In June 2017, an IQC team traveled to Guymon, Oklahoma at the invitation of the Texas County TSET Healthy Living Program. During our trip, we talked with community leaders and residents about low-cost improvements that might slow down traffic and make it safer to cross intersections near schools as a pedestrian. You can check out the full report from our trip to Guymon here.
This year, the City of Guymon, Guymon Public Schools, Texas County Health Department, and TSET Healthy Living Program collaborated with community volunteers to implement one of the key recommendations in the report a Curb Extension Pilot Project for intersections near a school.
The IQC team got to see the intersection treatments during a recent trip to Texas County to work in Hooker, Oklahoma, thanks to another invitation from the Texas County TSET Healthy Living Program.
IQC staff demonstrates the dimensions of a crosswalk curb extension in June 2017.
Rendering of interim design curb extensions using paint and flexible posts, from 2017 report.
On August 10, the community partners worked with volunteers to tackle two intersections along 19th Street.
The intersection at North Beaver Street, which forms a main entrance to the Guymon High School parking lot, was stenciled and painted with colorful tiger paws. Kayla Marler, with the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust’s Healthy Living Program and Texas County Health Department, says this project is a demonstration that could be implemented at other school zones as well.
“We’d like to paint paw prints a block out in both directions of our schools that are located in a residential area,” Marler said. “By doing this and educating the public, we are looking to bring awareness to drivers that they are approaching a school and to be extra cautious. (Provided by Texas County Health Department)
The volunteer group also tackled the next intersection to the east, at James Street, by painting temporary curb extensions. The curb extensions at the intersection narrow the crossing distance in the crosswalk from 50 feet to 30 feet.
These temporary pilot projects will be monitored by local groups to help determine if permanent improvements would be welcome at these two key intersections for pedestrian safety.
Photos below are provided by the Texas County Health Department and TSET healthy Living Program.
