After a county study found that between 20 and 25 drivers were making U-turns daily near Joppa View Elementary School, the Department of Public Works has approved a U-turn prohibition at northbound Honeygo Boulevard at Dove Drive in White Marsh, according to a report released Thursday from 5th District Councilman David Marks.
The county studied the number of U-turns at Dove Drive, and found within a 15-minute period after Joppa View began dismissing students for the day beginning at 3:35 p.m. there were scores of U-turns, the release stated.
"The traffic situation at Joppa View Elementary School is complex and difficult to solve," said Marks, who represents Perry Hall, Carney and Towson. "A lot of parents do not put their children on buses for a number of reasons, and this worsens the situation."
The U-turns are made by parents who, after picking up their children, want to head south on Honeygo Boulevard.
Marks said that the prohibition on U-turns came at the request of Tremper Farms homeowners, a development off Honeygo Boulevard north of the school at Dove Drive.
Marks and state Sen. Kathy Klausmeier were notified of the decision in a report they received from DPW Feb. 16.
John Palmer, principal of Joppa View, suggested some reasons that parents drive their children to school.
"Some have day care issues," Palmer said, "Some feel the school buses are not safe."
Palmer said that there already is a "no left turn" sign as parents exit the school.
"I stand up there and everyone goes right" heading north onto Honeygo, he said. "After they make the right, they make their own decision."
Mark said he and other interested parties, including Sen. Klausmeier, Principal Palmer and state Dels. Joe Boteler, Eric Bromwell and John Cluster, "will continue to explore options."
"For now, though, the (Public Works) department did agree that there were enough safety concerns to warrant the U-turn prohibition at Tremper Farms," Marks said.
Signs advertising the prohibition will be erected within the next two weeks, the release stated.
Staff reports