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Atchison commission adopts updated school zone ordinance to expand and standardize zones
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Summary
The Atchison City Commission unanimously adopted Ordinance No. 6722, updating school zone boundaries, changing some hours to 24-hour designations and adding zones near multiple schools, with the ordinance effective on publication in the Globe.
The Atchison City Commission on an aye voice vote adopted Ordinance No. 6722, repealing and replacing Article 3, Sections 31 through 37.2 of the city municipal code to update school zone locations and school-zone speed rules.
City staff said the ordinance adds and adjusts school zone boundaries across the city, increases the standard boundary radius from 150 feet to 200 feet consistent with Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) guidance, and changes most school zones to operate 24 hours a day except for the childcare location.
“First is we're increasing the school zone boundary from 150 feet from the school to 200 feet. That's the best practices of the current MUTCD guidelines,” said Mr. Rostov, a city staff member presenting the ordinance. He told commissioners the measure adds a school zone on Fourteenth Street along the east side of Atchison High School, a zone on Green Street near Mar Hill at the request of that school’s leadership, extends the Atchison Middle School zone to include cross streets that feed the school, and extends the Benedictine College zone to include Third Street from Unity to Harper because of new student-used buildings and dormitories.
The ordinance also proposes adding a school zone on Seventeenth Street in front of Atchison Elementary School but keeping the posted speed there at 30 mph because Seventeenth is K-7. Rostov said the Seventeenth Street designation will include added signage and enforcement rather than lowering the statutory speed limit that applies to that roadway.
Rostov told the commission the change to 24-hour school zones (except for the Atchison Childcare location, which would remain 6 a.m.–6 p.m.) is intended to cover after-hours events and to simplify enforcement for drivers and police officers.
Commissioners asked about signage, an education period and enforcement; Rostov said the city will post a map of the revised zones, conduct a period of public education and that police will provide a presence at the start while people adjust.
The commission voted to adopt the ordinance. Commissioners and staff said the ordinance takes effect upon publication in the Globe; staff indicated they would attempt to publish in the next edition and to allow time for signage changes.
The commission previously discussed school-zone location questions raised by Mar Hill leadership, which prompted the larger review and the proposed comprehensive update.
