The City of Ankeny is working to enhance pedestrian safety by adding two new 15-mph school speed zones with trained adult crossing guards beginning Aug. 23 to serve Heritage Elementary School and St. Luke the Evangelist Catholic School. They are located on SW Prairie Trail Parkway and on NW Weigel Drive near the schools.
Last year, the city established six 15-mph school speed zones, serving six public elementary school crossing crosswalks. There are also three 25-mph school speed zones at school crossing crosswalks on NW Irvinedale Drive, West First Street, and on SE Magazine Road.
The City of Ankeny has also installed four new sets of rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFB’s) in the past week to assist pedestrians and bikers in crossing streets at unsignalized locations. Parents are reminded that parking is not allowed on either side of these streets, and passenger loading and unloading is also not allowed. The new RRFBs are located on:
- SE Shurfine Drive at the High Trestle Trail crossing
- SE Magazine Road at the marked school crosswalk near SE Trilein Drive
- NW Ash Drive at NW Wagner Boulevard
- NW Prairie Ridge Drive at the marked school crosswalk south of the school
The new beacons were recommended in the 2019 High Trestle Trail Crossings and 2022 Elementary School Walkability studies. The city installed four other RRFBs last summer. Drivers are asked use caution near all the schools and follow direction from the school crossing guards at the designated school crosswalks, as well as the special school zone speed limits with flashing beacons.