The Official Student News Site of Parkway West High
A+long+line+of+cars+wait+in+the+parking+lot+to+exit+the+school.+

Shanna Bailey

A long line of cars wait in the parking lot to exit the school.

Traffic problems put students in a jam

It’s 7:19 a.m. You left your house at 7 a.m. but still have not made it off of Clayton Road. With sweaty palms and a pounding chest, you’re anxious about making it to class on time. Your fears are not in isolation.  

At the start of school Principal Jeremy Mitchell contacted Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT) to help investigate the traffic congestion from Clayton Road into Parkway West High School.

“They came out and they actually had a car sit up here and look at it. I think they made some minor tweaks, they extended the lights a little bit. They were very careful to say that we can’t do a whole lot because of Clayton being a major fair. They don’t want to back it up, but you have to back it up somewhere,” Mitchell said.

Students and teachers still feel the pressure of traffic despite the changes.

“To me it’s kind of stressful because I’m worried about getting to school on time so I’m always kind of stressed,” junior Katie English, who drives herself to school, said.

English witnessed a car accident happen around the exit from the junior lot in the lanes leaving from school.

“[It] actually happened a couple months ago. Someone was trying to sort of skip through the line and go left and they ended up getting in an accident with someone who didn’t see them coming,” English said.

Junior Lauren Lashly was within minutes of being late for first semester finals because of traffic.

“I was texting someone, not while I was driving, and they were saying that the line was all the way past the Schoettler intersection, even close to Target. I was also waiting in that line and it was already really long at 7:10 a.m. I remember waiting in the line for at least 10 to 15 minutes before I actually got to turn into the school,”  Lashly said. “That was a rare occasion where I actually thought I was going to be late for real.”

Manager of Planning and Engineering for Parkway, Scott Bennett said that if there is a problem with the traffic that needs to be addressed, then an investigation can be conducted if it is brought to the attention of the assigned Facilities Construction Supervisor Frank McCarty.

I think every campus has the same issue.

— Scott Scoggins

“If the investigation showed that in fact there was a problem, then we would work on a conceptual plan for a solution to the problem and the costs associated with implementing the plan. At that point a funding source would have to be identified,” Bennett said. “Once a funding source is identified and approved, then we would move forward with the plan to correct the problem. As you can see there are many steps involved.”

 

However, Mitchell did not believe this was the proper channel to take because he thinks the real problem lies elsewhere.

“We felt as if our real problem was Clayton Road and the access, not so much the parking lot itself, so we’ve never said that we need to investigate and take a look at revamping our parking lot because we had done that,” Mitchell said.

According to a Pathfinder survey with 125 respondents, 41 percent of students are dropped off by a parent.

“When [parents] do choose to bring their kids to school, that creates a traffic jam, but if everybody leaves early enough, they will get here on time, so it shouldn’t be an issue,” Student Resource Officer Scott Scoggins said. “I think every campus has the same issue. If everyone is getting here at the exact same time or leaving at the same time, there’s just going to be traffic and you have to be patient.”

Mitchell’s goal is to work within the confines of the parking lot space provided.

“However the space is organized, it’s going to be congested, so our goal is to try make it as least congested as possible,” Mitchell said.

 

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Comments (8)

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  • J

    James E. ScottFeb 7, 2017 at 8:23 am

    Another great article Sarah! Keep them coming.

    Reply
  • M

    Mark LashlyFeb 6, 2017 at 5:32 pm

    Great article, Sarah. I do think Scott Scoggins may have gotten to the core of the issue when he said when everyone is arriving and leaving school at the same time, traffic is just going to be a fact of life. Patience is, after all, a virtue. 🙂

    Reply
  • A

    Ann StriedFeb 6, 2017 at 2:55 pm

    Yes, Sarah, there is a problem. Thank you for addressing it. I had to leave my home at 6:30 one morning to avoid traffic back-up on Clayton going East for an 8:00 appointment. Keep reporting!

    Reply
  • L

    Lois HendricksonFeb 6, 2017 at 12:00 pm

    Very well written. I go east from Kehrs Mill at Clayton every Monday morning. I attend a class at 6 North at Baxter and Clayton that begins at 7:45. The traffic at 7:15 begins to back up around the Presbyterian Church and thins out after Parkway West. It takes probably 10 to 15 minutes longer than non school hours. This problem effects more than just students in the area. Thank you for bringing this problem to the attention of those who might be able to find a solution.

    Reply
  • P

    Penny TaylorFeb 6, 2017 at 11:24 am

    Sarah, you have written an interesting article on an important subject, one that impacts a lot of people. Keep up the good work.

    Reply
  • N

    Nancy LynnFeb 6, 2017 at 10:43 am

    Sarah,
    Nice reporting on very timely problem. I remember our daughters had some of the same issues at South High. Hopefully, your article creates awareness of the problem and will cause facilities, the police, and road crews to re-evaluate. The results might benefit all Parkway schools. You selected a good topic to research. Nancy Lynn

    Reply
  • P

    Pam HeatonFeb 6, 2017 at 9:44 am

    Very well written article, Sarah.

    Reply
  • S

    Susan LashlyFeb 6, 2017 at 9:23 am

    Great story, Sarah! There does seem to be a problem many days on Clayton Road. I have been stuck in that traffic often. I always worry about the students’ safety. I guess we all need to practice patience and leave early for our destination.

    Reply