A new traffic light has been installed at the intersection between Funnel Street and N. Beach Street, creating a safer environment for students crossing the street as well as regulating traffic.
On Wednesday, August 16 construction of the light began by the City of Fort Worth with the placement of poles to hold the lights. The traffic light was operational by August 20 and includes protected left turn signals for cars turning from Beach St. onto Funnel or into the neighborhood across from the school.
UPDATE: Aug. 25 The stop signs previously located on Funnel St. at the intersection with Long Stem Tr. have been relocated to Long Stem Tr. making Funnel St. a through street to ease congestion. However, students have been warned not to block the intersection as it could cause further back up on Long Stem Tr.
The advancement towards installing a stop light at the intersection was made after a hit-and-run in March 2017 that caused severe trauma to Timber Creek theatre student Aaron Lancaster. The accident struck a chord in the hearts of the Falcon community, bringing them, together tighter than ever, to support Aaron. A sea of red-clad Falcons flooded the school in a show of support last spring, and productions including Ugly Lies the Bone put on by Aaron’s fellow thespians and the 2017 Mr. Falcon pageant all donated proceeds towards his recovery and medical costs.
Even outside the school heavy hearts rose to make a change. Jacob Wurman, a heartfelt citizen, discussed a safety plan in late March of 2017 with Dennis Singleton, Mayor Pro Tem for the City of Fort Worth, Doug Wiersig, Director of Transportation and Public Works department and Officer Barry Sawyer, Fort Worth Police Officer and local Neighborhood Police Officer, in effort to create an accident preventative environment for students on their way home. The developments of the weighted discussion are being seen just months later with the stop light. Aspects of the plan included reducing speed limits in school zones to 20 mph which was put in place earlier this year at all KISD school zones. The city has also put up “This is Your Speed” signs at the entrance of school zones to warn approaching cars to slow down, the signs are said to be removed as soon as the lights are fully operational.