Safety changes proposed for Decatur’s Scott Blvd.

Decatur’s commission received a joint resolution Tuesday night created by a Westchester Elementary safety committee suggesting improvements for Scott Boulevard, which runs in front of the school. The same resolution was presented last week to the city’s school board, which will likely approve the document during its March 8 meeting.

Scott has been subject to increased scrutiny, particularly since last spring when a Lakeside High teacher was killed in traffic accident at Scott and Ridley Circle. Scott has Decatur’s fastest posted speed limit at 40 mph, and motorists receive far more tickets on it than any other city road.

The essential dilemma for the city and the Georgia Department of Transportation is that while Scott traverses a residential district for roughly 1.5 miles, it is also a state road linking Interstate 285 with downtown Atlanta.

The Westchester resolution calls for wider sidewalks, more standing room beside the sidewalks and more mid-block crosswalks along the residential corridor between Coventry Road and Clairmont Road.

“We’re asking for [GDOT] to come to the table,” said Rachel Cogburn, who’s on the school’s safety committee. “We have a change.org petition with 1200 signatures, proving this is a concern not just for our students but the community at large.”