[trafficsafety] Transportation and education

Mr. Cook;
I would like to relate to you a story which closely affects Cleveland
High School. Last night I attended the transportation meeting being
held at Cleveland regarding SE Powell Blvd. I travel past Cleveland HS
every day on my way to work. I see numerous frightening situations and
have made multiple comments to ODOT regarding this. Several parents
were at the meeting and dozens of comments were made regarding the
horrible safety record of Powell Blvd. One aspect which caught my
interest was a parent who mentioned that there was no school zone
enforcement at Powell for her neighborhood in the 70s. She was told
that the only way to create a school zone is if the principal writes a
letter to the city on school letterhead and requests one. Imagine what
would happen now, if the principals of all schools near Powell Blvd
collectively wrote to the city and demanded that Powell Blvd be made
less dangerous for the children going to school. This should include:
Saint Ignatius
Creston School
Franklin High School
Kellog School
Saint Anthony's
Boyles School
Luther School
It's unbelievable to me that we can allow 40-50mph vehicles to be
driving down the street within one or two blocks of a school Our
children deserve better than this. In addition there are several
studies attesting to the likelihood of traffic noise affecting the
learning ability and physical health of children.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/1220154.stm
"In a study commissioned by the Austrian Ministry of Health, it was
found the noisier the neighborhood, the higher the children's blood
pressure, heart rate and level of stress hormones.
The study suggests that a child's "motivation" could also suffer from
prolonged exposure to noise."
Taking a strong stance against the dangers of traffic is difficult, but
we cannot shy away from the plight affecting millions of young people
everywhere. You and I can start the process of taming Powell Blvd and
return peace to Southeast Portland.

--
Aaron Tarfman
Transportation Diplomat
www.yourbodypower.org/children.htm

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