What You Should Know About the Proposed Bear Creek Intermediate School
Traffic Impact on Inadequate Roads
- The proposed site is in a relatively remote area with very limited access. All traffic will funnel onto Sheaffer Road which is a very narrow and winding rural road with no access from High Street.
- In addition to Sheaffer Road, the following roads will experience a significant increase in traffic: Spring Road, Groff Avenue, Ridge Road, Campus Road, College Avenue, Chestnut Street, and Mount Joy Street. These roads are not adequate for the traffic this school (with a projected 1100 students) would create.College Avenue, Chestnut Street, and Mount Joy Street. These roads are not
adequate for the traffic this school (with a projected 1100 students) would
create.
No Walkers Allowed!
- It was stated in the proposal that all students will be transported by buses to the proposed school. By contrast, other districts in the county are encouraging “walk to school” programs, including a new elementary school which was recently built in Lititz and one which is proposed for Ephrata. This proposed non-walking site conflicts with Smart Growth goals of the Borough, Township, and Lancaster County.
- By proposing a “non walker” school, the district may lose eligibility for various grant programs to help offset costs.
- Taxpayers will most likely have to cover the increased costs of busing every student. Imagine how many buses, drivers and fuel it would require to transport up to 1100 children.
- Students who currently walk to Grades 4-5 at Bainbridge, East High, Rheems, and Mill Road will instead spend several hours a week riding a bus to school.
Tax increases to pay for Infrastructure
- In addition to the $29 million dollars to build the school, Mount Joy Township and Elizabethtown Borough will most likely have to invest many millions more for upgrades to roads, sidewalks, and traffic signals.
- Since it is a more remote area from the other school campuses, the proposed school will not have the ability to efficiently share existing facilities (such as playing fields, support staff, parking, school signals, traffic enforcement, SRO officer,etc.) It only seems likely that the taxpayers will be required to fund the costs to replicate these facilities.
The new school does not include the cost for upgrading the existing elementary schools, that is, Phases II, III, and IV planned by the school district. Though district administrators have not released figures for these phases, the costs, again, will most likely add an even greater future tax burden on the citizens.
Want More Information?.
Want More Information?
This school is still in the Proposal Phase. Final approval and breaking of ground has not been finalized. Please read the Editorials on the website at:
Http://www.we-town.com (click on the Editorial tab)
Please refer to the school district’s web site also to learn more about the Proposed Bear Creek Elementary School.
http://www.etownschools.org
This flyer was prepared by concerned citizens of Mt. Joy Township and Elizabethtown Borough in favor of a more practical location for the proposed Elizabethtown School District Elementary School.
