Prince William Parkway speed restriction urged for new elementary school

WOODBRIDGE — School officials want to send a message to drivers on Prince William Parkway: Slow down.

This fall, the new John D. Jenkins Elementary School will open, located near the busy intersection of the parkway and Hillendale Drive, where a Sheetz gas station sits.

In a unanimous vote on Wednesday, the School Board will request the Virginia Department of Transportation and Prince William County transportation officials to install speed limit signs, creating a school speed zone. Drivers would have to travel 35 mph when passing the school weekdays 30 minutes before the school day begins and 30 minutes after school dismisses.

For Neabsco District School Board member Diane Raulston, 35 mph is not enough.

“We need to drop it lower, down to 30 mph,” she said. “There are little bitty kids, and we’ve got to be careful.”

A crosswalk will be installed on the parkway in front of the school, however, no children attending the school will use it. All will be bussed in, a school official told the School Board.

A similar school speed zone was created for Charles J. Colgan Senior High School on Route 234 near Independent Hill. There, traffic speeds are reduced 10 mph to 35 mph when yellow lights on the speed limit signs are flashing on weekday mornings and afternoons.

VDOT has the final say on what speed zones can be created and, and where they can exist.