Public Testimony - Letter to MPDDear Meridian Police Departrnent,
We send this letter with great concem about a dangerous traffic hazard which
exists near our homes in the Red Feather subdivision. Specifically, our concems
are primarily for the many schoolchildren who walk to the Ustick Elementary
School, which can be accessed by way ofNorth Sharon Avenue.
(1) East Spearfish terminates with a right angle turn onto North Sharon Avenue.
We have observed, over time, that many or most vehicles of E. Spearfish are
traveling at an excessive and imprudent rate of speed. Those vehicles then
invariably execute the tum onto N. Sharon, in what is very clearly unsafe
manner. Furthermore, we have witnessed multiple occasions in which children
have been put at extreme risk of being stnrck by a motor vehicle. This
intersection is in the blind, inasmuch as drivers are surprised to find
pedestrians in their path, immediately after execution of that ninety degree
tum. This is a potential for the injury or death of a child.
(2) The other streets which access N. Sharon are also travelled at unsafe speeds,
without regard for the presence, or potential presence of children. Mindfulness
does not seem to be practiced by drivers.
(3) For the past several weeks, a pickup truck has been parked at the apex ofthe
inside comer of E. Spearfish and N. Sharon. This creates a line of sight
challenge for driving on E. Spearfish, onto N. Sharon, and causes a true blind
area. Thus far, that truck has been parked at that location each time it is parked.
In conclusion, we wish to inform you that a letter to the school was sent almost one
year ago. That letler explicated this problem in much greater detail, and pleaded to
the principal to contact MPD, and work toward mitigation of this saliently potential
for the harm of our children. The times of day that the worst of the worst occurs, is
between 8:50-9:10 AM. It also seems to be wise to post sigrrage which requires a
lower speed limit on all streets adjacent to accessing the school. The posted speed
limit for the entire subdivision is 20 MPH. which is seldom adhered to.
Perhaps school officials could advise parents to teach their children about the
dangers of walking in the street, and to use the sidewalk.
Thank you,
Concemed citizens
Cc: Police Chief
Cc: School principal