11 Schools in Security-Widefield have new pedestrian safety measures for start of school year
EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. (KRDO) — Nearly a dozen schools in Widefield District 3 are seeing the benefits of a pedestrian safety program funded by county commissioners in February 2024.
It was one of our first Road Warrior reports.
Commissioners allocated $11 million to improve safety at crossings near schools after a spike in serious accidents where pedestrians are supposed to be safe.
District 3 began receiving some of the safety upgrades over the summer, with new crosswalks and other features designed to slow traffic down, reduce crossing distances, and make it easier for pedestrians, disabloed citizens and drivers to see each other.
“About two years ago, we had some engineers start reaching out to principals, and we sat down and had some conversations with those engineers about some ideas for making the front of our buildings– or nearby our buildings — safer,” said Dave Gish, the district’s chief operations officer.
Some of the crossing improvements aren’t completely finished but the district deemed them appropriate for use.
Among the variety of designs is a raised center median in front of Pinello Elementary School.
Sunrise Elementary is building two crosswalks.
Webster Elementary removed one of its two crosswalks but upgraded the remaining version.
The county also will upgrade two intersections: Main Street at Norman Drive, near Widefield High School; and Security/Willis Boulevards , near Venetucci Elementary.
District 3 said that crews will improve traffic signals and crosswalks at those intersections.
“It’s different,” said Angela Plambeck, commenting on the Widefield Elementary crosswalk while picking up her third-grade daughter, Cheyenne, on Thursday.”At first, I was kinda confused. I wasn’t really sure what these were, or what the lines meant. So, I mean, it’s all right.”
Yet Angela said she welcomes any safety improvements near schools — especially after being involved in a minor crash outside the old crosswalk last year.
“A lady was backing out, and she backed into us, then just left,” she recalled.
Cheyenne said that she was the first to see the coming impact because her mom was on the phone.
“I yelled in the car, and I said, MOM!” she said.
During morning arrival at the school, there was a two-vehicle crash down the street from the new crosswalk; no injuries but it’s good reminder to drive carefully around schools.
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