The Northfield School District has been hearing complaints from both the public and the city about problematic traffic outside some of the
schools at drop off and pick-up times. Today, in an effort to mitigate some of those problems outside of Bridgewater Elementary, the district is reversing the flow of traffic into and out of the school’s parking lot.
Traffic will be directed to enter the school parking lot from Highway 246 at the entrance south of the Jefferson Parkway roundabout. Upon exiting, the traffic will be directed eastbound onto Jefferson Parkway. Those wishing to go west on Jefferson will follow the road around the roundabout until they are moving in the right direction.
Once inside the school parking lot, the drop off and pick up lane will remain in the same location.
Officials with the district have studied the issue closely with members of the city engineering department and Northfield Police, and they believe that this will open what has been a regularly congested area. Police Chief M ark Elliott said, in fact, that the re-direct could nearly triple the stacking space on the school property and should help the Jefferson Parkway traffic to flow much easier.
Chief Elliot said, the school staff has done all they can to help with the problem up to this point, but it had become necessary to find a better solution.
“We’ve been appreciative of the extra efforts that the school’s staff has been making. They have staff out there, teachers, making sure they’re getting those students into the cars quick as they can as the parents pull up. But, we feel if we make the switch in the traffic flow, it’s going to really help get some of that traffic off the roadway and allow other traffic to flow freely in that area.
Northfield Police will be on hand this week, as will Bridgewater staff, at both drop off and pick up times to assist in the transition. The city has created videos in English and Spanish describing the new changes and mapping out the new route. It can be found on YouTube by searching for “Traffic Change for Bridgewater Elementary School.” Those with further questions can call the City Engineering Department at 507-645-3020.
Jeff Johnson’s full conversation with Northfield Chief of Police Mark Elliott can be heard here
ReCharge event showcases electric vehicles
ReCharge Northfield, the electric Vehicle showcase held in the parking lot of Greenvale Park Elementary School on Saturday morning, was declared a rousing success by the organizers, and plans are underway to make it an annual event.
More than 200 people visited the event on Saturday morning for the opportunity to learn about and test drive electric vehicles. Representatives from EV manufacturers Tesla and Polestar were on hand with three vehicles for the public to try out. One Tesla representative said the wait list to drive one of their two vehicles was longer than the time they had available to offer the test drives.
About a dozen local electric vehicles were on display as well, and their owners were on hand to discuss the ins and outs of owning one. Wendy Sivanich, who has owned a Tesla Model 3 for about two years, said that there can be challenges to owning an electric vehicle in Minnesota, particularly in the colder months when the batteries can be a little less efficient. But she said, there are increasingly more charging stations coming online across the state, and that has made things much easier. And Kirk Brown of ReCharge America, one of the organizers of the event, pointed out that more than half of all vehicles sold in Norway, with a climate at least as cold as Minnesota’s, are electric.
Several vendors and energy stakeholders were on hand to discuss various aspects of the growing industry. Greg Neis, who owns Farmstead Bikeshop, was showing a selection of electric assisted bicycles said he was very pleasantly surprised by the attendance at the event.
“This just reinforces our decision to come to Northfield. To see the commitment to a green economy in this community is a little overwhelming.”
Northfield Shares’ program coordinator Carrie Carroll said she was very happy with the outturn as well, for a number of reasons. Two of the events funders, The Olseth Family Foundation and the Schmidtke Family Foundation, each contributed $5000 to a new Environmental Fund created by Northfield Shares, and a local donor matched that. Caroll said it was very exciting to begin a fund with $15,000 in donations.
Mayor Rhonda Pownell was impressed with the event as well and suggested that next year it be moved downtown, and happen earlier in the year, to take advantage of the foot traffic on a late-summer or early fall Saturday.
Carroll said the event will definitely take place again next year.
Our conversation with Kirk Brown and John Olseth of ReCharge America can be heard here
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Rich Larson is the KYMN News Director. Contact him at rich@kymnradio.net
