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Parent raises pedestrian safety concerns for walkers at new Richland High School; district, town and water district share responsibility
Summary
A parent asked Prosper ISD and local authorities for temporary busing and safer crossings at the new Richland High School after noting missing sidewalks and a traffic signal at key intersections; the superintendent said the Elm Ridge Water District holds primary responsibility but the town of Prosper has offered to help.
A parent urged trustees at the June 13 Prosper ISD board meeting to ensure safe routes to the new Richland High School for students who live within walking distance, saying there are no sidewalks and no traffic signal at the key intersections near the campus.
Sean Burns, who said he lives in the Artesia area north of the new school and has two sons who will attend Richland, asked the board to “please give that your serious consideration” and suggested the district provide busing for students living within the two‑mile walking boundary until a permanent traffic signal and sidewalks are installed.
“There's no construction of a traffic light at the intersection of Tanger Boulevard and First Street, which was recommended by the town of Prosper,” Burns said. He told the board he was concerned students would not have a safe way to cross First Street or reach the campus from the corner of First and Teal Street.
District response: Dr. Ferguson said the district has been working with the Town of Prosper and Elm Ridge Water District on the crossings. She told the board the water district (Elm Ridge) is the entity responsible for doing the work in that area and that the town of Prosper has offered to contribute funds for a basic crosswalk and to add flashing signals once Elm Ridge moves forward. Dr. Ferguson said the conversation with Elm Ridge and the town dates back to about 2023 and that the town has been a cooperative partner but that Elm Ridge has made “little movement” on the project.
Dr. Ferguson added the district will assist as needed and reiterated that student safety is a top priority: “If there's nothing in place and Elm Ridge has not taken those steps forward ... we want kids to get there safely, so we'll do what we can on our end to be able to help assist with that.”
What the speaker requested and next steps: Burns asked the board to consider temporary busing for students within the two‑mile walking distance until a safe traffic signal and sidewalks are established. The board did not take an immediate vote on transportation at the meeting; administrators noted ongoing intergovernmental discussions and said they would continue working with Elm Ridge and the town of Prosper to seek a solution before school opens in August.
That public comment was the only non‑agenda public comment on the meeting agenda.
What remains unresolved: The transcript records the exchange that Elm Ridge has been slow to act and that the town of Prosper has discussed funding a basic crosswalk; the district did not commit at the meeting to a specific interim transportation plan.
