During the week leading up to Christmas break, crews were seen putting the final touches on a brand new mid-block crosswalk (with flashing beacons) on Wiregrass School Rd., directly in front of Wiregrass Ranch High (WRH), to the surprise of both parents and staff, who had no idea it was coming, or who was even installing it,….and it went up quick!
It was like a surprise Christmas gift from a secret Santa had just appeared at the school’s doorsteps, literally.
At the beginning of this 2024-25 school year, WRH principal Robyn White had sent an email out to parents about her concerns with students crossing mid-block, in order to get to the 7-Eleven on the other side of the road:
“We need your help. I have noticed in the [morning], but more so in the afternoon, that students are crossing the road in front of traffic by the 7-Eleven. Please encourage your child, if they are a walker or bike rider, to use the crosswalk [at the signal] at Mansfield Blvd. The last thing any of us wants to see is a student get hit by a car or a bus. They think they are invincible and don’t hesitate to walk in front of moving vehicles and, as a parent, it is scary for me to watch. I appreciate your assistance as you discuss this safety concern with your children.”
Since the 7-Eleven gas station opened in 2022, it’s been a very popular place for WRH students to grab a drink or a snack, as it is conveniently located just outside the school.
But, the gas station was on the opposite side of Wiregrass School Rd. from the school, so students would just find gaps in the school traffic wherever they could, to cross anywhere from the sidewalk leaving the school property. There was no “designated” place to cross, except at the traffic signal, which was about 350 feet out of the way, and kids tend to take the shortest path possible.
This new mid-block crosswalk is positioned perfectly to help with the problem, providing a well-marked and well-lit consolidated crossing point, located off the southern corner of the gas station, just outside the front gate for the school.
The question on the minds of many residents and school administrators was, “How did it get there?” White and other staff members said they had no idea, since the new crosswalk was installed just outside of the school’s property.
A keen eye would notice that the new sidewalk ramps for the crosswalk connect with the new sidewalk that was just laid around the property for the recently constructed Bay Paws Pet Resort (blue building in photo). Mallory White, the new Wesley Chapel Bay Paws manager (who previously was at the Trinity location), explained that Bay Paws provided the new crosswalk.
“It was something that the county required, so our contractor worked with them on it over two weeks [to complete the crosswalk].”
White also said that the crosswalk was one of the final steps in the Bay Paws site construction permit requirements, so the pet boarding facility could receive its Certificate of Occupancy (CO) to open, which she says she hopes will be by the time this issue reaches your mailbox.
Over the past couple of years, Pasco County officials have been focusing even more on pedestrian safety and connectivity, with effective sidewalk networks, with all new construction permits. This new crosswalk is equipped with Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacons (RRFBs) which are activated by a push button on either side of the street, similar to the ones recently installed on Mansfield Blvd and on County Line Rd in Meadow Pointe.
There is no button in the median because the flashing sequence gives ample time to cross both sides of the street. The push button makes a loud chirp when pressed to let the pedestrian know that the flashing beacons have been activated.