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Matt Gallager, the city’s traffic engineer, said the police made the decision based on a yearlong study of where students are crossing, where traffic is heaviest and which intersections have pedestrian crossing lights.
When classes start after Labor Day, crossing guards will be at Gillette Street and Charles Street to serve Franklin Elementary, and also West Avenue and Adams Street for students attending Hamilton Elementary.
Of the seven locations being eliminated, four are equipped with pedestrian crossing lights, Gallager said.
There will no longer be assistance at 14th Street and South Avenue, Losey Boulevard and Crowley Place, and West Avenue and Ferry Street.
Pedestrians can cross with the assistance of traffic lights at Cass Street and Losey Boulevard, Losey Boulevard and Mormon Coulee Road, Mormon Coulee Road and Broadview Place and George Street and Clinton Street.
After a meeting last week, schools officials requested one change to the overall plan, according to Joyce Smalley, finance director for the La Crosse School District.
“When (the city) came with the recommendation to eliminate crossing guards for Hintgen Elementary, we asked to leave one crossing guard at Mormon Coulee and Losey Boulevard to see if the need still exists there,” Smalley said. “The city agreed to put someone there for a week or two to see how many students use that spot, and the principal will notify parents that that crossing guard may be going away.”
Smalley applauded the city for meeting the need for more assistance near Franklin and Hamilton elementary schools and the city’s assurance that it will add more crossing guards if the need is there.
The city has 17 crossing guards positioned throughout the community, Gallager said.
Dan Springer can be reached at (608) 791-8269 or at dspringer@lacrossetribune.com.
