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Parent urges council to address pedestrian-safety and crossing enforcement at Orchard Elementary
Summary
A Modesto parent told the council that Orchard Elementary lacks flashing beacons, crossing guards and adequate signage, and asked the city to inspect the school crossings and provide follow-up.
A parent from the Orchard Elementary School neighborhood urged the Modesto City Council at the Jan. 28 meeting to address pedestrian-safety issues near the school, saying drivers regularly fail to yield and that promised signage and enforcement have not materialized.
Amanda Beulah said she has watched drivers ignore crosswalks while children are present and that earlier requests to city staff and Modesto Police Department produced little action. She said the city's engineering staff told her too many signs can be a distraction, and that a staff member named Ryan had been helpful but she had not received follow-up. She asked the council to inspect Oakdale Road at Merle and Orchard and consider flashing signs or other measures used at other elementary schools in the city.
"Parents are trying to drop their kids off. They need to be able to do it safely," Beulah said. City staff asked for her contact information so they could follow up.
No council action was recorded the night of the public comment; staff were asked to follow up with the speaker for additional details and to coordinate with the police and public-works engineering teams.
