Westport private schools to get school zone designations

Stop signs on King’s Highway in the works

WESTPORT — Three private schools and a King’s Highway intersection are in line for school zone crossing signs and other safety measures following complaints from residents that speeders are putting pedestrian lives in danger.

School zones have already been established at each of the public schools in Westport, after approval from the Board of Selectwomen in September. Now, The Goddard School, Pierrepont School and Greens Farms Academy will get their own with an approval expected this week.

“We truly feel it’ll help keep kids a lot safer in the area and motorists and pedestrians, too,” Westport Police Staff Cpl. Al D’Amura said at the meeting.

D’Amura said parents voiced concerns at the Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Task Force meetings about how fast people drive past schools. With the new approval, signs alerting drivers to the school zone — and penalties for violating the speed limit — will be installed within 1,500 feet of the school on both sides of the school zone on both sides of the road.

Fines typically double when in a school zone. D’Amura said speeding tickets usually are around $150 to $200 on regular roads, so in a school zone, the fine could be about $400.

The town also needs to receive approval for the signs at The Goddard School from the state, since it sits on a stateowned road.

“This task force continues to take action on issues that are really important to our residents and to the safety of our residents,” First Selectwoman Jennifer Tooker said.

D’Amura said he doesn’t know how long it will take to get the signs installed, but it could take a few weeks.

A stop sign and stop bar will be installed at the intersection of Kings Highway North and Edge Hill Lane after task force meetings noted it as a problem area. Before the intersection, a sign will also be installed alerting drivers of the upcoming stop. There is a stop sign going the opposite direction on Edge Hill Lane at Wilton Road and both sides should match: “It can be quite confusing when you get to the top of the hill there,” D’Amura said.

Adding a stop will promote a safer intersection, he said. Drivers often slow down when they get to the area as if there’s a yield sign there, but there isn’t one, he added. Tooker said residents in the area have been looking for ways to calm traffic.

There is also a curve on Kings Highway near the intersection that has caused accidents, officials said, and the Department of Public Works is looking at applications that can be put on the asphalt to prevent drivers from leaving the road when they reach the bend, Tooker said.