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New button-activated crosswalk outside Davis Elementary credited to neighborhood advocacy and SWOS funding
Summary
Residents and DOT officials described a newly installed, pedestrian-activated crossing on Jamerson Road outside Davis Elementary that officials say was funded through a SWOS school-zone safety program after parents pressed for protection following a summer injury to a 12-year-old. DOT will review other school crossings in Cobb County for possible expansion.
Davis Elementary students and parents are using a newly installed pedestrian crossing on busy Jamerson Road that residents say makes the walk home safer.
"With the push of a button, the lights activate, the cars on both sides slow to a stop," said Speaker 1, describing how the crossing operates. Residents and parents spoke positively about the improvement at the site outside the school.
Neighborhood advocacy followed a summer incident, Speaker 1 said: "Neighborhood parents pushed for the crossing after a 12 year old was hit by a van during the summer suffering serious injuries." That account was presented as the catalyst for the project during the meeting.
DOT staff and community members described safety features that were added, including flashing lights, a concrete median and overhead signage. "The DOT did the the work," Speaker 2 said, adding the department completed a study and installed signage and signals that staff described as "major improvements for safety." Speaker 1 also referenced legal context, noting "a state law that mandates driver's stop for those crossing the road," as part of what the crossing is intended to enforce.
Funding for the crossing came from the SWOS program, Speaker 4 said: "The funding came from our SWOS program, which includes a component for school zone safety. ... There was available funding there. So we were glad to be able to respond quickly." DOT officials said the project met program eligibility and allowed a rapid response to community requests.
Speakers also emphasized education for children using the crossing. "I think they love hitting the button ... that's conditioning them to know that ... when they can safely walk across," Speaker 2 said. Speaker 1 added that the school is helping to teach students how the crosswalk works.
DOT told attendees it will examine crossings near other schools in Cobb County to determine whether the program should be expanded. "DOT says it will be looking at crossings near other schools in Cobb County to see if this program should be expanded," Speaker 1 reported.
No formal votes or motions were recorded in the meeting transcript. The discussion combined community testimony, DOT description of design and funding, and statements about next steps: education at the school and a DOT review of similar crossings countywide.
