MOUNT VERNON — On Wednesday, the City of Mount Vernon gave a Valentine’s Day gift of sorts to parents in the neighborhoods around the middle and high schools and the Knox County Career Center.
The city extended the school safety zone on Martinsburg Road to just south of Parrott Street and 150 feet north of the crosswalk at Pine Street. The zone went into effect Feb. 14.
The speed limit in the school safety zone during applicable hours when school is in session is 20 mph.
The city worked with Mount Vernon City Schools, the career center, and the Ohio Department of Transportation to extend the zone.
In October 2023, several neighborhood parents spoke to city council members about their fears for children’s safety.
Jennifer Yeager told council she”did not think it is any secret that when it comes to the safety of our children who walk or bike to school, there are major concerns.”
Yeager’s son was hit by a car as he crossed Martinsburg Road in September 2023.
Parrott Street parent Emily Chenault echoed Yeager’s concerns. She said Martinsburg Road lacks a crosswalk, and Parrot Street lacks a sidewalk.
Following up on the parents’ concerns, city officials walked the neighborhood at 7 a.m. as students arrived at school. They experienced firsthand the lack of sidewalks and lighting.
Extending the 20 mph speed zone is the first step to increased safety. The police department will continue enforcing the speed zone.
“The safety of our residents – and certainly our children – will always be a top priority for the City of Mount Vernon,” Mayor Matthew Starr said in a press release. “I’m very pleased that we have been able to work together with the schools and the state to get this school safety zone expanded relatively quickly.
“But of course we’re not finished. There’s still much work to be done to improve conditions for the schoolchildren there.”
What’s next for the school safety zone?
The city plans to apply for ODOT grants for sidewalks and crosswalks in the area of the schools and career center.
If ODOT awards the money, the city will replace and add sidewalks on Martinsburg Road; Pine, Parrott, South Main and South Division streets; and Yellow Jacket and Success drives.
Additionally, the city plans to add six controlled crosswalks:
•Martinsburg and Newark roads
•South Main and South Division streets
•Yellow Jacket Drive
The city still needs to install programmable, flashing school speed zone lights along Martinsburg Road. The lights will alert motorists when the speed limits are enforceable.
“The goal of the project is not only to improve pedestrian and cyclist safety for students but to provide an opportunity for alternative modes of transportation in this neighborhood as a whole,” said Assistant City Engineer Quentin Platt in the release.
“When residents approached me last year regarding the challenges for students walking to school, I was glad to discover our engineering department had already done a significant amount of work studying the problem,” First Ward Council Person Jay Mahan said in the release.
“I am grateful for their work and pleased that we are starting the process to make this area safer for students and other pedestrians.”
