Motorists wait to pass through the intersection at 10th Avenue and 2nd Street near Southside Elementary and Huntington Middle Schools on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, in Huntington.
Motorists wait to pass through the intersection at 10th Avenue and 2nd Street near Southside Elementary and Huntington Middle Schools on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, in Huntington.
Motorists wait to pass through the intersection at 10th Avenue and 2nd Street near Southside Elementary and Huntington Middle Schools on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, in Huntington.
Motorists wait to pass through the intersection at 10th Avenue and 2nd Street near Southside Elementary and Huntington Middle Schools on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, in Huntington.
Motorists wait to pass through the intersection at 10th Avenue and 2nd Street near Southside Elementary and Huntington Middle Schools on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, in Huntington.
HUNTINGTON ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” While Huntington Middle School has not had safety issues over the years, its administration says the possibility of safety issues is greater than other schoolsÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™.
ThatÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s due to its boxed-in layout, which causes congestion from student drop-offs and pick-ups spanning an entire block and little parking and room surrounding the school.
Huntington Middle School Principal Justina White said congestion around the school during mornings and evenings is an issue the school hopes to resolve. If 10th Avenue and the remaining area are too backed up, people will move to 3rd Street because it is less congested, White said; however, that area is designated for buses.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œThat is a safety issue,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ White said.
Motorists wait to pass through the intersection at 10th Avenue and 2nd Street near Southside Elementary and Huntington Middle Schools on Tuesday, August 27, 2024, in Huntington.
Ryan Fischer | The Herald-Dispatch
The KYOVA Interstate Planning Commission in collaboration with the Cabell County Board of Education has initiated the beginning stages of a traffic study that will evaluate traffic congestion, safety and mobility surrounding Huntington Middle School and Southside Elementary School. Chris Chiles, executive director of KYOVA, said the study area will examine patterns from 8th Avenue to 11th Avenue and 1st Street to 4th Street.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™m a huge supporter of neighborhood schools and schools that are walkable for the students, such as Southside and Huntington Middle,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Chiles said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œBut when you have a lot of students that are walking to and from the school, some of them may be crossing 1st Street, which has a lot of traffic. Some of them may be walking 5th Street, which has even more traffic. And for the residents of the Southside community, itÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s imperative to make sure our students have safe routes to school and can get to school safely, efficiently and get home as well.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
A consultant will evaluate safety and circulation issues and determine the best approach to meet those needs. Chiles said possible outcomes could be anything from crosswalks to improved signage with blinking lights and better indicators of a school zone.
Chiles said the study will also identify safer and more efficient ways to attract the attention of people who are not driving in the area for school purposes and may not be aware of the schools.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe want to identify ways to bring to driversÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ attention that it is a school zone, that there are school-aged children walking to and from the school,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Chiles said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œAnd just reinforce the idea that youÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re driving through a neighborhood, and you need to make sure that you are always on the lookout for children.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Chiles said KYOVA will review consultantsÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ proposals in the next few weeks, and the study will begin throughout this fiscal year, ending June 30, 2025. Chiles adds that he hopes the study will officially start before Thanksgiving, and he expects a final report within six months of the study beginning.
The traffic study was formed after a prior partnership between KYOVA and the Cabell County Board of Education when the entities collaborated on a similar traffic study in Milton for the area around the future Milton Elementary School.
Huntington Middle School and Southside Elementary School were identified as other ideal target areas for the study. Chiles said KYOVA is interested in conducting similar studies at other Cabell County schools and the Tri-State area.
Chiles said the study will cost $25,000. The Cabell County Board of Education will provide $2,500 for the project, and KYOVA will provide the rest of the funding through its grant funds.
Chiles said a public meeting will be conducted in the spring of 2025 to will allow residents to provide input and offer comments before the report is finalized.
