CLEARFIELD – Concerns about traffic near schools were discussed during Tuesday’s Lawrence Township meeting.
Secretary Barb Shaffner told the supervisors that the Clearfield Area School District sent a letter regarding traffic near the elementary and junior/senior high school buildings.
The district first asked if the township could contact the state Department of Transportation and request a traffic study on Mount Joy Road to see if a reduction in speed limit is warranted.
The district is concerned about how fast vehicles travel on the road, especially downhill, resulting in a danger to students, parents and faculty.
If a traffic study couldn’t be done, or if PennDOT will not reduce the speed, the district asked if the township would erect additional school zone signs as well as flashing lights on the roadway.
The district also asked if signs and lights could be installed near the junior/senior high school entrance.
The supervisors discussed the matter and said a traffic study should have been done when the district requested a highway occupancy permit for the entrance onto Mount Joy Road, but they can contact PennDOT to be certain.
In the meantime, the township still has the school zone signs and lights from the former Clearfield Middle School that it will give the school district, but the district has to erect them and also maintain them.
Also, during the meeting, the supervisors heard from Ann Wood, president of the Joseph and Elizabeth Shaw Public Library board of trustees about the library and its appreciation for the annual donation the township makes each year.
She explained that the operating budget for the library is over $200,000 and the state contribution has been $55,900 each year since 2011, so contributions from municipalities as well as donations and fundraisers are critical for the library.
Wood said last year over 39,951 people visited the library and 3,597 participated in programs, including book clubs, a poetry contest, adult and youth chess clubs, summer reading programs and Paws for Reading, a program that allows children to read aloud to a service dog to improve reading skills and self-confidence. These and many other programs are offered at the library as well as meeting space, public computers and other services.
