MAYOR CANTRELL SIGNS ORDINANCE EXPANDING SCHOOL ZONE PROTECTIONS TO HIGH SCHOOLS
NEW ORLEANS — Mayor LaToya Cantrell today signed an ordinance expanding school zone eligibility to include high schools, going from the existing grades K - 7 to now grades K - 12. This will allow for the installation of signage, designated crosswalks, street striping, and other traffic control devices at all elementary and secondary schools in the city.
“Public safety, specifically the safety of our children prompted my administration to request this ordinance,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “Unfortunately, we have seen an uptick in traffic incidents and fatalities around our city. The City of New Orleans is taking bold action to remain proactive to ensure these incidents do not occur at or near our educational institutions. Every student, regardless of whether they are in elementary, middle, or high school deserves equitable safe access to and from school. I’d like to remind all drivers to please be mindful on our streets, share them with cyclists and pedestrians, and take extra precautions when traveling through school zones."
Prior to this change, the existing ordinance only covered elementary and middle schools, grades K – 7, as designated school zones. By expanding school zone eligibility to include high schools, grade 8 – 12, an additional 41 schools and their students will have the protection of school zones.
“Consistency is a key component of safety,” said Asya M. Howlette, Director of Office of Youth and Families. “All members of the New Orleans community deserve the clarity of knowing that all students, no matter what school they attend, will be offered the same quality of care and attention as they attend school each day. Safe streets matter and our students deserve them.”
“The expansion of schools zones to more schools is a big step forward for the City of New Orleans," said Sarah M. Porteous, Acting Department of Public Works (DPW) Director. "DPW is already working with schools and neighborhoods to ensure that school zone signage is installed, replaced or moved to accommodate this ordinance change. We look forward to a more equitable approach to school safety as well as to providing future updates on our progress. “
According to a traffic incident analysis from 2017 – 2021, which focused only on incidents that occurred during school zone hours throughout the academic year, there were 6,532 crashes near New Orleans schools. Of these incidents:
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206 involved students ages 18 or younger
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Five out of six fatal crashes happened near high schools
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More than half of those with severe injuries happened near high schools
“These ordinance revisions are designed to protect all of our children and pedestrians from traffic injuries and fatalities through consistent speed limits within school zones,” said Dr. Jennifer Avegno, Director of New Orleans Health Department. “Schools should be safe places in our neighborhood for kids and families to travel by all modes of transportation."
“I am pleased to sponsor this ordinance that adds high schools, grades 8 - 12, to the existing list of schools that protect their students, with enhanced safety markings and signage and lighting near the schools,” said Councilmember Eugene Green, Chair of the Transportation Committee. “All schools will now have signage and markers that note appropriate speed limits and clearly notify drivers of the need to be more cautious. Some streetlights will also be installed. This is a necessary investment in the protection that all youth attending school deserve, to ensure their safe arrivals and departures from school. I commend the Cantrell Administration and the Department of Public Works for their commitment to increasing pedestrian safety at all our schools. As the City Council Transportation Committee Chairman, I look forward to continuing work with the Mayor and my fellow Council members to increase road safety for pedestrians and drivers.”
DPW anticipates the full implementation of this new ordinance by the start of 2024 – 2025 academic year.
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