Council votes on Augusta Street project

The Bonners Ferry City Council voted last week to approve a project for the Augusta Street crossing area near Valley View Elementary School

Using information gathered at a public open house last month, Eric Olson from HMH Engineering gave a power point presentation to the council on the project during the Dec. 15 council meeting. 

According to the meeting’s draft minutes, Olson showed an aerial view of the Valley View crossing area, where the street width at the crossing is 32 feet wide. Olson said the Community Choices grant is for $484,000. A raised, narrowed concrete crossing is included in the project as well as $3,000 for 150 feet of fencing. He said there may be some contingency to help cover costs.  

Olson read a statement regarding narrow, raised crosswalks and how they slow vehicle drivers down and they make drivers aware of the crosswalk. There is fencing planned to separate the sidewalks from the roadway. Green space is also planned to be placed between the sidewalk and the street giving further buffer for pedestrians. Olson then showed a slide of rectangular rapid flash beacon (RRFB) lights that could be used. The estimated cost for a pair of these lights is $10,000. The RRFBs show very good statistics for making vehicles slow down and yield to pedestrians.  

Another option for the safety of the crossing are gates that could be installed and kept closed during school hours. Olson said there was overwhelming support of the gates from the public hearing comments made; he also read the summary of comments received including a petition with 70 signatures that outlined the pros and cons of the gates for road closure during school hours. Crossing guards are also a safety measure that could be implemented,  and Olson also summarized the accidents that took place on Augusta Street since 2010. There were two vehicle accidents and one was due to the driver having a seizure and the other was alcohol related.  

Olson recommended installing a narrow, raised crossing and fencing. He said this was agreed to by the Traffic Safety Committee.  

He also recommended using adults to assist with crossing and possibly review a crossing guard program. He said the city could  also consider implementation of additional measures including RRFBs and gates.  

Mike Klaus then gave a summary of the Traffic Safety Committee meeting held earlier that day. He said the group agreed to the raised crosswalk, with a narrower path, and fencing. Two places of disagreement were the flashing lights and the gates. There was a split vote for the gates by the committee members. Klaus said it is unique for the school to have a kindergarten on one side of the street and the main school on the other side. 

Mayor Dave Anderson suggested speaking to the school district about helping to fund the project, and then asked when the project will be out for bid. Olson said late March or April, with construction scheduled after school is out.

Councilwoman Connie Wells moved to go with the raised concrete, fencing, and narrowing of the street near the school. Councilman Adam Arthur seconded the motion. 

Councilman Ron Smith asked if gates will be eliminated. Wells and Adrthur said they would be. The motion passed 2-1 (Ron Smith “no”, Connie Wells “yes”, Adam Arthur “yes.”)