DATE: Sunday, November 9, 1997              TAG: 9711090054

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B8   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: BY NANCY YOUNG, STAFF WRITER 

DATELINE: CHESAPEAKE                        LENGTH:   52 lines

RUSH IS ON TO REDUCE SPEED LIMIT ON ROAD NEAR CHESAPEAKE SCHOOL

As far as Karen Warren knows, there never has been an accident in front of Butts Road Intermediate School.

But she and other parents look at Mount Pleasant Road, where cars whiz by, and see potential accidents.

``All of our buses that leave make a left-hand turn; if someone wasn't paying attention, I'd hate to think what would happen,'' said Warren, PTA president.

Although the school was built in 1991, new housing developments have led to increased traffic along the two-lane road and made the absence of a reduced-speed zone glaring, Warren said.

She said parents think such a zone might allay their concerns. At the start of the school year, the PTA asked the city to erect such a sign.

City traffic engineer Bernie Whitlock said the signs aren't necessary, particularly because students don't cross or walk along Mount Pleasant.

``It functions fine like it is,'' he said. ``It's an excellent site situation. It's set up very well, with turning lanes and good visibility in all directions.''

Whitlock said the city isn't required to have reduced-speed zones near schools. The only required signs are the yellow pentagon signs showing two children walking.

Still, parents in the area and the principal at nearby Mount Pleasant Christian School think a reduced-speed zone could decrease the risk of an accident involving children.

``What we'd like to do is get the speed reduced farther up (going toward Virginia Beach) where it's 55,'' said Kathy Silsley, principal at Mount Pleasant Christian School. Silsley believes that if motorists are warned to slow down earlier, they're less likely to speed near the school.

``The traffic in the morning is horrendous,'' said Candy Hudgins, treasurer of Butts Road Intermediate's PTA. ``We're not asking for a crossing guard because we know we don't need one, and we're not asking for reduced speed all the time, just for when the buses arrive in the morning and leave in the afternoon.''

And while arrival and dismissal have gone smoothly, the school's principal, R. Marc Rittman, said he supports the PTA in its effort to get the signs.

``If nothing else, it raises awareness for the public that school is letting out,'' Rittman said. ILLUSTRATION: Photo

D. KEVIN ELLIOTT, The Virginian-Pilot

School buses wait to turn left onto Mount Pleasant Road from Butts

Road Intermediate School. Some people say reduced speed limits would

cut potential risk on Mount Pleasant Road. But a city traffic

engineer says signs aren't necessary.

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