Planning Board Postpones Vote on New Avery School Traffic Plan

With school officials already breaking ground on the new Avery School, the Planning Board held off approval of the project's traffic plans at a meeting on Wednesday.

The project's architect, Robert Juusola, said the main drive would be a two-way road going from Whiting Avenue to Recreation Road, and have two speed tables.

Juusola added it would change to a one-way road during peak times of drop-off and pick-up.

But an independent expert hired by the Planning Board, Steven Finland, questioned why the project's leaders didn't include traffic numbers for pedestrians, buses or cars.

Finland also stated that they did not receive line of sight numbers on the turns off the school lots onto the main streets.

Planning Board member John Bethoney suggested the architects gather busing, car drop-off and walking statistics, recommendation letters from the fire and police departments, line of sight statistics and then report back to the board before the next scheduled meeting on Nov. 7.

Despite the lack of numbers, Superintendent June Doe, said this design will "substantially improve the traffic problem on Whiting Avenue."

At the current Avery School on High Street, principal Clare Sullivan experiences safety issues with buses dropping students off on the main road, and a daily traffic jam on High Street. For Sullivan, the new school presents a relief when it comes to student safety.

"This [traffic design] will be heaven to me," she said, adding it will be easier for the school's staff to monitor children when they are outside.

Planning Board Chairman Robert Aldous, however, contended that the presented plan wasn't safe, and that the board needs to see traffic and students statistics before approving a traffic plan.

Aldous recommended flopping the front of the building so it points toward Whiting Avenue, instead of High Street, as it is currently designed.

According to Doe, police and fire officials have supported the district's traffic plan.

But, Andy Lawlor, the chairman of the School Building Rehabilitation Committee, said he wants the school to overlook the community it serves.