Touma and NYSDOT Making Students Safer at Gaskill Prep

[PRESS RELEASE]

After fielding constituent complaints, City Councilman works with State Department of Transportation to put school speed limit in place on Hyde Park Boulevard

Niagara Falls – Following several complaints from residents and school employees about high traffic speeds around Gaskill Preparatory School, Niagara Falls City Council member Andrew Touma has announced that the speed limit on Hyde Park Boulevard surrounding the school will be reduced to 25 MPH, and that “school zone” signs will be installed soon.

“Earlier this year, residents came to me about the fact that there were no school zone signs around Gaskill Prep,” Councilman Touma said. “My paramount concern as a city council member is the safety of our residents, and after reaching out to the New York State Department of Transportation, I’m happy to announce that the job will be done soon. I thank the Department of Transportation for their timely reaction to this issue.”

Hyde Park Boulevard, or NYS Route 61, is under the jurisdiction of the New York State Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), and not the city’s traffic engineering department. After receiving a letter from Councilman Touma earlier this year, NYSDOT conducted a traffic engineering investigation that concluded the area was in need of a 25 MPH school speed limit.

“This is how government is supposed to work,” Touma explained. “If residents have an issue that needs to be addressed, then it’s up to government at all levels to work together to solve the problem.”