Renton police keep watch on traffic congestion at Kennydale Elementary

Published 10:40 am Friday, January 11, 2013

Renton Police responded to an on-going, traffic-congestion problem at Kennydale Elementary School Thursday afternoon.

A resident in the school’s neighborhood called police to complain that parents picking up their students were disregarding parking restrictions. This is nothing new to that neighborhood; according to Renton Police the traffic issue at Kennydale is an on-going and chronic problem.

Parents are stopping in the middle of the street, parking in the wrong direction and blocking school buses from exiting the parking lot. Police also report that neighbors have complained that the post office is not delivering their mail because the mailboxes are often blocked, despite the numerous “No Parking” signs in the area.

Three officers were dispatched to Kennydale Elementary School Thursday, because one or two officers would not have been sufficient due to the size of the area and the extent of the problem, said Terri Vickers, a police spokesperson.

It is not known whether the parking enforcement officer issued any tickets Thursday, as officers directed traffic.

The school and a police traffic unit will work on the school’s traffic plan in the hopes of alleviating the problem, said Vickers, in an email.

Randy Matheson, Renton School District, communications director, indicated Friday he would write a reminder to parents on the school’s parking policies and traffic conduct in the area. The reminder will be distributed in the school’s newsletter to parents.