West Tulsa school parents want the city to add more school zone warning signs

Some west Tulsa parents say the city isn't doing all it can to protect their children. <br><br>They want school zone and speed limit signs posted in their neighborhood near Remington Elementary School

Thursday, August 21st 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Some west Tulsa parents say the city isn't doing all it can to protect their children.

They want school zone and speed limit signs posted in their neighborhood near Remington Elementary School at 5300 South 30th West Avenue, before they fear, a child gets hurt. News on 6 crime reporter Lori Fullbright has their story.

Some neighborhood kids are enjoying their last few days of summer before school starts. Their parents are worried that once school starts, the kids will be in danger because there are no school zone signs posted in the neighborhood to slow down drivers. Tena Vance, Remington Elementary PTA: "Every child is our concern. We love them and we know something needs to be done.â€

Since the school is so close, many kids walk there. But these parents say drivers take no heed and it's only going to get worse. Denise French, concerned parent: "We have a big concern because they're replacing the bridge out here and traffic will be re-routed through here and it's going to get even busier and people speed through here, even the school buses speed."

These moms point to other schools in Tulsa with plenty of signs that clearly tell drivers to slow down near schools. Neighbors did tell us they saw a new student crossing sign. But it's only about 20 yards from the school and they say it's better than nothing, but what they really need are signs throughout the neighborhood.

The PTA's top priority this year is safety for their students; they just feel they're not getting anyone to listen or help. Cozy Collins, PTA Vice President: "We've called Public Works, the Mayor's Action line and the police and haven't gotten anything accomplished at all."

City of Tulsa traffic engineering told us the school is properly marked since it's on a dead end and separated from the neighborhood by a park. They say they can't put signs four or five blocks away. These parents say none of that makes them or their children feel safer.

Traffic engineering also told the News on 6 the speed limit is 25 MPH in all neighborhoods, even if it's not posted. They also told us they would do a study of the neighborhood street to see if a four-way stop would help slow down traffic.

We'll follow up on it.