By Bobby Cherry

Published: Wednesday, November 21, 2012, 12:01 a.m.
Updated: Wednesday, November 21, 2012

When Quaker Valley Middle School opens in January, parents will follow a district- and borough-approved plan to drop off children that uses a public street and eliminates one of two crosswalks in Sewickley.

Sewickley Council members last week approved Quaker Valley's student drop-off plan that requires drivers to pull onto Harbaugh Street from Chestnut Street and use a drop-off zone adjacent to the middle school that will relocate some public parking spaces.

Borough manager Kevin Flannery said there will be a net loss of one public parking space.

Construction on the $26.5 million project began in July 2011 and is expected to be completed by Nov. 30. The building is set to open Jan. 7.

As part of the drop-off plan, Sewickley Council members Monday night were expected to approve adding two stop signs at each end of Smith Alley in an effort to curb unwanted traffic on the narrow, residential road.

That meeting happened after the Herald's print deadline.

Peebles Street property owner Mary Lyn McGinn said she is concerned drivers could begin using the street when dropping off students.

“We are trying to be conservative and cooperative about this problem,” McGinn said.

“Stop signs are a first step because nobody stops going into or out of the alley.”

Council members said they want to see school officials remove alleys from any maps they distribute to middle school parents.

A crosswalk spanning Peebles Street will be removed and one on Harbaugh Street will be enhanced as part of the drop-off plan.

School and borough officials said removing the Peebles Street crosswalk will increase safety.

“If you place any additional crosswalks, (people will) just drive up and tell the kids to jump out (and illegally cross the street),” Flannery said. “So you defeat the whole purpose.”

Bobby Cherry is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-324-1408 or rcherry@tribweb.com.

1. Restore Charleroi team prevails
2. Iacoboni, Egros win Democratic nods for Rostraver commissioner race
3. Kovacevic: Pens improve under microscope
4. Candidates agree: Race still too close to call in Fallowfield Township
5. Charleroi Area School Board getting two new members
6. ‘We did it!’ Peduto tells city, as he defeats Wagner 
7. Penguins Insider: Time is right for Jokinen’s return
8. Steelers’ Polamalu trim, fit as he arrives for OTAs
9. Steelers quarterback Roethlisberger likes the revamped offense
10. "Tequila Mockingbird" mixes literature, libations
11. Cozza, Tranquilli win nods for judge

There are currently no comments for this story.
Subscribe today! Click here for our subscription offers.