School Safety Zone established in Brown Deer

The Brown Deer Village Board took the first step tonight to enhance pedestrian safety around its 42-acre school district campus following two car-pedestrian accidents on North 60th Street since the first of the year. Two students were injured in the accidents. Both were crossing in the crosswalks when struck. One student received minor injuries but the other student required hospitalization and surgeries.

The board approved a School Safety Zone which starts 300 feet from the campus property lines. Once signs indicating the safety zone are in place, higher fines for traffic violations will be in place. Tickets double in the safety zone, with a typical $114 speeding ticket costing an offender $228.

The board also reviewed a list of other improvements suggested by the Traffic and Public Safety Committee but at the suggestion of Trustee Bob Oates decided to hold a public information meeting on them. Oates, who lives in the subdivision across 60th Street from the district campus, said some of his neighbors want to know the plans and would like to have some input on them.

Trustee Terry Boschert said pedestrian safety-training program for students should be implemented as soon as possible. Parents and other residents would likely also be invited to the program.

Other recommendations include making Tower Avenue a one-way street east bound from North 61st to North 60th streets and eventually closing Tower, ending it in a cul-de-sac on the west at 60th Street.

Other recommendations include removing the crosswalk at West Fairlane Avenue and 60th Street and the bus stops at Tower and Fairlane avenues and 60th Street.

The public information meeting will be held later in April. The School District has offered to provide a meeting space for it in anticipation of a large crowd.