PSMS 278

traffic letters double park concerns.docx

April 17, 2019

Dear Parents,

I am writing to address a safety concern affecting our school community. During morning and afternoon drop-off and pick-up W219th and W220th Streets become extremely congested. While we are a zoned school, the peculiarity of our location at the edge of our zones means that we have a substantial number of students who come by bus or car in addition to heavy pedestrian traffic. This combination is jeopardized by the presence of double parked cars.

Double parked cars to drop-off or pickup students impede on the safety of many. Traffic going around the standing cars blocks oncoming traffic in the other direction, which may also be trying to navigate around standing vehicles. Stand-offs ensue until one party yields. Adding school buses to the mix brings traffic to a complete standstill on these blocks during these periods, even after the bus has finished unloading or loading due to oncoming double-parked traffic now blocking its route. Although a school zone, honking often ensues and traffic backs up into Broadway. Additionally, often when drivers see the stopped school bus or any kind of temporary traffic jam ahead, they often perform three point turns on the street to reverse direction. This is hazardous to those walking on the sidewalks or crossing the streets.

I have consulted with our Borough Safety Director Frank Jordan regarding this matter. He has informed me that starting Monday April 29, 2019 the New York Police Department will begin enforcing violations towards double parked and unauthorized parked cars on W219th and W220th Streets. Violating cars will be ticketed and possibly towed.

I know we all want what is best for our children and recognize the priority of safety above all others. I hope I can count on you to do your part to address this concern. Thank you in advance for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Lillian Reyes

Principal

MESSAGE FROM OUR PRINCIPAL

Dear Parents,

I am writing to address a safety concern affecting our school community. During morning and afternoon drop-off and pick-up W219th and W220th Streets become extremely congested. While we are a zoned school, the peculiarity of our location at the edge of our zones means that we have a substantial number of students who come by bus or car in addition to heavy pedestrian traffic. This combination is jeopardized by the presence of double parked cars.

Double parked cars to drop-off or pickup students impede on the safety of many. Traffic going around the standing cars blocks oncoming traffic in the other direction, which may also be trying to navigate around standing vehicles. Stand-offs ensue until one party yields. Adding school buses to the mix brings traffic to a complete standstill on these blocks during these periods, even after the bus has finished unloading or loading due to oncoming double-parked traffic now blocking its route. Although a school zone, honking often ensues and traffic backs up into Broadway. Additionally, often when drivers see the stopped school bus or any kind of temporary traffic jam ahead, they often perform three point turns on the street to reverse direction. This is hazardous to those walking on the sidewalks or crossing the streets.

I have consulted with our Borough Safety Director Frank Jordan regarding this matter. He has informed me that starting Monday April 29, 2019 the New York Police Department will begin enforcing violations towards double parked and unauthorized parked cars on W219th and W220th Streets. Violating cars will be ticketed and possibly towed.

I know we all want what is best for our children and recognize the priority of safety above all others. I hope I can count on you to do your part to address this concern. Thank you in advance for your continued support.

Sincerely,

Lillian Reyes

Principal

17 de abril de 2019

Queridos padres,

Estoy escribiendo para informales de una preocupación de seguridad que afecta a nuestra comunidad escolar. Durante la mañana y la tarde, las paradas W 219 y W 220 se vuelven extremadamente congestionadas. Ya que  somos una escuela zonal, la peculiaridad de nuestra ubicación en el borde de nuestras zonas significa que tenemos un número considerable de estudiantes que vienen en autobús o en automóvil, además del tráfico peatonal. Esta combinación se ve comprometida por la presencia de carros  doble estacionado.

Los autos estacionados en doble fila para dejar o recoger estudiantes impiden la seguridad de muchos.  Los carros que giran alrededor de los autos estacionados bloquea el tráfico que viene en la otra dirección, los que también puede estar tratando de navegar alrededor de los vehículos estacionados. Los enfrentamientos se producen hasta que una de las partes cede. Agregar los autobuses escolares a la mezcla hace que el tráfico se detenga por completo en estos bloques durante estos períodos. Incluso después de que el autobús haya terminado de descargarse o cargarse debido a que el tráfico de doble estacionamiento que se aproxima ahora está bloqueando su ruta. Aunque se trata de una zona escolar, a menudo se produce un toque de bocina y el tráfico llega hasta  Broadway. Además, a menudo, cuando los conductores ven el autobús escolar detenido o cualquier tipo de atraso de tráfico temporal por delante, realizan giros de tres puntos en la calle para cambiar de dirección. Esto es peligroso para quienes caminan en las acera o cruzan las calles.

