Long School Neighbor Asks DESE to Investigate Neighborhood Concerns Over New Traffic Plan

Note from the editor: 

Over the past several months, neighbors in a subdivision next to Long Elementary School have been fighting to convince the school district to reconsider the proposed traffic plan associated with its 4.6-acre expansion. Doercrest residents believe that routing outgoing buses through their neighborhood will cause safety issues.
This letter was sent to Sunset Hills Mayor Bill Nolan, Crestwood Mayor Jeff Schlink, St. Louis County Commissioner Charlie Dooley and Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary School Education (DESE) Commissioner Chris Nicastro. 

Ruzicka adds with a post on Patch on Wednesday, "A source close to the planning approval process has reported 'a high possibility of significant revision to the design/plans is expected to address your concern as well as others in the subdivision.'" The issue has also caught the attention of a Crestwood alderman, according to Call Newspapers.


Ruzicka's letter:

Dr. Nicastro,

We had previously e-mailed a request for the Missouri Department of Elementary & Secondary Education to look into the expansion of Long Elementary School by the Lindbergh School District. While we support the expansion and improvement to the campus, we stand in firm opposition to the any use of Doercrest Drive. Our concern is rooted in safety and it is very clear to us that Lindbergh School District has not performed the due diligence required when laying out this proposed bus route.

We have included on this e-mail the leadership of St. Louis County as well as the Mayor of Sunset Hills and the Mayor of Crestwood since the proposed bus route involves all. While the location of the proposed bus route has created an apparent dilemma for some to get involved, direct recommendations to the  Lindbergh School District would be a prudent measure given the fact that child safety is at stake. Clearly no single governmental body feels it has the authority to weigh in on this matter. While Lindbergh School District has a stellar reputation, they have not done their homework on this subject. We would recommend that any/all refer to the Missouri Department of Transportation Engineering Policy Guide provided below.

http://epg.modot.org/index.php?title=941.19_Sight_Distance_for_Entrances#Effect_of_Grades_on_Stopping_Sight_Distance

The use of a small dead end subdivision street which was constructed 50 years ago as a bus route before any of the stopping sight distance recommendations where adopted is simply dangerous. The speed, limited sight distance and grade of Eddie & Park Road at the intersection of Doercrest Drive has never been analyzed under the MoDot guidelines provided above. 

We have repeatedly voiced our concerns with this plan but it has fallen on deaf ears.  Short of legal action on our part, it would seem that the plan continues uninterrupted and without any oversight with respect to stopping sight distance issues. We respectfully ask that your department look into this expansion plan. The hope is that with all the various parties involved funding could be appropriated to conduct a proper sight distance study to insure the safety of all. Lindbergh School District has allocated $1.4 million tax payer dollars on this project, it is only appropriate that money be invested into the safety of the plan.

Respectfully,

Frank Ruzicka

On behalf of concerned Doercrest Manor residents