Neola Elementary School parents, concerned about the safety of their children who cross state Highway 121 daily, sought support from Duchesne County commissioners last week.

“The Neola school and the community are requesting to have the crosswalk into the school repainted,” Neola resident Jessica Blunt said. “We've been requesting it for several years now. We have to protect our kids that cross that highway.”

Commissioners, however, advised the group to contact the Utah Department of Transportation, because the crosswalk they want is for a state highway and out of the county's jurisdiction.

Neola Elementary School Principal Fred Arko was unable to attend the meeting with county commissioners, but he said he supports the safety improvements as well. Parents also would like to see the highway's 40 mph speed limit reduced near the school.

“I think that it's a good idea because we have 38 kids that have to cross the highway there at 121,” Arko said. “It would be nice for them to feel safe, knowing that the speed limit's down and knowing there's some visuals there for vehicles that are traveling through there. I think this is a cooperative effort between the community and the school to make our children safe.”

UDOT spokesman Scott Thompson said the crosswalk was removed several years ago because the pedestrian volume didn't warrant one.

“We've since been approached by school officials up there,” Thompson said. “They feel like there's enough pedestrian traffic of kids crossing the road to get to the school. So they would like the crosswalk back.”

According to transportation department policy, a school crosswalk zone has to meet certain criteria:

• A count must determine that the volume of school children exceeds 10 students through a period not earlier than 45 minutes before school starts until 15 minutes after school starts or a period from 15 minutes before the end of school to 45 minutes after school ends.

• Either of the following conditions must exist: The street's average daily traffic must exceed 500 vehicles, or the hourly traffic volume during either of the time periods mentioned above must exceed 50 vehicles.

“That count is determined through a field observation,” Thompson said. “Somebody goes out, watches the kids cross the street and physically counts how many kids there are in that hour.”

High speeds are also a concern for parents and they've requested other safety features.

“You get people flying through here at 70 miles an hour,” Blunt said. “We'd also like to have a safety sidewalk ... and the flashing signs that reflect the 20 mph school zone.”

The Neola group consulted with Duchesne County Sheriff Travis Mitchell after meeting with commissioners. He's now monitoring the situation and has been on the site, issuing warnings and citations. He's also suggested painting the crosswalk in a different location.

“I think they need to work on getting a sidewalk down the west side of the road, then put a crosswalk where the kids come out of the subdivision,” Mitchell said. “I think they do need some place for those kids to cross the road.”

The crosswalk would also be used for other activities that occur in Neola almost nightly.

“Not only is it about kids getting home from school, but there's a lot of activities going on in Neola,” said resident Mary Michelle Spencer. “Between church activities, between stuff happening there at the rodeo grounds, there's something going on dang near every single night of the week.”

UDOT does plan to visit Neola within the next week or two to reevaluate the situation.

“If the pedestrian volumes do warrant having a crosswalk for the school then we'll work to try and get that put in here before winter sets in if we can,” Thompson said. “We're looking to make sure everybody is safe, kids and adults. I'm happy to talk to anybody who would like to call me.”

For more information or to express concerns about the Neola school crossing, contact Thompson at (801) 227-8006.