News File Photo Students board buses at Thunder Bay Secondary School in this 2020 News archive photo.

ALPENA — Alpena Public Schools has opposed a proposed project that would extend 3rd Avenue to Tamarack Road.

The school district says it believes the project in its current form raises serious concerns for the safety of students, staff and community members.

In a letter to Alpena County Supervisor Nathan Skibbe, APS Superintendent Dave Rabideau also requested the county and the Alpena County Road Commission stop citing district and Thunder Bay Middle School student safety as the primary justification for the project.

The County and Road Commission said they would invest about $1 million for the expansion project, which has been considered for years.

County and Road Commission officials say that because there is only one way in and one way out of the middle school and nearby neighborhoods, it creates a public safety concern in the event of an emergency in that area.

The extension could also reduce traffic on the M-32 corridor, but would likely increase traffic on 3rd Avenue.

The school district also regrets not being involved in the planning process.

“It is clear that the safety of Thunder Bay Middle School students was emphasized as the primary justification for seeking financial support,” Rabbideau said in his letter. “This was done without any interaction with Alpena Public Schools. It is disingenuous to claim that this project is about student safety when neither you nor any representatives from the Road Commission or the district have made any effort to consult with us on this matter.”

The letter explains why the school district believes widening 3rd Avenue would make students and the community less safe.

TRAFFIC FLOW

Rabbideau said the limited number of vehicles currently traveling eastbound on 3rd are often unable to turn left into Thunder Bay’s driveway due to oncoming traffic. The superintendent said congestion in front of the school appeared inevitable due to the expected increase in eastbound traffic and the lack of plans for a traffic signal.

“This potential blockage poses a risk to our students,” Rabbideau wrote.

SCHOOL BUSES

Rabbideau said the increased traffic would disrupt bus routes, potentially delaying the departure of buses and increasing fuel costs due to extended idling.

“For example, 18 buses idling an extra five minutes per day over 185 school days equals an additional 15.4 hours of idling per bus per year,” he said in his letter. “This pressure on our resources and the potential for congestion during layoffs can double the amount of idle time.”

TRAFFIC SPEEDS

Rabideau said the current 55 mph speed limit on 3rd Avenue concerns him and that he believes drivers will increase their speed and use 3rd as a bypass to M-32, even though it is a planned intersection.

The superintendent said this poses a significant safety hazard for both students and staff.

The Road Commission and the county have discussed building a roundabout near Berrington Circle to slow speeds.

PERSONNEL SAFETY

Rabbideau said traffic is always challenging during school drop-off and dismissal times, and APS staff often bear the brunt of angry drivers.

He said there had been incidents of verbal abuse and threats against APS staff and he feared the proposed project would only further escalate these tensions.

“The impact will fall on my team,” Rabbideau said. “Not yours.”

Rabbideau said any project regarding the size of the proposed 3rd expansion raises concerns and discussions, but he believes the school district was dragged into this situation without even having a seat at the table during planning.

“I understand that public infrastructure projects face scrutiny and sometimes resistance,” he said in the letter. “However, mentioning the name of Alpena Public Schools without including us in the discussions is unacceptable. We should have been consulted and given the opportunity to voice these concerns, share ideas and seek common ground. I hope we can collaborate moving forward and find a solution that truly prioritizes the safety and well-being of our students and community. “I ask you, the Road Commission, and the county to give us a seat at the table for future discussions on this project.”

The Alpena County Board of Trustees has yet to vote to officially allocate any money for the proposed project, which the Road Commission has said could begin in the fall.

Last week, local officials, residents and motorists saw firsthand how 3rd Avenue near the middle school could be affected.

On Oct. 21, an accident by a contractor working at the intersection of 3rd Avenue and Hobbs Drive caused the intersection to be closed for several hours, nearly affecting how Thunder Bay Secondary School students could catch their buses.

Rabbideau said at the time that if school buses were unable to clear the intersection to access the school, a plan was in place for students to walk along the private access road to the Meijer parking lot to catch their buses.

However, this never improved as a workaround was found and Alpena officials shut down the intersection in four directions until the damaged street light was replaced later that night.

Traffic was lined up at Hobbs Drive, Bagley Street and 3rd Avenue during the intersection closure.

Rabbideau submitted his letter to the district before this incident.

Steve Schulwitz can be reached at 989-358-5689 or [email protected]. Follow him at X @ss_alpenanews.com.

Read Alpena Public Schools Superintendent Dave Rabbideau’s full letter to Alpena County Supervisor Nathan Skibbe below.

Letter to Alpena Public Schools Alpena County with JustinHinkley on Scribd