He consultado con nuestro Director de Seguridad del Condado, Frank Jordan, sobre este asunto. Me informó que a partir del lunes 29 de abril de 2019, el Departamento de Policía de Nueva York comenzará a imponer violaciones  contra los autos que estén estacionados  en doublé fila y no estén autorizados, en las calles W219th y W220th. Los carros violando las reglas se les darán una multa  y posiblemente serán remolcados.

Sé que todos queremos lo mejor para nuestros niños y reconocemos la prioridad de la seguridad por encima de todos los demás. Espero poder contar con ustedes y trabajar juntos en este asunto y  preocupación.

Gracias de antemano por su continuo apoyo.

Sinceramente,

Lillian Reyes

Directora

Below are a couple links to videos that explain certain aspects of the high school process.  Also, the school will be in touch soon regarding 278’s Annual High School Fair as well as two other training/informational sessions regarding the high school process.

Remember to check Jupiter often for messages and announcements!

Dr. Mateo and the 278 Staff are dedicated to helping us and our children through this process!  Feel free to reach out to Dr. Mateo if you have any questions.  Her e-mail address is:  Mateo Amina (06M278)” <AMateo4@schools.nyc.gov>, but she loves phone calls as well.  The number is:  917-521-2060.  Call and set up an appointment!

1)    How Students Get Offers to New York City Public Schools

https://vimeo.com/288796889

2)      Middle and High School Admissions: How Students Get Offers to Screened Schools

https://vimeo.com/288797789

All parents of children born in 2013 can now register for Kindergarten using this website: http://schools.nyc.gov/ChoicesEnrollment/Elementary/kindergarten.html

We hope you choose to join our community at PSMS278.

PS/MS 278 School Wellness Council Upcoming Events:

Thursday, November 2 at 8:15am at Allen Hospital

“FOOD and MOOD” discussion

Walk and Talk: come learn and practice English or Spanish through conversation while walking with fellow parents and caregivers  

Every Friday 8:10AM

meet in front of the school on 219th street

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PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR NEXT MONTHLY SCHOOL WELLNESS COUNCIL MEETING:  

Tuesday November 13, 2017 @ 2:30-3:30 Room 209

Parents, teachers, students all welcome to join

Parents who attended the Mon, Sept 11 CB12 Transportation Committee meeting reported back to the membership during the Sept 20th PTA Meeting. 

The Car Wash showed up with a traffic expert and a lawyer and declared “the school was the problem.” Further consideration for the proposal will be considered at next month’s meeting. Please mark Monday, October 2nd at 7 pm in your calendar at 530 West 166th Street, 6th Floor. We should show our support for the existing proposal being considered to change traffic patterns surrounding our school. 

Background 

For the last couple years, a group of school parents has been trying to get DOT to do something about the streets around the school. While we did improve the light timing at 220th a while back, 219th and 220th streets continue to be a mess during drop-off and pick-up. With the support of the principals of PS 18 and PS278, we requested that DOT change 219th and 220th to one-way streets, in order to better deal with the rampant double-parking that clogs the streets in both directions and causing much unnecessary horn honking, U turns and other unsafe conditions. We also asked for speed bumps and a signal at 219th. Double parking on each side with a single one-way travel lane in the middle will work better than double parking on each side with one travel lane being fought over by cars going in opposing directions.

DOT looked at the situation and said “you’re right, this is silly, every other side street in residential Inwood is one-way so this should be too, we agree.” But then the Car Wash went ballistic over the minor change to their oil-change queue (they line up on W220th headed west and use it as parking for waiting oil-change customers), and they did a full-court press on DOT with lawyers, employees, etc. crying how important and great the car wash was and how they help the police and the hospital and provide jobs and that they should not only not go to one-way but they should remove parking for extra car wash queuing space. Because of course the #1 traffic jam creator in upper Manhattan after La Marina and PJs should be treated with kid gloves instead of, say, the 900 actual kids impacted by dangerous street conditions and stuck sitting on buses.  

So DOT spent the last summer doing more studies and revising their proposal. It consists of one way streets, the elimination of some parking spots and designated parking for our school teachers. 

If any parents are interested in this situation and would like to see one-way streets enacted, please attend this meeting if you can. The car wash is sure to be present and the community board will be pressured by them if they are the only ones in the room.