Gwinnett to use state funds to improve school safety
Gwinnett County commissioners took a step Tuesday on a plan that they hope will improve safety for students across the county.
Commissioners agreed to accept $489,578 in state funds to upgrade all flashing school beacons throughout Gwinnett. School beacons are the signs with flashing yellow lights that warn motorists of slower speed limits near a school.
The money is from a state transportation department Local Maintenance and Improvement Grant. The county government will spend $209,819 on the project that will be funded by a 1-percent Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax.
The existing beacons were installed in 1999, and the software used to control them is not compatible with current operating systems. Commissioners voted in May to hire a company called Temple to upgrade that software to allow two-way communication between Gwinnett's Traffic Control Center and the beacons.
About the Author
Eric Stirgus joined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution in 2001. He currently writes about higher education and has assisted in the newsroom’s COVID-19 vaccine coverage. Born and raised in Brooklyn, N.Y., Eric is active in the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists and the Education Writers Association and enjoys mentoring aspiring journalists.
