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Council discusses pedestrian safety on Highway 46 and a proposed West Elm crosswalk near schools
Summary
Council and city engineers discussed pedestrian safety along S.D. Highway 46 and a requested crosswalk at West Elm between a preschool and the elementary school; staff will seek DOT traffic counts and explore ADA ramp, signage and crossing-guard options.
Pedestrian safety near local schools was a major discussion item during the Beresford City Council meeting. Council asked Banner Associates to contact the South Dakota Department of Transportation for pedestrian and vehicle traffic counts to evaluate whether a state-sanctioned crossing on SD Highway 46 would meet DOT warrants. Engineers recommended counts be taken during school hours and during ball games to capture peak pedestrian flows.
Options discussed included painted crosswalks with ADA-compliant ramps, flashing beacons (timed or push-button), motion-detection systems, temporary or paid crossing guards, and traffic-calming measures. Staff noted constraints: Highway 46 is a state road and any improvements there would need to follow DOT rules and could be at the city’s expense. The council also discussed internal measures (striping, removing parking near crossings, targeted enforcement) and the possibility of reintroducing a school crossing guard program (stopped during COVID).
No formal motion was made; staff were directed to pursue counts and coordinate with the DOT and the school district to identify the most effective and cost-feasible solution.
