Speed Limit On Highway At T.C. To Be Lowered During School Hours

By Gordon HopkinsRandy Schlueter, Superintendent of Tri County Schools, has been working with the commissioners of Jefferson and Gage Counties to change the speed limit on Highway 103 near Tri-County Schools and to add lights and signage. Schlueter hopes this will help prevent another tragedy like the one that occurred this past summer.On Wednesday, June 29, a two-vehicle accident at the intersection of Highway 103 and 725 Road in Jefferson County, near Tri-County Schools, resulted in two deaths.Schlueter first met with Jefferson County Commissioners on Tuesday, November 9, and asked for their support, “The recommendation by the Department of Transportation was to put a flashing sign on Highway 103.”Schlueter said the sign would have a, “Flashing light to lower the speed limit from 65 (miles per hour) to 45. One hour before the start of school, one hour after the start of school, one hour before the end, and one hour after the end. So for us, it would be from 7-9 a.m., 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Slowing the speed down during that time.”Schlueter said, “I think they had five different ideas that we put on the table. That’s the one that they would support in doing.”While this proposal lowers the speed limit during times that students are going to and from school, it does not cover school activities that may occur at different hours and also doesn’t take into consideration early or late starts. Tri-County has 10 a.m. starts twice a month. Commissioners expressed the desire to see the speed limit lowered round the clock, or to give the school the power to set times for the lower the limit, rather than just lowering the speed limit just during those few hours.That request was rejected by the Nebraska Department of Transportation (NDOT), which told Schlueter, “Typically, for school speed zones on Nebraska highways, the reduced speed limit will be in effect before and after school. The hours of operation for Tri-County will read as follows: ‘The hours of operation for the school speed zone shall be limited to the period from 30 minutes before the start of school to 15 minutes after the start of school and from 15 minutes prior to the end of school to 45 minutes after the end of school. Due to the lack of consistent activity at the school during off school times, our engineering study does not support the 24-hour operation of a school speed zone. In order to set a reduced speed limit, NDOT must prepare a speed zone authorization. This speed zone authorization does not provide us the flexibility to allow altering the speed zone for extra school activities.’”Jefferson County Commissioners expressed their disappointment at the decision.Commissioner Michael Dux said, “I wasn’t shocked. But I was disappointed, I guess. I’ll just come out and say it. I guess you’ve got to have so many people die before they want to take action on it.”Then there is the cost for the sign, which is estimated to be $60,000. It is the Commissioners’ position that the State should cover the cost. However, NDOT advised Schlueter, “Generally, when establishing a school speed zone within a community, the local community is required to fund 100% of the cost. We have made an exception for these rural school speed zones for the 50/50 cost share.”Jefferson and Gage Counties will each pay for a quarter of the cost.Schlueter told FJN, “The district is very appreciative of the Jefferson and Gage County boards in their support of the safety project at school. Norris Public Power is also working with the district to install lights at the SE corner of the campus to illuminate the intersection.”

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