Action News Jax Investigates: Crosswalk concerns in front of River City Science Academy

Action News Jax is getting answers and action after parents came to us about an unsafe walk to school.

The River City Science Academy is on a busy stretch of Beach Boulevard. With no quicker alternative students are sacrificing safety and ignoring the closest crosswalk.

“Just last week a little girl ran out and someone had to slam on their brakes when the light was green and she was just walking and not paying attention,” said parent Abbie Johnson.

The crosswalk is at Parental Home Road. It's only a few hundred feet from the charter school but that crosswalk does not have a crossing guard.

“Put a crossing guard out there. Like any other school,” said Johnson.

But the Florida Department of Transportation, which manages Beach Boulevard, said there are other pedestrians and bicyclists not using the signals and crosswalks as well.

FDOT is recommending the school add a crossing guard, coordinating with the school's consultant on how to improve traffic flow issues and evaluating how feasible it would be to build a barrier down the center of Beach Boulevard to discourage jaywalkers.

Stepbrothers Elijah Elmore and Jared Norris said they jaywalk every day to get to school.

Russell Colburn: “Are you concerned with how dangerous it could have been?”

Jared Norris: “Heck yeah. It's just a risk we're willing to take.”

FDOT said it will also be working with law enforcement to discourage jaywalking, so that risk could soon result in a hefty fine.

The River City Science Academy said it is looking into hiring a crossing guard for the Parental Home Road crosswalk.

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