Traffic committee approves temporary school signs, clears multiple event permits and tables downtown valet plan

The Bentonville Traffic Safety and Signage Committee on an underspecified March meeting date approved temporary traffic controls and event permits and directed staff to study an intersection with repeated safety complaints.

The committee approved a 30-day trial of turn-restriction signage requested by Tracy Wood, principal at Apple Glen, to help the school’s morning and afternoon car line. The panel also approved a one-mile “Gator Run” for Central Park Elementary, gave tentative/conditional approval to a Hometown Half race pending staff coordination, approved a Walmart Museum grand-opening street closure in March, and approved a scaled triathlon plan that the Walmart-associated event team said will minimize traffic impact. A downtown valet and loading-zone proposal from downtown merchants was discussed at length and tabled for one month to allow the city and business owners to develop a location, vendor plan and cost estimates. The committee also asked staff to pursue short-term engineering/signage changes and a possible study to improve safety at the congested Southwest I Street and Eighth Street intersection.

Votes at a glance

- Apple Glen school signage — Approved (trial 30 days). The committee accepted a motion to install temporary signage to restrict turns during peak school pickup/drop-off windows and try the change for 30 days; staff said installation lead time would make an early-April start likely if finalized. Tracy Wood asked for signs to address back-ups on the school car line and cited confrontations in the lot when some drivers do not follow the preferred route through Memorial Park. Wood: “I’m the principal at Apple Glen, and I’m just requesting, a couple of signs be added…particularly in the morning between 7 and 07:30, and the afternoon between 02:30 and 02:45.” The committee discussed enforcement limits and agreed to remove the signs if they don’t work as intended.

- Central Park Elementary Gator Run — Approved. Kelly Stevenson, representing the PTO, requested permission to route the annual one-mile fun run on Southwest Liberty Avenue starting about 8 a.m. for…