Neighbor urges action after near-miss at Kensington and Windsor school crossing

Resident Matthew McDonnell told the Village Board on May 19 that a recent incident at the Kensington and Windsor crossing left schoolchildren and a crossing guard exposed to danger and called for safety improvements.

The matter matters because it involves student safety at a school walking route. McDonnell said two vehicles “ran right to where the crossing guard was standing” and missed children “by seconds,” and that the crossing has been an ongoing problem for “20-plus years.” He described prior attempts by neighbors to add mid-street crossing barriers and flags; those measures were removed after being repeatedly struck.

McDonnell said Kensington is a state road and that two blinking lights on either side of the crossing “do very little.” He asked whether a road study, additional lighting, a stop sign, or other measures might be pursued and offered to meet with village staff after the meeting; the mayor and village manager responded that staff would follow up. The village manager extended a business card and the mayor said the manager had already taken note.

Trustees did not vote on any specific traffic action during the meeting. Village staff or the manager were asked to follow up with McDonnell and advise which jurisdictions or state agencies (if any) should be contacted to pursue engineering or enforcement remedies, or whether a village-led petition or local fundraising would be appropriate.

McDonnell identified himself as a Windsor School parent and PTA participant; he encouraged neighbors to pursue additional steps to make the crossing safer.