Commission orders traffic study at Sussex Road and Scottwood Drive near Red Smith School

The Traffic and Parking Commission on March 17, 2025, voted to conduct a traffic study at the intersection of Sussex Road and Scottwood Drive and to perform a crossing-guard study near Red Smith School after a request from Alder Grant.

Alder Grant asked the commission to collect updated numbers on pedestrian crossings and vehicle volumes because she said Red Smith recently absorbed approximately 30 students after the closure of Wicquiac School and because a proposed development nearby is projected to add about 400 housing units over the next decade. "I would like to see updated numbers," Alder Grant said during the meeting.

Tom, an engineer on staff, described the studies the city will run: a crossing-guard study that counts pedestrians and vehicles for roughly 30 minutes before school start through arrival and pick-up periods, and a multiway-stop analysis that uses 12- or 24-hour approach counts plus a state warrant/crash-volume review. "The crossing guard study is just an arrival and pick up. We'll count the cars and the pedestrians and then we have a warrant that we just say this many pedestrians equals this many points," Tom said. He said staff will return with results at a future meeting.

Steve, who is part of the city staff leading traffic work, emphasized the value of a baseline study before development proceeds so future comparisons can show change over time. "I think it's a great idea. Again, I think as that development continues to occur out there, if you don't change the road, that will cause a feeling of congestion," Steve said.

Residents at the meeting described daily congestion and safety concerns. Monica Bernardi, who lives on Shore Ridge Court and backs to Scottwood, asked whether Scottwood is planned to be widened; staff replied there are no planned changes and that Scottwood is built to a typical county-trunk cross section (two-lane, undivided, no curb and gutter) and that the Brown County Highway Department would control any major redesign. Joe Bernardi and other residents said they regularly see backups at drop-off and pickup times and asked the commission to consider traffic-calming or earlier interventions.

A motion to conduct the traffic and crossing-guard studies (items 4 and 5 on the agenda) was moved and seconded and carried by voice vote; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript. Staff said they will prepare counts and a warrant analysis for a future meeting and will include references to existing bike/ped and Safe Routes to School recommendations as part of the study.

The commission did not adopt any infrastructure changes at the meeting; the vote authorized only the study work. Staff and residents repeatedly noted that Scottwood is a county trunk highway and any changes to the free-flow or stop conditions on Scottwood would require Brown County approval.