Revised traffic routing and parking plans at both the Kickemuit Middle School and Hugh Cole Elementary School in town were the focus of the Warren Planning Board's October meeting agenda.

As discussed at and approved by the Bristol Warren Region School Committee gathering held a week prior to the local forum and presented by Superintendent Ana Riley there, the idea is to reconfigure the KMS lot into a "chevron" or V-shaped pattern and turning the existing single larger space into two distinct areas — one for buses and one for parents — so as to improve traffic flow and safety.

Riley noted at the committee meeting, the concept is currently being put into practice with the use of "cones and humans."

The new plan as constructed, she added, would be "better designed" while also addressing improvements to troublesome drainage.

Needing the support of Warren town authorities, the proposal must also be submitted to the Rhode Island Department of Education for its approval.

Riley said the district just recently got RIDE's backing for a similar parking proposal at the new Mt. Hope High School.

David Potter, a vice president at the Lincoln-based Pare Corporation, the district's engineering consultant for its on-going construction, led the Planning Board through a presentation on both proposals.

The gist of the new traffic and parking lot plans at both buildings is to alleviate heavy congestion from the junction of the buildings at Child Street, Asylum Road and Cole School Road.

Acknowledging the severity of the situation, Planning Board Chairman Fred Massie said, from his personal observation of the morning and afternoon rush at the schools, "Right now it's chaos...busses and cars are coming and going untethered."

Town Recreation Director and outgoing member of the BWR School Committee Tara Thibaudeau addressed the Cole situation, specifically, requesting of those in charge, "Don't add more asphalt to that area."

She worried the playground at the school, which received upgrades relatively recently from the town, would be affected. Again she stated her concern about even more pavement being laid in the vicinity. She also noted the town was actually looking at potentially adding more grass to the location.

In addition, Thibaudeau reminded the board there's a real chance the enrollment at Cole would be reduced significantly in the next few years. She said it's already dropped from about 650 students to 500. And if a proposal to move fifth grade into KMS comes to fruition, the Cole populous would decrease further to around 425.

The district is in the planning stages to create two distinct learning locales for Grades 5-6 and 7-8 within the 66-year-old building as part of the overall school construction bond referendum approved by voters. About $14 million of the $200 million is earmarked to make fixes to the KMS roof, heating, ventilation and air conditioning and electrical systems as well as the parking lot redesign.

As well, considering the significant amount the town/district spends on transportation, Thibaudeau added, "I don't know why we're making easier for parents not to put kids on the bus."

In reply, Potter said as constituted, the outdoor classroom and playground at Cole would be untouched.

He explained the idea for the new path "is really just to improve access...The hope was to bring vehicles away from the building...bring the vehicles out and around."

Kelly Servant, a town resident and a Kindergarten teacher at Cole, said, "I am concerned about the pick-up and drop-off at Hugh Cole and listening, going back to KMS, I get stuck in that traffic every day...Parents cutting in and out and trying to get through."

Servant estimated some parents are spending up to an hour in line attempting to get their children to the building.

She stated flatly, "Parents don't follow the rules," adding, "It's dangerous."

Servant claimed drivers are "jockeying for position," weaving, double parking and/or driving side-by-side, and going over the posted speed limit.

She said when police or traffic safety officials are in position, the situation is more calm, but if they're not parents revert back to unruly methods.

"It's a huge safety concern," Servant said. "And I really think it needs to be looked at. I don't have any answers, but it just think it really needs to looked at for the safety of our children."

At meeting's end, both master plan applications were approved by the board with conditions. As an example, considering a review and upgrade of the drainage off the KMS lot, which creates something of problem rain.

Massie noted after the meeting some Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management regulations either didn't exist or have been upgraded since the parking lot was constructed.

He also pointed to other concerns about the existing drainage system at the location. The board and others questioned integrity of it and as well the dispersal of water. Some roads in the area still empty directly into the Kickemuit River.

The next step in the process is for the district to submit a preliminary plan, which ideally addresses all conditions requested at the October meeting. The matter could be on the docket for the next Planning Board meeting scheduled to take place Monday, Nov. 25.