Overland Park officials say the city’s police department and traffic engineers will keep a close eye on traffic around the Indian Creek Technology Center on 103rd Street Friday as Brookwood Elementary students have their first day of school in its temporary home, gathering information to determine if they need to enact additional traffic calming measures.
A group of Brookwood parents had raised concerns in recent days about high-speed traffic in the area in the lead up to the first day of school there for the young students. Indian Creek will serve as Brookwood’s home for at least the next three semesters as construction crews work to build a new Brookwood on the site of the demolished original building.
The stretch of 103rd Street from Mission Road to Nall Avenue is signed with a speed limit of 40 miles per hour, and some of the parents said they are concerned because motorists who have recently pulled off I-435 will turn on to 103rd Street and travel above that already-high speed limit. (103rd Street drops to a 35 MPH zone east of Mission Road, where the original Brookwood site is located).
Overland Park Communications Manager Sean Reilly said the city had held a series of meetings to coordinate traffic monitoring and crossing guards for students.
“The vast majority of the current school attendance area will likely use 103rd Street and Mission during any journey to the new location,” Reilly said. “Based on our discussions, both OP and Leawood officials have committed to staffing the signalized intersection at 103rd and Mission with a crossing guard.”
The city has also erected school crosswalk signage along 103rd Street leading to the Mission Road intersection.
But, Reilly said, the city will be keeping a close eye on traffic Friday to see if additional safety measures would be warranted.
“After Friday’s school activity, OP will evaluate traffic and pedestrian activity and consider any further alternatives to signage and enforcement,” Reilly said.