“We had spent a few years trying to improve the layout/structure of the parking lot as there was a lot of congestion with the old system,” White stated.
The school worked with the Municipality of Boissevain-Morton on a few changes, as the streets are municipal responsibility. One of the big issues, as Head of Council Judy Swanson and CAO Leo Poulin saw it was the parking on Buckingham Street. Sitting just outside the school’s south doors where students are picked up and dropped off, it was where people often parked. As they did it on both sides of the street, it became a very narrow tunnel for driving through, with other related concerns.
“It was a discussion we had with the school division,” Swanson said. “It was an issue with everyone coming out and trying to come on to #10 Highway right at the crosswalk, right where the intersection is.”
One of the problems with parking on both sides was that it was very difficult, if not impossible, to see the kids who would run out on the street between cars. To help with that, they have eliminated parking on the north side of Buckingham. White feels this should be helpful.
“With parking on both sides of Buckingham Street, the street becomes very narrow,” he explained. “In the winter, when snow gets piled up on curbs it becomes even more narrow. Exiting our parking lot, especially when turning left, or travelling on Buckingham during the day will be much safer with these parking restrictions. When picking up students, parents/caregivers can use available spaces in the parking lot or the south side of Buckingham Street.”
The parking restrictions are only from 7:00am to 5:30pm from September to June on Monday to Friday.
On Buckingham, the speed limit had also long been limited to 30km an hour right by the school. However, they had requested the municipality “blow up” the signs, to give it more visibility. There have been more added.
The 30km zone is also extended to other streets surrounding the school, such as the parts of Rae, McKenzie and the Caranton Road. The 40km zone on Mill Road remains the same.
Poulin said they have made a few changes in other areas nearby, such as adding three or four way stops.
“Really, we want to slow things down there,” Poulin said. “Safety is a primary concern, especially with young children playing.”
He added the municipality regularly meets with the school division, including the superintendent and transportation people. They all toured around the school and looked at the situation, and came up with these changes.
Swanson also said the new playground in that area points to the importance of keeping speed down, as there are so many young people moving around at all times.
“There are ball diamonds there, there are kids in the playground. There’s no reason to be speeding around there.”
Poulin said they planned to implement the new plan before the end of June but got delayed. They copied a bit from the City of Brandon and their way of signing around schools.
Life is different than many years ago, as there are more kids driving and parking cars, and fewer walking to school. At any rate, this is an attempt to improve safety and make the situation better.
White added the school has also changed inside the parking lot. Their new parking lot map in the handbook says there is no stopping or parking in the laneway right by the south doors. Instead, parents are to stop in a parking spot while picking up their children. It keeps them from blocking parking, including handicapped and emergency lanes.
“Limiting the ‘through traffic’ in the parking lot will help reduce congestion and make it safer for students, staff, and visitors to enter/exit the school via the parking lot,” White explained. “The speed restrictions being extended to include more of the school zone increases safety and is more in line with school zone road safety seen across the province.”
“It looks inconvenient, but we have to look at keeping our kids safe,” Swanson said. “We are open to looking at other things to make it better. I’m not sure this is the exact answer. This starts the process.”
by PAUL RAYNER, Recorder staff