Local News
WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM: Speed limit near Roy-Hart Elementary may drop
GASPORT — A drive on Route 31 in Gasport may take a little longer, if school traffic concerns are addressed.
The route, Rochester Road, goes by Royalton-Hartland Elementary School, 4500 Orchard Place. At a Nov. 29 school board meeting, the board announced that the district sent a request to the state Department of Transportation to lower the speed limit. Currently the limit is 55 mph. The change, if approved, will take some time. The department sent a letter back to the district confirming it had received the request.
“They look at traffic patterns, traffic count, history and other things,” said Roy-Hart Superintendent Paul Bona. “This is a formula they use to determine if the speed should be lowered.”
The elementary school has about 550 students; this is an enrollment increase over previous years, because of the addition of universal pre-kindergarten. There are four classes, two in the morning and two in the afternoon. Bona said the school wasn’t the only reason the limit should be lowered: The surrounding area has also seen an increase in traffic.
“There has been an increase of commercial business at that point, and several small businesses,” he said. “Hopefully, they will lower it to 45 mph, if not lower.”
Previous attempts to have the limit lowered were unsuccessful. Bona said the district made the request after a few changes took place.
“Through reconfiguring the district and looking at enrollment, we realized there would be more transportation,” he said. “This is something that has come up before; it is not new. Based on events that have happened, hopefully they’ll see the need to reduce the speed limit.”
There aren’t any students being picked up or dropped off near Route 31; a driver who wants to park or drive near the school has to go down Orchard Place, which has a speed limit of 30 mph.
The reduced speed limit was brought up during Roy-Hart’s proposed facilities project. The project called for a Orleans/Niagara BOCES wing to be built on the school. Increased traffic flow around the school has been a concern of some residents.
“Orchard Place and Emerson Place border the school on two sides,” said Ron Romanowski of Gasport at the Nov. 29 board meeting. “We are talking about additional busing. Is there a plan to remediate that?”
Bona said the vehicles that would bring the BOCES students would not be buses, but rather vans and smaller buses.
Contact reporter Joe Olenick
at 439-9222, ext. 6241.
- Local News
-
-
Maximum sentence for fugitive on assault charge
Christopher K. Crego was sentenced Wednesday afternoon to one-year and 15 days in Niagara County Jail on assault and driving while intoxicated charges.
-
Obama's health care plan picks up support
President Barack Obama's much-challenged health care overhaul gained traction Wednesday as a liberal lawmaker became the first to switch his opposition, and Catholic nuns publicly broke with the bishops to declare their support.
-
Fuller, Meyer win trustee seats in Barker
• Charles “Chuck” Fuller and Herbert Meyer won trustee positions Tuesday in the Village of Barker, where residents cast 104 votes for five candidates.
• In Wilson, Democrat Bernard Leiker defeated Republican Keith Douglas 142 to 132.
• In Middleport, Tom Conley and trustee Richard Westcott ran unopposed.
-
County calls out anti-gun measures
The county Legislature is calling on local members of the New York State Legislature to help block a trio of gun-control measures proposed by downstate legislators.
-
Program seeks civilians to be ‘eyes and ears of police’
If you want to see what it’s like to be a police officer, here’s your chance. Lockport Police Chief Larry Eggert announced that the six- to eight-week Citizen Academy program will start in May.
-
Newfane school district facing more than $1M in cuts
Those who spoke came in all ages, but they all had the same message: Spread out the cuts and save the music and art programs in Newfane schools.
-
IDA pick sparks dispute about representation
The county Legislature appointed a new Industrial Development Agency board member on a split vote Tuesday.
-
Downtown businesses encouraged to promote via Facebook
Lockport Main Street Inc. hosted its quarterly informational meeting Tuesday at Market Street Art Center for all downtown Lockport small businesses.
-
Annual Easter egg hunt is March 27
The city/town of Lockport will host the 35th annual Easter Egg Hunt at 10 a.m. March 27 at Outwater Park.
-
Republicans sweep Albion
Republicans swept the Albion village election Tuesday with all three incumbents reclaiming their seats.
Mayor Dean Theodorakos, who received 419 votes, defeated Tracy Jennings, with 97; and trustees Eileen Banker, with 406, and Kevin Sheehan, 406, defeated James Skaggs, 96, and Sandra Walter, 115. - More Local News Headlines
-
