Kalama School District has developed a new, city-approved traffic flow pattern for afternoon pick-up at Kalama Elementary School. The current pattern is not approved by the city for long-term use, as it restricts residential and emergency vehicle access on parts of Cedar Street.
Under the new traffic pattern, effective Monday afternoon, March 7, students scheduled for vehicle pick-up will continue to exit Kalama Elementary School at the traffic circle on the west side of the building. However, vehicles waiting to approach the traffic circle will not be permitted to park or be idling east of the Cedar and S 8th Street intersection (see map).
If the pick-up line is backed up to the intersection of Cedar and S 8th, vehicles will be required to either circle the block (green dots on map) or wait in the overflow lot (blue lines on map) until there is room for additional vehicles to enter the main pick-up line.
In order to prevent traffic congestion, we encourage families to use the school bus when possible. We’re also asking drivers to be courteous of area homeowners by keeping their speed of travel within the established limit.
This new traffic flow procedure has been designed to ensure the safety of our students and local residents. Your patience, courtesy, and willingness to work with the school will assist us in creating a well-organized dismissal. Expect delays in the first week as new routines take a bit of time and practice.
3/4/22 update: Since announcing this procedural change, we’ve received a few questions from families. This feedback is very helpful to us, and led to the creation of the “frequently asked questions” you’ll find below.
Why is the school making changes to the traffic flow pattern for afternoon pick-up?
The City of Kalama asked the school to develop a new traffic procedure for afternoon pick-up because under the current pattern, vehicles regularly restrict residential and emergency vehicle access to parts of Cedar Street. This is a violation of City code.
If more vehicles have to circle the block, doesn’t this create a safety issue for students walking home?
While the new traffic pattern will result in an increase in moving traffic, it should help to alleviate some existing unsafe practices, such as drivers turning into oncoming traffic to get around the line. It’s also important to note that not all drivers will need to circle the block; this is only required when the pick-up line has backed up to the 8th and Cedar intersection.
That in mind, student safety is a priority no matter the number of cars on the road. To help keep walking students safe, we’ll be increasing the number of crossing guards in the neighborhood, and Kalama Police will be present during the transition to help ensure drivers exercise caution. We are also pleased to share that additional sidewalks will be installed in the area in the near future!
More ways that families can help to reduce the volume of traffic in the neighborhood:
- Avoid arriving more than 10 minutes early (afternoon pick-up is typically complete within 15 minutes from the time students are released from school)
- Utilize the KES overflow lot on 8th Street
- Arrange for your student to ride the bus when possible
The traffic flow map depicts a counter-clockwise flow of traffic around the block, but what about traffic that’s moving in the opposite direction?
The roads surrounding the school are two-way streets, so there’s not much we can do to prevent drivers from approaching the school in the opposite direction. That said, we’ll do our best to direct everyone to follow the same counter-clockwise traffic pattern.
Were alternative traffic strategies considered?
Yes. The school district worked with the City on several different options, including re-routing the pick-up line through the campus on the north side of China Garden Road. Ultimately, the revised traffic flow pattern was selected - in large part because it is in compliance with City code and maintains much of the existing route that families are used to.
Didn’t developers devise a plan to reduce neighborhood congestion before building the school?
Neighborhood congestion is a common challenge for schools our size, and prior to the start of construction, developers did make plans to reduce it. Ultimately, traffic projections and forecasts were thrown off when school bus ridership plummeted during the pandemic, and ridership has yet to recover.
What if the new traffic flow pattern doesn’t work? Are we stuck with it for the long-term?
Absolutely not! The school and the school district are committed to finding the best possible solution for all parties involved - students, families, first responders and City officials. While it is our hope that the revised traffic pattern, along with continued recovery in bus ridership, will relieve the neighborhood congestion problem, we remain open to all ideas.
How can I contact the school and/or the city to contribute my feedback?
If you have any questions or feedback, please give the main office a call (360.673.5207) or utilize the district’s Listening Center. You can also leave a comment with the City of Kalama by clicking here.