Tyler Thomson calls it “insanity.”
When Thomson and his wife, son and daughter moved to Williamsburg from Minneapolis, Minnesota, the plan was simple.
The Thomson’s new home in Village Square was about a quarter-mile away from Clara Byrd Baker Elementary School, just across Ironbound Road. Bryter, 10, and Lincoln, 8, would walk to school.
But instead of walking five minutes to school every morning, the area’s sidewalks and crosswalks – or lack thereof – forced Bryter and Lincoln to ride the bus.
“I thought it was insanity for my kids to get on a bus for 20 minutes every morning and ride a circuit that went to other neighborhoods when they could just walk to school in five minutes,” Thomson, 46, said.
After several years on the bus, Thomson decided to take action.
Thomson went to the Virginia Department of Transportation, schools and other offices to ask for help, eventually finding Darlene Dockery, the Safe Routes to School program coordinator at Williamsburg-James City County Schools.
With Dockery’s help, a project is now underway.
In November, James City County submitted an application for $361,949 under the Federal Transportation Alternatives Program, which would build sidewalks, pedestrian islands and crosswalks in the area around the elementary school.
The project would include additions to the busy nearby intersection of John Tyler Highway and Ironbound Road.
“I always say I could hit a drive with a 7 iron and hit the school from my house,” Thomson said, referencing a game of golf. “But there’s no safe passage across Ironbound Road.”
Safety first
It may be possible to walk to Clara Byrd Baker, but in most circumstances, it is not safe for children to do alone.
One major factor is the intersection of Ironbound Road and John Tyler Highway, where there are no crosswalks and multi-lane roads, Dockery said.
Outside of the school zone, Ironbound Road is a 45-mph zone.
There are also sidewalks in the area, but some lead to nowhere and others stop at the intersection of Ironbound Road and John Tyler Highway.
The sidewalk that leads from the elementary school toward Thomson’s neighborhood only goes about 50 feet beyond the school’s driveway, he said.
Dockery said five schools are considered pedestrian-friendly, including Matthew Whaley, James River, Norge, Laurel Lane and Berkeley Middle School.
The rest, including Clara Byrd Baker, need some work.
The project application not only proposes sidewalks, crosswalks and pedestrian islands, but also recommends parking lot improvements and a connection to the Powhatan Creek Trail.
A temporary solution
Some Clara Byrd Baker parents haven’t let the situation stop them from walking their children to school, but there is always adult supervision.
“It’s certainly not something the kids could do without an accompanying adult,” Thomson said. “The cars are going way too fast.”
Thomson said his children walk with a group of 8 to ten students. Parents take turns escorting the children to school, stopping traffic and making sure students stick together.
“Now it’s almost like a walking carpool,” Dockery said.
Thomson said his children starting walking to school this September through an initiative created by Dockery.
Every morning, students who walk to school get marks on their punch cards. At the end of each month, Dockery hands out prizes to those who have punches, Thomson said.
Walking to school is healthy – and Dockery wants to emphasize that.
But Clara Byrd Baker’s lack of crosswalks means the children cannot stay safe without an adult.
What now?
County planner Tammy Rosario said she had “high hopes” the project will receive funding.
“We’re eager to do things to benefit the community,” Rosario said.
The proposed project does not have final site plans yet – and won’t unless it receives funding – but will add crosswalks, sidewalks and pedestrian islands to the area.
The application asks for $361,949, but requires a 20 percent match from the locality, bringing the project cost to $452,436.
While the school is required to pay a 20 percent match for the grant to finish the project, only about $19,000 will come from the Williamsburg-James City County Schools’ capital improvement funds, according to the project application.
The remainder of the match – about $71,000 – will be paid for by James City County, county planner Roberta Sulouff said.
Planners and the school division will find out if they’ve received funding in early spring, Sulouff said.
For Thomson, he holds out hope the project could foster his children’s independence.
“I would love for my kids to be able to walk to school without adults, and walk home on their own as well,” Thomson said.
Fearing can be reached at [email protected].
