Safer pick-up and drop-off zones for West End established

Ever since West End Elementary moved into Falls High School six years ago, law enforcement officers and school officials have cringed at the student pick-up and drop-off site in front of the WEE entrance on the northwest end of Eleventh Street.

“This has always been a problem because people are coming down that street from four different directions,” said police investigator and school board member Willi Kostiuk.

Kostiuk said it was time to do something about it.

When parents drop off their WEE students after winter break Jan. 3, they will no longer park on Eleventh Street and risk having their children dart out in front of traffic. Instead, they will pull around behind the high school and use the back door facing the playground equipment as the main entrance and exit.

Twenty four parking spaces from the high school’s south parking lot, previously used by faculty and staff, have been designated as a specific pick-up and drop-off zone for parents.

“These spaces don’t sit right on the road to avoid the same problem we are seeing right now,” said Superintendent Jeff Peura.

Kostiuk agreed. “When parents drop their children off in the back, people are using that road knowing it is a school zone, whereas on Eleventh Street, people aren’t always looking for kids who might run out in front of their vehicle. I’ve seen it.”

According to Peura, because West End sits on the third busiest street in International Falls, the school’s ability to provide a safe pick up and drop off zone has been limited.

“We realize this problem and the best answer we can come up with is to provide this new safe zone,” he explained.

Added Kostiuk: “This is an inexpensive solution to this problem.”

Kostiuk has been a key voice in pulling for the resolution of this issue for months. As a school board member, he has expressed his concerns to the board multiple times and says he is relieved to see it finally going through.

“Of course, this won’t solve all of our safety issues, but it will help,” he said.

Over the winter break, temporary barriers will be set up to outline where the drop-off and pick-up area is. Those who continue to park on Eleventh Street will be penalized, warned Kostiuk.

“The police department is passionate about this issue and we will be ticketing those who violate the system,” he said.

He noted that a grace period will be tolerated as is the case with any new traffic arrangement. Warning tickets will be issued for a certain amount of time, but fines and tickets will follow.

Kostiuk reminds the public that the police officers will be strict on this issue.

“As law enforcement, it is our job to keep everyone safe,” he said. “We will really be pushing this.”

“We will continue to monitor this solution and see if there are even more ways we can improve it,” Peura said.

Other changes

Fire lane zones will also be reestablished and more closely patrolled as well.

The fire lanes in front of the arena have been ignored for what Kostiuk said is also too long.

“An emergency vehicle wouldn’t be able to get through with people parking in these zones,” he said.

Peura stressed that these lanes need to be maintained day and night for emergency situations. He feels people have been too lax about parking in these zones.

“There are reasons these areas are designated as fire lanes,” he said. “I spoke with Jerry Jensen, the fire chief, and he agrees that people parking in these restricted zones is hazardous.”

Tickets for parking in these no-parking fire lanes will also be issued if violated.

“We’ve let it go too far without penalty,” Kostiuk said. “It is time for this to stop. As a department, it is our job to enforce this.”