during a period
extending from not earlier than 45 minutes before school
starts until warranted demand ceases, and on a period
extending from the beginning of warranted demand, until no
later than 30 minutes after school ends, and when the
street's average daily traffic exceeds 500 vehicles.
He said the minimum points in a rural area is 12 and
this intersection received 22.
A crossing guard may be used without a reduced speed
school zone, however, a reduced speed school zone my not be
used at an elementary school crossing without a crossing
guard, said Ludlow.
The weather was warm and clear at the time the
evaluation was made.
Ludlow also determined speeds of the drivers, as part
of the study.
It was found that 21.3 percent of the drivers were
traveling at a mean speed of 32.5 mph; 33.7 percent were
traveling at 37.5 mph; 17.6 were traveling at 42.5 mph; 10
percent were traveling at 27.5 mph.
Of the total, 3.7 percent traveled at 47.5 mph and 5
percent traveled at 22.5 mph; .5 percent traveled at 12.5
mph; 3.7 percent traveled at 17.5 mph.
"Look how consistent the results are," said Harry
Newell, council member.
"All you really need to do is stand down on the
highway for awhile and you will see that there is a lot of
traffic on the road and you can also see the number of
children we have trying to make it across the
intersections," said Darlene Fowkes, council member.
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