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McFarland district reviews $20,000 hazardous‑transportation study and keeps existing bus zones
Summary
District staff presented a consultant study that largely upheld existing unusual hazardous transportation zones around Highway 51 and north of Sigel Cove; the review cost was about $20,000. County and local partners reviewed and approved the consultant’s recommendations; the board must adopt a plan by its next meeting to file with DPI.
District staff presented the results of a professional review of the district’s unusually hazardous transportation zones on April 7 and said the consultant’s recommendations will be filed with the Department of Public Instruction if the board adopts a plan at its next meeting.
District administrators said state law requires districts to provide transportation for students who live 2 miles or more from school, and that unusually hazardous transportation (UHT) zones allow districts to provide bus service closer than that where walking would be unsafe. The district contracted consultant Taddy (Taddy/TADI in the report) to review walk zones for the first time formally since 2001. The consultant’s review cost the district just under $20,000 and produced maps and recommendations for crosswalks, signage and what the district should request from the state as Highway 51 reconstruction proceeds.
Staff summarized principal findings: the area north of Sigel Cove and residential areas west of Highway 51 remain UHT zones for a mix of reasons, including road speed, limited sidewalks, municipal jurisdiction boundaries across Sigel Cove and unresolved future development. The report found that some parts west of Highway 51 could be reasonable walk areas for grades 6–12 under current conditions but that jurisdictional boundaries and anticipated development mean bus service will continue for those areas. The district transports about 1,200 students daily and said nearly 600 students are bused from the two UHT areas.
County staff and local law enforcement reviewed Taddy’s findings; the county approved the recommendations and communicated them back to the district. Staff said the district will pass along recommended signage and crossing improvements to the Wisconsin Department of Transportation as phases of the Highway 51 reconstruction progress.
Board members asked whether short-term sidewalk closures or construction would automatically trigger temporary bus routes; staff said not necessarily and that decisions depend on location and available safe alternatives. The district noted families may pay for optional transportation when space exists; current family cost reported in the meeting was about $200 per student for optional routes, while the district’s per-student transport cost was estimated near $700.
Because the district must have an approved UHT plan on file with DPI, staff said the board will take formal action at its next meeting. No board action was required April 7; the presentation was informational.
