Lawrence City Commissioners tonight are likely to approve new safeguards for a school crosswalk on 27th Street near Sunflower School, but even more safety measures are needed, neighborhood parents say.

“We want to look at it for the long term,” said Melanie Davies, one of several parents who live along Inverness Court and whose children attend the school at 2521 Inverness Drive.

Marcus Dudley, another parent who lives in the area, agreed.

“We’ve got several layers of issues,” Dudley said. “One is the school issue; then there is the long-term traffic issue as well. Those issues need to be addressed.”

On the consent agenda for tonight’s City Commission meeting is a proposal to assign an adult crossing guard, install flashing beacons at the 27th Street crossing west of Inverness Drive or do both. Unless an item is removed for discussion, consent agenda items typically are approved or rejected in a quick voice vote. The Traffic Safety Commission is recommending that commissioners approve the measures.

A mother and her daughter head to their car parked outside Sunflower School while other students make their way through a busy crosswalk on Inverness Drive. Because of the large amount of traffic at the end of school and the several roundabouts on Inverness, parents and nearby residents are asking for a crossing guard or beacons near the school.

Some parents from the Inverness Court neighborhood, however, plan to attend the meeting and share their thoughts, Davies said.

A crossing guard and light beacons are welcomed and needed, but that only covers a couple of hours before the start and at the end of school, Davies noted. Others use the crosswalk at other times. “It remains a dangerous intersection for the other 20 hours of the day,” she said.

Davies thinks speed bumps leading to the intersection as well as signs making the crosswalk a pedestrian walkway similar to what is now in front of the Lawrence Arts Center, 940 N.H., would be appropriate.

• 6News video: Parents worried about safety of school crosswalk (11-28-05)

Davies and Dudley say inattentive and speeding drivers make the crosswalk dangerous. They want city traffic officials to meet with neighborhood residents to discuss other possible safety measures.

“We certainly need to have a sit-down session to talk about options that would address the different types of issues,” Dudley said.