Photo courtesy of the City of New Albany
Many in the community breathed a sigh of relief late last year when busing changes were delayed until April 7. This new date, however, is fast approaching. The following information will help you better deal with the upcoming changes.
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- There are now a total of five drop-off points around the school campus: two along High Street, two along Dublin-Granville Road and one on Fodor Road. Maps showing the five drop-off points are available on the school district website, www.napls.us.
- The city stations two police officers on the school campus throughout the school year. These officers will assist with traffic around campus as necessary after April 7.
- Drivers around the school campus may notice an increased presence of police personnel, equipment or both. These efforts are for student safety.
- Allow more time and patience in reaching the school campus. Those not dropping off children should try to avoid the campus area from 7:15-9 a.m.
- Increased vehicular traffic is expected along Fodor Road, Dublin-Granville Road and High Street/New Albany Condit Road. We do not believe roads north of State Rt. 161 or east of campus will be greatly impacted by the implementation of the non-transport policy.
- In the wake of the November levy failure, staff re-evaluated trail priorities in areas where more children will be walking to school. Parents need to determine whether use of leisure trails around their home is age-appropriate, but trails along Central College Road and State Rt. 605/High Street now connect neighborhoods as far east as Tidewater to the school campus. The trail connection between Morgan Road and Mead Way, funded by a Safe Routes to School grant, will go out to bid this spring and is expected to be complete by the 2015-16 school year.
- For those using the new roundabout at Market and Main streets, the city developed a brochure offering tips for drivers, walkers and cyclists. This brochure is available at Village Hall and the library.
- The city worked with school district staff to provide training for volunteer crossing guards. Recruitment is ongoing, and additional training will occur before April depending upon volunteers.
- The city completed a new temporary crosswalk for the Hampsted Heath subdivision. Users are encouraged to exercise caution. Crosswalks can provide a false sense of security, and this temporary crosswalk does not have working lights.
- The planned High Street/Chatham Green Drive traffic signal near the school campus is expected to be complete prior to the 2015-16 school year but not before April 7. This project was approved as part of the 2015 city budget, but it still needs to be engineered and publicly bid.
For additional information, visit www.napls.us or www.newalbanyohio.org, or register for the city e-newsletter at www.newalbanyohio.org.
Scott McAfee is a contributing writer and public information officer for the city of New Albany. Patrick Gallaway is a contributing writer and director of communications for New Albany-Plain Local Schools. Feedback welcome at ssole@cityscenemediagroup.com.
By Scott McAfee and Patrick Gallaway
