Updates to Front Street School Zones Implemented

The City of North Liberty recently updated signs and pavement marking to a 1.5-mile section of Front Street, from Forevergreen Road to Zeller Street related to the school zone, in accordance with recommendations from the Metropolitan Planning Organization of Johnson County. While the report was delivered earlier this year, staff waiting until the summer school break to implement recommended changes.

The changes, based on data and standards used by traffic engineers, were:

• Official school crossing location for Van Allen was moved to the north at the intersection of Vandello Drive and S Front Street to avoid a from the mid-block crossing
• Speed limit (30 mph) signs were installed side by side with the School Zone (20 mph when flashing) signs to reduce confusion
• End School Zone signs were install at appropriate locations

None of the school zones or speed limits have changed. While the total number of signs through this segment was reduced, it was based the advice that the area is over-signed, which reduces the impact of messages on drivers.

The Metropolitan Planning Organization of Johnson County, often referred to as the MPO, provides a number of transportation-related services locally including traffic studies and recommendations, long-range planning, allotting state and federal funding for local projects, bicycle and pedestrian planning. It’s data-based approach helps staff make consistent, evidence-based decisions about speed limits, sign needs and other transportation policy matters.