Going the right way

The congestion problems by Clarke Community Elementary School should be alleviated this year, however the solution to the traffic problem has been slightly tweaked.

And, it took a long process to get to the finish.

During an Aug. 4 Osceola City Council meeting, the council approved the first reading of a proposal to establish a permanent one-way road south down the 100 block of South Dewey Street and then one way west on the 400 block of East Jefferson Street.

This is right next to the circle drive at Clarke Community Elementary School, where children are dropped off.

Then, the council set up a special session Aug. 11 to make sure local residents in the area could have a say before final approval. The issue was again brought up for final approval during an Aug. 18 meeting.

“This situation, there just is absolutely no perfect way to take care of our problems,” said Osceola Police Chief Marty Duffus.

Afternoon chaos

Through many observations by officials, the traffic congestion only happens during the afternoon pick-up times, especially with school buses parked on the south and west sides of the school.

There are no problems during the morning with parents dropping their children off to school.

Duffus said he believed the morning isn’t an issue for congestion because parents want to drop their children off as quickly as possible since they, too, are on their way to work. During the 3 p.m. hour, many parents are getting off work and have more time to linger.

“Now, mom and dad are early, so they get to the circle drive and they sit and completely plug that up because they’re waiting on the kids to dismiss, and now we’re in trouble,” Duffus said. “They’re all jammed up.”

Previously, the councilmen had thought the two streets and permanent one-ways were the best solution since school lets out during different times, especially with regularly-scheduled early outs or inclement weather.

But, this would negatively affect the people who live in the area of the two streets.

“I’ve done a complete reversal. I think the two hour afternoon (one-way) can be done,” said Councilman Dave Walkup.

Compromise

Duffus said a compromise to affect less residents would be to keep Dewey Street as a two-way street and still make Jefferson a one-way street.

There was a discussion of having a police officer’s presence to help direct traffic, however, there was another concern from law enforcement.

“We can help it out with that, I mean, as we can,” Duffus said. “Three o’clock in the afternoon, believe it or not, is one of our busiest times. But, we can be in the area to try and help it out.”

However, later in the discussion, when the council was debating setting hours of the one-way road, Duffus said, “I just have to tell you, I’m not sure I can guarantee somebody there.”

The council said a solution could be to use another official dressed in a bright yellow traffic vest, if the need for the situation arises.

Street/time

Councilman Dr. George Fotiadis made the motion to make the 400 block of Jefferson Street become a one-way street going west from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday during the school year. It was approved.

“The reason is, by next summer, we might have a different idea, and we can always revise it,” Fotiadis said.