Latrobe tries parking restrictions near elementary school

Parking restriction signs soon will go up as part of an effort to help ease traffic concerns at Latrobe Elementary School.

City council approved a trial that will prohibit parking on the south side of Cherry Street for the block between Ligonier and Pine streets, and on the north side of Cherry, from Ligonier to an unnamed alley. On the opposite side of the school, where students who arrive by car are supposed to be dropped off, parking will be off-limits on the north side of Cedar Street from Ligonier to Lincoln Avenue.

The no-parking zones will be in effect only on weekdays — from 8:30 t0 9:30 a.m., when students arrive at the school, and from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., when they depart.

The restrictions should help alleviate parking tie-ups on Cherry that have been made worse by some parents who have circumvented the school’s drop-off plan, police Chief John Sleasman said. Since the school opened in December, police have observed the traffic issues while helping school officials and crossing guards control arriving students and vehicles.

“We’re trying to stop parents from pulling in (along Cherry), parking, getting out of their vehicles and walking their children to the school,” Sleasman said. “They just need to simply pull in there, stop, let their children out and go on their way. That would free up a lot of traffic.”

The school entrance on Cedar has been designated for students who arrive by a vehicle other than a school bus. Cars line up in the parking lot and all come to a stop before students exit the vehicles and enter the school.

Despite the parking restriction on Cedar, cars dropping off students still will be able to queue along the north side of that street as they wait to enter the parking lot, Sleasman said.

Councilman Ralph Jenko wondered if parents who want to drop off students along Cherry may react to the parking ban by claiming a spot on the north side of the street, which is lined with homes.

“With our continued presence there, to move them along, I don’t see that as an issue,” Sleasman said.

When students arrive, he noted, many neighboring residents are still at home and occupy adjacent parking spaces.

The parking ban should affect few of those residents, Sleasman said.

“It would affect one vehicle that routinely parks in the same spot every day on the northern side of Cherry,” he said. “On the southern side of Cherry, which is closest to the school, it would affect no one.”

The parking restrictions will be in effect on a trial basis through July 8, when council may consider making them permanent through an ordinance.

“We’ll see how it works out for 90 days and get some feedback from the residents, the school, our guys who are out there — the fire police and the crossing guards,” Sleasman said.

As for enforcing the parking restrictions, he said, “Initially, it will be awareness and a warning. After we determine a reasonable amount of time has passed, then it would result in parking tickets.”

He said school officials are expected to issue a letter to alert parents to the new parking restrictions.

Based on a recent traffic study, the city also is considering steps to enhance the safety of students who walk to school — placing crosswalks on Lincoln and Ligonier, where they intersect Cherry, and establishing a school zone with a reduced 15 mph speed limit during student arrival and departure times.