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In the Community. With th, WEDNESDAY, DEC , 6, 2006
City improves safety on Denton I
p
BY STEPHANIE HUTSON measures be taken to
protect just run across the road," al signs that explam the phases
STAFF WRITER students. Stewart said. of the pedestrian walk signals.
Following the recent death of Denton Tap Road is flooded Stewart drafted the petition The city hopes the signs will
a 14- year -old Coppell High by numerous cars and pedestri- and Maznazi posted in his shop, clear up confusion regarding the
School student crossing the arts in the morning hours before encouraging his customers to pedestrian signals. A walking fig -
street on her way home from school starts and when school sign. The petition gained 176 sig- ure indicates that it is OK to
school, the city has begun mak- lets out in the afternoon. Stewart natures in about two weeks. enter the intersection. When a
ing traffic improvements on and Miznazi produced a petition "Invariably, every single per- flashing red hand appears,
Denton Tap Road at Town with 176 signatures from parents son that came in signed it, pedestrians should not enter the
Center Drive. asking that at least one police except for one," Stewart said. intersection but should continue
Inspired by the tragedy, resi- officer be assigned to patrol the The city has already taken walking through the intersection
dent Lorell Stewart approached road during those busy hours. some steps to increase safety if they are already in it. All
the Coppell City Council at the "' Just after this tragedy [Mr. measures in the area. Workers pedestrians should be out of the
Nov. 28 meeting with Nazem Miznazi and I] were talking one striped crosswalks and stop bars intersection completely at the
Miznazi, owner of Coppell day, and he's been there five for more visibility, increased the solid red hand signal.
^ours on Denton Tap Road, years and he said I wouldn't total walk time from 35 to 4? Th' city is also planning on
that e \AZT ar.r t r- Safnry believe how many kids he's seen seconds and posted informatat,;- See SAFETY, Page 5A 1
Safety improvements protect students
Continued from Page 1A CHS newspaper and on school's lower the speed limit on Denton
broadcast station. Tap from 40 -mph to 30 -mph
nstalling more advanced pedes- "We are working as closely as between the hours of 2:50 -4:20
trian crossing signals that count- we can with the high school to p.m. Council action is required
down the time a pedestrian has make sure everyone under- to change the speed limit so it
remaining to cross the street. stands," Logan said. can be enforced by the police
In response to the traffic con- City officials hope, through department.
cerns, the city had a third-party pedestrian understanding and "I don't necessarily think traf-
study completed by Kimley -Horn compliance, that these measures fic has to be slowed down, if
and Associates, Inc. will be enough to ensure student people would be cautious
"Overall, the use of count- safety, but they are prepared to because they know the area is
down pedestrian signals should take the next step by creating a being patrolled," Stewart said.
improve pedestrian safety by reduced speed zone. In response to Stewart and !,
reducing the number of pedestri- "If everyone will follow the Miznazi's request for a patrol
ans stranded in the street when rules we should be OK," Logan officer during the mornings and
cross traffic gets a green light," said. afternoons, "police are moni-
the study states. If necessary, the reduced toring vehicular traffic as well
The new signals are sched- speed zone will be from Natches as pedestrian traffic," Logan
uled to be installed, pending Trace to Sandy Lake, and would said.
equipment delivery, Coppell
Public Information Officer
Sharon Logan said.
The pedestrian crossing on
Denton Tap at Town Center was
also moved from the north side
of the street to the south side,
providing a larger buffer
between pedestrians and vehi-
cles stopping at the traffic sig -
- nal.
A 5 -foot decorative metal
fence in the median of Denton
Tap extending south from Town
-: Center to the Wendy's entrance
is scheduled to be installed in
the next three to six months.
"This would eliminate the
opportunity to cross Denton Tap
except at the Town Center inter -
section," the study states.
Stewart said she would like
to see the fence extend all the
way to Sandy Lake Road, which
would further deter students
from cutting behind local busi-
nesses and crossing the street
illegally.
City officials have asked that
- the information on the new sig-
nals and appropriate crossing
procedures be released in the