Stillwater County commissioners are weighing a safety plan that could eliminate the mid‑block crosswalk at Park City School. The proposal, part of a broader traffic‑flow redesign, would turn Second Avenue South into a one‑way street, remove several stop signs, add new signage and ultimately erase the painted crossing.
Engineering review calls the crossing “redundant”
An engineering review commissioned by the county concluded the crosswalk is “redundant” and recommended its removal. County Commissioner Steve Riveland said the safest option is to direct students to the corner crosswalks that already exist, noting that consolidating crossings can reduce driver confusion.
Parents and school officials push back
Local parents, led by Afton Ball, who walks her children across the crossing daily, expressed frustration. “It doesn’t sit right with me that they’re still pushing the removal of the crosswalk after the report called it redundant,” Ball said. “I don’t think you can ever have too many crosswalks in a school zone.”
Superintendent Dave Whitesell, who has overseen the school’s safety planning for months, warned that removing the painted lines will not stop students from using the path. “Taking away the paint won’t take away the people who already cross there,” he said. “It will just be a path without warning, and that could be dangerous for kids and staff.” Whitesell also highlighted the larger traffic change, noting that converting the two‑way street to one‑way is a significant undertaking.
Commissioners’ rationale
Commissioner Riveland emphasized that the county’s plan aims to streamline traffic flow and improve overall safety. “Our safest plan is to use the corner crosswalks,” he said. “Consolidating crossings reduces the number of points where drivers must stop, which can lower the risk of rear‑end collisions.”
Community response and next steps
The discussion will continue at the next county commission meeting, where both sides are expected to present additional data. Parents have asked for a traffic‑impact study that specifically examines pedestrian volume at the mid‑block location. The county has indicated it will consider such a study before any final decision is made.
For now, the crosswalk remains in place, but its future hangs in the balance as Stillwater County works to finalize its safety plan.
Original reporting: KTVQ Q2 Billings (local) — read the source article.
