As Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools (MNPS) students head back from summer break, the Nashville Department of Transportation and Multimodal Infrastructure (NDOT) is announcing the completion of 15 school zone safety projects throughout the city. The work began in late-May of this year and concluded shortly before school resumed in Davidson County yesterday.
The projects improve the visibility of crossings and aim to reduce speeding by reinforcing to drivers that they’re traveling through a school zone. The initiative was a result of discussions between various Metro departments and Metropolitan Nashville Council Members to establish more uniform traffic control at city schools. The program was funded through the June 2023 Surplus Budget.
“By making our school zones more visible and consistent across the city, motorists will have no doubt they are in a school zone and need to reduce their speed and pay close attention for students, faculty, crossing guards, and other pedestrians in the school zone,” said Mayor Freddie O’Connell. “Keeping kids safe in the school zone is a responsibility we all share, so I encourage motorists to be a part of increasing safety for kids in the school zone by staying alert, avoiding distractions behind the wheel, and giving yourself plenty of time to get where you’re going so it’s easy to honor the school zone speed limit.”
The school zone improvements consist of standardized sets of "SLOW SCHOOL ZONE" pavement striping, radar feedback signs displaying driver speeds, flashing "School Zone" beacons, and enhanced speed limit signage.
Locations for school zone improvements were chosen based on proximity to Nashville’s Vision Zero high injury network of deadliest streets and prioritized in compliance with the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Justice40 Initiative, which addresses underinvestment in disadvantaged communities.
“Every life in our city is important, and school age children are some of our most vulnerable road users,” said NDOT Director Diana Alarcon. “We’re always looking for ways to make our roads safer in an effort to achieve our Vision Zero goal of zero preventable deaths and injuries on Nashville streets.”
In addition to the 15 completed projects, NDOT has 37 other locations planned for improvements. These school zones will be upgraded on an ongoing basis, with most installations expected during times when school is out of session. The length of school zones and their timings are determined by each school to serve its unique circumstances. NDOT hopes to continue enhancing safety near MNPS schools on an ongoing basis.
“Making it safe and easy for our youngest and most vulnerable passengers, walkers, and cyclists to get to school is of paramount importance to NDOT, and we know that improving safety for students stands to benefit all road users,” said NDOT Engineer Chris Augustinos. “These measures are expected to reduce driver speeds in school zones and provide attention-directing cues for drivers where pedestrians are expected to cross the street,” he added.
To report a non-emergency issue affecting a Metro Nashville street, visit hub.nashville.gov
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