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Friday, 19 June 2009 |
By KATIE YANTIS
Staff Writer
ST. MARYS — The St. Marys Board of Education recently adopted a resolution to begin a study that could affect the way local children travel to school in future years.
The study is on the construction of a pedestrian-bicycle bridge to the site of the new grades six-to-12 building. The cost of the study is $3,750 and is expected to be finished in four to six weeks.
“The whole thing started back when we were looking at the site and having a discussion with the city about construction of a pedestrian-bicycle footbridge,” Business Manager Kurt Kuffner said. “The city decided they have a lot on their plate so this project was absorbed by the school and now we are in the process of a feasibility study.”
Kuffner said the study is being conducted by Poggemeyer Design Group Inc.
“This is kind of unique because of what the Poggemeyer folks have told us, they are not aware of any other school district that has built a bridge of this magnitude,” Kuffner said. “They said they have had cities and villages build one but that it is certainly not common for a school district to undertake such a project.”
He also said the financial aspect of the project is being studied by the Poggemeyer Design Group as well.
“Poggemeyer is going to develop some possible funding sources, there are some transportation dollars, stimulus dollars, but no decision has been made on any type of funding,” Kuffner said. “There certainly has not been any discussion on putting on a tax, absolutely no discussion, thus the reasoning for the feasibility study.”
Local residents and students voiced their opinion on the pedestrian-bicycle bridge and what they thought the pros and cons of the bridge would be.
Arts Place Director and mother of one Heidi Steinke Meade said she would like to see the bridge be built for the future school children to utilize.
“I think it would be great for when my son grows up, so he can walk to school,” Meade said. “The ability to walk to school gets kids in touch with nature every day and expands their opportunity for being independent.”
St. Marys resident Scott Moran said he was not sure about the bridge.
“I don’t really know the plans for it but I don’t know why they can’t put it right beside the existing bridge,” Moran said.
Memorial High School seniors Kendra Vehorn and Lydia Krugh both agreed that it would be good for students that will be attending the new school.
“I’m not opposed to it,” Vehorn said.
“Me either,” Krugh added.
Local resident Charlie Knous said he wasn’t sure about the bridge and the amount of effort and money that would go into it.
“For the amount of people that will use it, I can’t see it being feasible,” Knous said.
Resident Lori Burd agreed with Knous, questioning the construction of the bridge.
“I think they need to figure out how they are going to bus the kids before they think about this,” Burd said.
Eighth-grade student Marcus Wagner was in support of the bridge. He said he currently walks to school.
“I would like it, I think it would be better,” Wagner said. “Everyone likes walking to school, no one really likes to ride buses.”
In the proposal from Poggemeyer, the alternatives listed included in the study include a crossing at the existing Ohio 66 interchange, a route paralleling the Ohio 66 northbound to eastbound ramp, turning north on a new bridge over U.S. 33 to the school near the end of the ramps and a new bridge east of the Ohio 66 interchange, connecting to McKinley Road near Omni Manufacturing.
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 15 July 2009 )
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