Parking is already in high demand near William Ramsay Elementary School. A change (page 12) coming to the nearby Sanger Avenue could make parking even more scarce, but the tradeoff is making it safer to walk to school.
The plan is to extend the curbs near William Ramsay Elementary School and, in the process, remove three parking spaces. The staff report said that “parking is permitted along Sanger Avenue and there is a high-demand for parking throughout the day.”
The trade-off, though, is safer crosswalks approaching the school and the adjacent William Ramsay Recreation Center.
According to a docket item at the Traffic and Parking Board:
To make it easier and safer for people to access the school and recreation center from the apartments and on street parking spaces across Sanger Avenue, the William Ramsay SRTS Project proposes enhancing three existing crosswalks.
- The crosswalk near the Recreation Center entrance will be replaced with a raised crosswalk and concrete curb extensions. To accommodate this improvement, two parking spaces need to be removed, one on either side of Sanger Avenue.
- Painted Curb extensions will be added at the intersection of Sanger Avenue and Derby Court, requiring the removal of one parking space on the school side of Sanger Avenue.
- Another painted curb extension will be installed at the school parking lot crosswalk, without removing parking.
Designs were completed back in 2022. The docket item said work is expected to finish before the 2024-2025 school year begins in August.
A letter from William Ramsay Elementary School Principal Michael Routhouska endorsed the plan.
“The curb extensions requiring the removal of three parking spaces along Sanger Avenue is a small price to pay for safety and will undoubtably create a safer and more accessible environment for our students,” Routhouska said. “The safer routes, a result of your dedicated work, will not only promote the health and well-being of our students but also provide a sense of security for parents and guardians. We deeply value the City’s recognition of the significance of these improvements and its unwavering commitment to the safety of our young people.”
