Woman asks for school zone on River Drive

A resident of River Drive has proposed that it be turned into a “school zone” and earned the support of the school district.

Amanda Burton appeared before the Grand Coulee Dam School District board of directors Monday night to make her proposal, citing the fact that there are no crosswalks allowing students walking to school to cross River Drive, which is SR-155 as it passes the school in Coulee Dam.

“It is only a matter of time before a speeding semi hits a child and I would prefer the school be proactive in preventing this rather than reacting to a tragedy,” Burton wrote in her report.

Burton, who said she had checked with the Department of Transportation, got the attention of the school board and Superintendent Paul Turner.

He said Tuesday that he plans to pursue the issue with Burton, with the two of them appearing before the Coulee Dam city council seeking an ordinance declaring a portion of River Drive as a school zone.

Coulee Dam Mayor Larry Price attended the meeting Monday night, and had stated earlier that he planned to attend the meetings of other jurisdictions so he could understand what they were doing.

Burton said that the DOT suggested a school zone 300 feet south of the intersection with Civic Way to 150 feet north of 12th Street.

Burton has a preschooler and a first grader, and this fact prompted her action on the proposed school zone.

Burton said that, in her conversation with the DOT, she learned that the state has plans to do a speed study along River Drive this spring. She said that she was advised by the DOT that it would cost about $650 for the proposed area to be designated as a school zone, largely for signage.

Any school zone designation would take the cooperation of the DOT, the city of Coulee Dam and the school district.