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Community leaders initiate traffic study at Joe T. Robinson schools

On the first day of school, a security guard was hit and killed while directing traffic. Now, officials are looking at how to make the area safer.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — On Tuesday night, the superintendent of the Pulaski County Special School District (PCSSD) and school parents of Joe T. Robinson spoke at the Little Rock directors' meeting about traffic safety.

This meeting comes after a school security guard with PCSSD died after being hit by a vehicle while directing traffic on the first day of school in August.

Anne McPherson is a parent of Robinson Elementary. She said last week, the sign alerting drivers to slow down in a school zone was not working.

Additionally, there were no officers directing traffic because of a staffing shortage.

"I don't want it to be left alone," PCSSD Superintendent Charles McNulty said. "We know we are going to have continued issues in traffic control."

McNulty, along with the City of Little Rock, Pulaski County, ARDOT and Metroplan, are working together to bring permanent solutions.

Right now, a traffic study is being done to determine what kind of things can be implemented to increase safety around Robinson schools.

Some options discussed include a speed-enforcement camera, a traffic light and reworking the asphalt for better tire traction.

"They came at it, and they attacked the problem," McNulty said. "I think they will come up with some good solutions for our community."

Little Rock Director Antwan Phillips responded to the superintendent and parents, saying the City is making sure this doesn't get forgotten.

"Your work and effort and time is not in vain," Phillips said. "We do hear you, and we are working on it."

The traffic study is expected to be done by the end of the year. The group hopes to present the findings to the board of directors in January.

   

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