DENVER PUBLIC WORKS BEGINS FLASHING BEACON INSTALLATION AT

DENVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS

Denver Public Works Traffic Engineering Services (TES) moves forward with installation of flashing beacons at 21 schools in 2009

(DENVER)…Denver Public Works Traffic Engineering Services (TES) is beginning the first of three phases to install flashing beacons at select elementary schools throughout the City. The first phase of flashing beacon installation includes ten locations and is planned to be complete by the beginning of the 2009-2010 school year. A photo opportunity of installation construction taking place can be arranged today between 10am-11am and 1pm-2pm by contacting Ann Williams at 720.865.8713.

The beacons are flashing lights placed above the school zone signs at marked elementary school crosswalks. The flashing beacons will only be activated during school arrival and dismissal times. When the light is flashing, the speed limit is reduced - even if children are not present.

Traffic conditions near schools can seriously affect the safety of children walking, biking or being driven to school. Posted limits alone do not always ensure the safety of children as they are crossing a street. The flashing beacons will be another tool to alert drivers in Denver they are in a school zone, children are likely to be present and the speed limit is reduced.

A total of 32 school locations in Denver will receive flashing beacons over a two-year timeframe. The installation of the flashing beacons will be completed in three phases. The first phase of the installation includes ten school locations and is currently underway, with the second phase of eleven locations beginning this summer. Both phases are slated to be completed before the school year begins this fall. Phase three entails the final installation of the remaining eleven locations and will begin in the spring of 2010.

The first installation phase will include the following schools:

School name                                     Primary Street/Cross Street

COLUMBIAN/ST CATHERINE’S  FEDERAL BLVD / W. 41st Ave             

CHELTENHAM                                 W. COLFAX AVE / Irving St                      

COLFAX                                            W. COLFAX AVE / Tennyson St                    

SOUTHMOOR                                   S. MONACO PKWY / S. Magnolia Way       

PHILLIPS                                           MONACO PKWY / Montview Blvd    

STEELE                                             ALAMEDA AVE / Lafayette St                     

VALVERDE                                      W. ALAMEDA AVE / S. Tejon St           

GOLDRICK                                        W. MISSISSIPPI AVE / S. Zuni St                

ASBURY                                            EVANS AVE / Lafayette St               

EBERT-POLARIS                             PARK AVE WEST / Tremont St

The schools receiving flashing beacons were selected based on a traffic engineering formula that takes into account average weekday traffic volume, number of through traffic lanes and the speed limit adjacent to the school. For a complete listing of the selected schools and their locations, please visit: www.Denvergov.org/Transportation

The flashing beacon controllers will be connected to the traffic signal system. This will allow Denver Traffic Engineering Services to program the flashers remotely from any of our locations having access to signal system control. The system will also allow us to monitor the operation of the school flashers in real-time and will provide malfunction notifications to the Traffic Management Center and to operations staff.

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