Roosevelt School's Parking, Traffic, and Drop-off/Pick-up Configurations Modified

Beginning August 19, there will be several adjustments made to the traffic and parking situation at Roosevelt Middle School. Several of these modifications reflect the recommendations approved by the Village in the fall of 2014.

The adjustments to traffic, parking and drop-off/pick-up configurations will improve student safety, reduce traffic congestion near the school, minimize the potential for pedestrian/vehicular accidents, increase the number of dedicated visitor parking spaces during school hours, and establish dedicated parking spaces for school and River Forest Library staff. Key elements of the traffic and parking modifications include:

PARKING MODIFICATIONS

North Parking Lot

· The North Parking Lot will be limited to Roosevelt staff from 8 a.m. – 3:45 p.m. on regular school days.

· On days with after-school events, the East End of the North Parking lot will be limited to school staff from 3:45 p.m. until the end of the event. The West End of the North Parking lot will be open to the public. This change applies to events scheduled for the north gym or multipurpose room.

· The North Parking Lot will be open for public parking on non-school days and after 3:45 p.m. on school days when after-school events are not scheduled.

A driveway barrier with appropriate signage will be erected to help communicate these changes.

Visitor Parking

· Visitors to the area will be able to park for 60 minutes on the north side of the Middle Parking Lot (off of Lathrop Avenue). This adjustment increases the number of short-term visitor parking spaces from four to nine spaces.

· Visitors will be able to park for three hours in designated parking spaces along the east and west sides of Jackson Avenue

Left turns exiting all Roosevelt Parking Lots will be prohibited.

Roosevelt and Library Staff Street Parking

· Oak Avenue will be closed to throughway traffic on school days from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., which will enable Roosevelt and Library staff to park on both sides of Oak Avenue.

· There will be designated parking for Roosevelt and Library staff along the west side of Jackson Avenue.

DROP-OFF/PICK-UP

· Student drop-off/pick-up will be re-routed to designated areas on the west side of Jackson Avenue between Chicago Avenue on the north and Quick Avenue on the south (one way). Crossing guards will be assigned to facilitate student safety in the assigned drop-off/pick-up zones.

· Southbound-only traffic on Jackson Avenue will be extended from Chicago Avenue to Quick Avenue between 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

· Oak Avenue (Jackson Avenue to Lathrop Avenue) will be closed to throughway auto traffic from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.

TRAFFIC ADJUSTMENTS

· From 7:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., only southbound traffic will be allowed on Jackson Avenue between Chicago Avenue and Quick Avenue.

· Oak Avenue (Jackson Avenue to Lathrop Avenue) will be closed to throughway auto traffic from 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. The closing of Oak Avenue from Jackson Avenue to Lathrop Avenue reduces the potential for pedestrian/vehicle accidents and improves traffic flow at these intersections.

“These modifications are intended to address identified concerns about parking, traffic congestion, and pedestrian safety, particularly the safety of our students,” said Roosevelt Principal Larry Garstki. They are specifically designed to minimize student and vehicular conflicts and their potentially disastrous results, he added. District 90 will continue to monitor these changes during the school year with the possibility of making additional modifications as needed to address unforeseen issues that may arise.