Forum tackles traffic at proposed Swampscott school

SWAMPSCOTT – New traffic plans for adding an elementary school to the middle school site may ease congestion on Forest Avenue, but a consultant said enforcement and changing drivers? behaviors will be what really makes a difference.The School Building Committee for the proposed district-wide elementary school invited traffic consultant GOED Consulting to an open forum Wednesday.GOED President Chris Emilius said after analyzing the middle school and elementary schools? existing conditions in the morning and afternoon, GOED found that the problem was not the amount of cars but the delays caused by cars slowing down for pick-ups and drop-offs on the street. GOED determined that even a “worst-case scenario” would be alleviated with a plan that would allow for more on-site queuing to keep the flow going on the surrounding streets.GOED also drew up a list of suggestions for traffic mitigation. Emilius said enforcement would be vital to tell parents,?You can?t just sit and let kids off here.” He said signs, well-informed crossing guards and police presence would be important.Many in the packed room at the high school responded to the data and suggestions by arguing that Swampscott parents would not adhere to the rules.Chairman Joe Crimmins said his committee had already met with police and fire chiefs to discuss their support with traffic enforcement. “Part of any new project, and new facility, is that it?s going to require enforcement and some behavioral changes,” said Crimmins. “It does require people to follow the rules, and that?s true of any civil change.”Emilius said in his experience with projects, it took people about one to two weeks tops to adjust to traffic changes.Crimmins reminded audience members of the goal. “We hope to have no worse and hopefully a better traffic situation than what?s there,” he said. Crimmins said the answer to the question of how to make a better traffic situation was to change the patterns to accommodate the cars, which is why the committee brought GOED on board.Superintendent Pamela Angelakis offered a few more ideas to ease traffic flow, including estimated figures for busing (a range of about $200,000 to $600,000 in the school?s operational budget) and a 30-minute staggered start time between the elementary school and middle school.One mother, who said she had a child in kindergarten, suggested the committee look into a school in Newburyport, where drivers and school staff communicate with walkie-talkies before they reach the drop-off and pick-up area, so the kids are ready to quickly get into their car.Crimmins and Angelakis nodded, smiled and thanked her for the idea. Angelakis made a note and said she would reach out to Newburyport administration.Parent Joe Ford ended the forum on a positive note and earned applause when he said, “Change is difficult for people to comprehend, but if you think it can work, then maybe it will. I have four kids that will benefit from this school ? If you think about how it?s going to be better for most people, I think it will be good.”