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Commission approves multiple crossing‑guard changes but extends contested Raymond & Gilbert post for one year after heavy public opposition
Summary
After a lengthy hearing and dozens of public comments June 3, the Transportation Commission approved most staff crossing‑guard additions and discontinuances but voted to retain the Raymond & Gilbert (Orchard Ridge Elementary) guard for one year pending updated counts and further review.
The Madison Transportation Commission voted on June 3 to implement a package of crossing‑guard changes proposed by Traffic Engineering, but postponed removal of the Raymond & Gilbert guard at Orchard Ridge Elementary and extended that post for one year to allow updated counts and re‑evaluation.
Traffic Engineering recommended adding a new guard at Tennyson Lane/Spencer Lane to serve Lake View Elementary and relocating a low‑use guard (Plum/Maher) to Tomkins Drive for Henderson Elementary. Staff also proposed discontinuing four low‑use locations (Nakoma/Odana/Monroe; Raymond/Gilbert — Orchard Ridge; North/Johnson — Emerson; Milwaukee/Meadowark — Kennedy) after counting students and applying hazard‑score thresholds. Kevin, the city’s crossing‑guard program manager, explained the policy: new locations are evaluated when 20 students cross during a single arrival or dismissal period; discontinuance is considered when fewer than 10 students cross consistently over two years. Staff also described recent countermeasures (high‑visibility crosswalks, RRFBs, median refuges, curb extensions) used to reduce hazard scores at some sites.
Parents and neighbors packed the virtual meeting to oppose the Raymond & Gilbert discontinuance. Allison Lynch, a parent of students at Orchard Ridge Elementary, told the commission: “I would absolutely not feel comfortable with my children crossing that intersection without a trusted adult.” Multiple speakers described the crossing as a four‑lane, high‑speed corridor with limited sight lines and sun/glare issues and urged the commission not to remove that guard.
Commission response and vote: commissioners debated policy thresholds, equity implications and the role of the School Traffic Safety Team in evaluations. After approving the staff package except for the contested location, the commission voted to extend the Raymond & Gilbert guard for one year and directed staff to re‑count and re‑evaluate the location before taking further action.
Why it matters: the commission’s decision balances a data‑driven policy intended to focus limited staff and funds where most students cross against community safety concerns and equity; commissioners noted that discontinuances do not result in immediate layoffs — vacant positions would be managed by attrition and re‑assigned as needed.
Next steps: staff will schedule updated counts (monthly and biannual counts per policy) and return with results and hazard‑score updates; any discontinuance would remain subject to the policy’s two‑year and hazard‑score criteria.
