Public Safety Department
Both the City of Saratoga Springs Public Safety Department and the Saratoga Springs City School District united in their expressed desire to work to maintain the safety of the City’s children and to arrive at a mutually agreed upon solution to traffic flow issues on streets in the immediate vicinity of the Lake Avenue Elementary School.
Dr. Michael Patton, Superintendent of Schools explained that the district’s Capital Project Committee began a long range Capital Project last spring involving the evaluation of all eight school facilities in the district.
Patton: “Included were traffic studies conducted by Creighton Manning Engineering, LLP who evaluated arrival and dismissal procedures. Seven of the City’s schools are owned by the district which is accordingly able to address and to make decisions regarding any modifications that may be required. These seven schools have designated pick up and drop off locations and traffic flow patterns.
“The Capital Project Committee met on June 19 and submitted a final report on July 8, which is available on the District website. The eighth school, Lake Avenue Elementary School, is owned by the City
of Saratoga Springs which required the collaboration of both the City who owns Lake Avenue Elementary and the school district.”
A proposal was made in the report to make Regent Street a one-way street south to north, from Caroline Street coming out on Lake Avenue and to make Marion Street a one way from north to south for one block between Lake Avenue and Caroline Street. The proposal was strictly directional and did not address parking on these streets.
Residents and city officials presenting their positions included: Alisa M. Dalton, Esq.: “With a home on Lake Avenue (a door away from Regent Street), which backs up on Cottage Place, I am always concerned about the safety of walkers (and their parents who often have strollers) coming down Cottage Place, as well as down Regent Street. I have lived in this proximity to Lake Avenue School for over 20 years, and I am sensitive to the safety of the children, objecting years ago to the presence of tractor trailers on Lake Avenue for safety reasons. Our two adult children attended Lake Avenue Elementary School, and played at the playground for years.
“If Regent Street is made one way, a traffic path will be created toward Regent Street through Cottage Place, which is the only cross street on Regent between Caroline Street and Lake Avenue, and ends at the school.
“Parents driving will inevitably use Cottage Place to reach the school which will not be safe. Cottage Place was not designed for through traffic; it is one car wide, although it is two way.
“It also has a blind spot bend, veering toward Caroline Street away from Circular Street. There are houses on Cottage Place as well, with entrances spilling right into the street. It is used by walkers to Lake Avenue School in the morning and afternoon; I have witnessed this.
“Walkers, with their parents, often with strollers, walk peacefully down it, as there are no sidewalks. We who live either on Cottage Place or back up onto it are frequently telling drivers (who don’t live there) to slow down and to be careful. Also, if Regent Street is made one way, cars will probably go faster down Regent Street as there will be no reason to adjust their speed for oncoming traffic.
“I am encouraged by recent communications from City Council representatives who are listening to the safety concerns of Lake Avenue neighbors. I look forward to participating in a solution that addresses safety for students, including walkers, and the neighbors, who cherish this school and this City as well.” •••