Should there be traffic signals at State High’s main intersection? Safety concerns prompt study

Following student complaints about safety, State College Area School District will conduct a traffic light study at State High School’s main intersection with Westerly Parkway.

The board unanimously approved a motion during its meeting on Monday to split the costs of the traffic study with the State College Borough. Board President Amber Concepcion was absent from the vote as she was at the State College Borough Council meeting to discuss another district matter.

“For student drivers, it’s very important that the intersection be simple to navigate,” said board vice-president Amy Bader.

The district will pay $9,950 to Stahl Sheaffer Engineering, with the borough covering the remaining $4,975.

The project will include turning movements, traffic analysis, construction plans and permit plans, according to the motion. The suggested solution is to add a traffic signal to each existing turning lane so students can turn out of and into both campuses from Westerly Parkway.

The proposal comes after several students raised concerns about the ability to turn out of the school during peak traffic times.

“It was just student after student after student ... talked about this,” said board member Gretchen Brandt. “They told me they had written a petition, they seem very well organized. Any time I hear students say ‘well, what we say doesn’t matter,’ well this is now on the agenda, so thank you to those students and know your voices really do matter.”