TAMPA, Fla. -- Chamberlain High School students facing dark and dangerous conditions walking to school could soon get some help to make their journey safer.
The Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) recently completed an assessment of several area schools that had reports of dangerous walking conditions. Commissioner found several hazard for Chamberlain High School kids.
One of the school administration's primary concerns is a lack of lighting at the front entrance and along North Boulevard where kids arrive at school.
School officials told county leaders there is a flood light on the front drop-off loop at the school entrance driveway. The light does not cover any portion of North Boulevard where kids walking and biking to class must traverse.
Findings show students begin arriving at Chamberlain as early at 6:30 a.m.
Administrators and county leaders are also concerned students are crossing at random to go to a nearby convenience store on the west side of North Boulevard.
Many parents are fearful to let their kids walk or play in the area around Chamberlain after seeing students have several near misses with cars at the intersection of North Boulevard and Busch Boulevard.
"Even when they have the walkway, the green light to walk, the can't because cars are constantly truing to turn to catch the light," said Tergene Terible. "That light takes forever."
Students taking HART buses to Chamberlain are forced to cross that busy intersection.
Crews who conducted the traffic safety assessment found two key trouble spots: North Boulevard at Busch Boulevard, and North Boulevard from Sligh Avenue to Country Club Drive.
Recommendations to help fix some of the problems students are facing include: more push-button crosswalks where drivers will be prompted to stop, better lighting around Chamberlain High School and fixing several missing and faded crosswalks along North Boulevard.
County leaders will discuss the school safety issue at Wednesday's Hillsborough MPO meeting.
