T.C. Wants To Lower Speed Limit On Highway 103

By Gordon HopkinsRandy Schlueter, Superintendent of Tri County Schools, hopes lights, signage and a change of speed limit can 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 met with Jefferson County Commissioners on Tuesday, November 9, and asked, “If they would support signage along Highway 103 by Tri County Public Schools to slow the speed limit down for safety purposes in the mornings and after school. This is something of a project that I’ve talked with the state several times in the past, but because of the accident that took place in June, kind of push it to the forefront.”“So I’ve met with Nebraska Department of Education,” said Schlueter, who also met with the Nebraska Department of Transportation and Senator Tom Brandt, District 32, “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 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 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.”The next step for Schlueter is getting support from county commissioners. He explained, “They need approval from Jefferson County Commissioners and Gage County, because we’re talking about both sides of the road. One side is Jefferson. The other side is Gage County. That’s the first thing. I’m asking if this board will approve sending a letter to me in support and I forward those on to the Department of Roads.”Commissioner Michael Dux said, “We would support that.”Then there is the matter of price. Schlueter got an estimate from the Nebraska Department of Transportation, “But the cost of that is $60,000, was what they projected as their high end. The state will pay for 50 percent of it, for $30,000 of it. So I have asked the Gage County Commissioners if they would be willing to pay up to a fourth of it. And that’s the same thing I’m going to ask you, the Jefferson County Commissioners.”Dux said, “I personally would think that this would be a State of Nebraska’s expense. I don’t know how they get either county involved with this.”Dux added, “I’ve been here 19 years and I’ve never had a request for something like that.”Schlueter said, “And that was one of the things from Gage County. They want me to find out as well. Why it is the counties have to pay any portion of it?”Despite this, Commissioners indicated they were supportive of the proposal. Commissioner Mark Schoenrock said, “I think it’s very needed.”Schlueter noted that a problem with the signage and flashing lights is that schools don’t always start at the same time, “Twice a month, we have late starts, 10 o’clock starts.”“Every school has to have some flexibility with their schedule, and there’s always going to be a change,” said Dux. “Is there anything wrong with leaving it at 45 (mph) 24 hours a day, year round?”Schlueter responded, “ I just don’t know if they (the State) would be willing to support that. That would probably take a lot more study on their part.”

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