GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Some Grand Rapids parents are saying their children’s walk to school is no longer safe after a traffic signal at Buchanan Avenue Southwest and Kirtland Street Southwest stopped working a month ago.
The traffic signal sat across from Burton Elementary School.
Parent action leader Adda Addi-Taylor said many kids used the traffic signal to cross the busy street to go to school at Burton Elementary.
"We are all concerned about the safety of our students in our community here,” said Addi-Taylor. “We already have issues with the traffic situation as far as cars speeding through this major intersection here. And we have only the one crossing guard.”
She and others said they weren't told why the traffic signal was taken down.
"I think that's the frustration with the, you know, the parents and our staff and teachers here in our community here. We have no answers of what's going on and why,” Addi-Taylor.
So 13 ON YOUR SIDE went searching for the answer as to why the traffic signals are no longer working.
The City of Grand Rapids told us the traffic signals were taken offline because of significant damages to one of its wooden poles.
The city said it has plans to install pedestrian activated beacons in March at the Andre Street Southwest crossing and install stop for pedestrians signs for safety.
In the meantime, Mobile GR has asked Grand Rapids Public Schools (GRPS) to have all students, who need to cross Buchanan, do so with the crossing guard. They should cross one block north of Kirtland at Andre. The crossing location at Andre is closer to the main school doors on the north side of the Burton School building.
Mobile GR said it has been in touch with the crossing guard supervisor about the situation and they'll let the city know if they need more accommodations to help students in this area.
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