Flashing school zone lights on Stead Boulevard have raised questions for some North Valleys drivers since Stead Elementary relocated, but officials say the school zone is still active and motorists are still required to slow down.
A North Valleys resident contacted News 4 after noticing the beacons flashing on Stead Boulevard and wondering whether the school zone was still in effect. The resident wrote, “Once Stead Elementary was relocated, I thought Stead Boulevard was no longer a school zone. The lights were not taken down. This afternoon I drove home on Stead and the school zone lights were flashing.” The resident also said drivers appeared to be ignoring the lights and may have been exceeding the speed limit.
Washoe County School District officials said the school zone remains in place because O’Brien Middle School is next to the roadway and continues to operate as an active campus. In a statement, the district said: “The school zone remains active on Stead Boulevard as O’Brien Middle School is adjacent to the roadway and continues to operate as an active school campus with regular student pedestrian activity during school hours.”
Reno police said speeding complaints near schools continue to be a concern across the city. “We have received numerous complaints for speeding throughout the city. When we do receive these complaints, we make sure to deploy those resources appropriately to make sure that we’re enforcing and changing those behaviors, educating and issuing citations to make sure that we’re curbing those behaviors,” said Hunter Mercurio of the Reno Police Department…