Charlevoix’s Bridge Street is a major U.S highway going into downtown Charlevoix. People drive down this highway looking at the Lake Charlevoix and Lake Michigan on both sides of the street when crossing the bridge.  This is where it is 35 miles per hour until motorists go over the hill into downtown Charlevoix. But this also has Charlevoix Middle School within 3 blocks out of town, where some of the 300+ students walk home after school ends at 3:05 in the afternoon.

Last year there was one accident involving a car and two students walking home from school after the day has ended for them. Thankfully no students were hurt in the accident. Because of  this, some school officials moving to get the speed limit changed around the middle school.

                “We are trying to get the speed reduced to 20 miles per hour during school crossing times,” Charlevoix Middle School Principal Travis Garrett said.

                 This grant involves collecting a lot of data from area schools and the community. This data will create a task force made up of town officials, school staff, students, community members and MDOT representation.

According to Garrett, the point of this plan is to ensure the safety of the students around the school. The data they are trying to gather is community surveys, parent surveys, and student surveys that are on line.

Mr. Steve Hopkins seventh grade math class also collected data relevant to the cause. The type of data they collected was monitoring the speed of cars, distracted drivers, and stopping time from different speeds and time actually saved by going over the speed limit.

According to Garrett, the state must approve this grant in order for the school to have the funding to put a light in at this crossing. MDOT has the final say because it is a four- lane highway that I want to make changes too,” Garrett said.

 “Safety is my number one priority,” Garrett added.

                Garrett’s plans for this school crossing is to put in a yellow flashing light and signs posted saying speed limit when lights flashing, and he wants a white crosswalk painted across Bridge Street at Garfield. Recently, some school staff participated in a national walk/bike day. Mr. Garrett did not let his middle school students participate because of the danger he would put his students into.

                “We have crosswalks for golfers at the city course on the way out of town, then why can’t we have one for students to cross to and from school,” said Garrett.

                According to Garret, all over the state of Michigan, there are crosswalks for golfers going across the four-lane highways. The students should get one too. They’re safety is important to all of us all over the country. It is a scary sight to cross four lane highways. I’m sure we all crossed a few crosswalks in our time.

                “I am really excited to see the possibilities of our efforts,” said Garrett.