St. Johns County schools wants Nease High intersection addressed

The St. Johns County School District is pushing the state to speed up plans to slow drivers near Nease High School.

Parents and students said they have been pushing for a light at the intersection of Ray Road and U.S. 1 for years.

On Monday, Nease High School students MacKenzie and Sydney Felmet were critically injured while trying to make a left turn onto U.S. 1.

Plans are in place to put a traffic signal at the intersection, but the state says the signal won’t be completed until 2018.

Thursday afternoon, the St. Johns County School District sent a letter to the Florida Department of Transportation asking it to expedite the project.

“They truly drive more aggressively on U.S. 1 than they do on 95. I’ve always been surprised that there’s not a stop sign there," Stephanie Robinson told Action News Jax.

According to FDOT, engineering is causing delays with the project because infrastructure and utility lines will have to be changed to accommodate the new light.

Construction is expected to start in July 2017, but parents are asking for action sooner.

They want additional safety measures put in place to lessen the dangers.

During a conference call with agencies responsible for the intersection, the Florida Department of Transportation, St. Johns County and the St. Johns County School District, we learned that they are considering options for additional precautions.

Right now, sheriff’s office volunteers are the only thing keeping students safe after school.

They stay until about 4:30 p.m.

Nease parents and teachers want the officers to stay at least an hour longer.

Parents say a flashing yellow light doesn’t stay on long enough either.

The school district says the state plans to remove the school zone signs and flashing lights on U.S. 1, which they oppose.

The agencies are exploring these and other safety options. They’ll reconvene on Nov. 18 to discuss further action.

Cox Media Group