Road safety audit targets dangers near Oak Ridge Middle School in Naples

COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. (WINK)—A road safety audit is underway after two Oak Ridge Middle School students were hit by cars near campus in the past year.

The Collier County Metropolitan Planning Organization is working to identify problems and potential solutions. The final report isn't finished yet, but the team has already identified several areas of concern.

Last week, WINK News introduced Amanda Schultz, a parent who has been bringing her own stop sign to help dozens of Oak Ridge Middle School students cross the road.

"I'm just trying to do my part… and trying to keep the kids safe," Schultz said.

Schultz has been pushing for a crossing guard near Indigo Lakes, Meadowood and Brittany Bay after two students were hit by cars—one last September and another in April.

"I did speak with people at traffic ops and they put a bright yellow sign that says look both ways… they put school on the road at 951," Schultz said.

The MPO helped take part in a road safety audit with the school, law enforcement, the Florida Department of Transportation and Collier County.

"We saw a combination of things, right? Roadways with lots of traffic, lots of movement during those peak hours of the school, and so really some conflict points that were observed," said Carmen Monroy, executive director of the Collier County Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Monroy said the audit is still preliminary. Crossing guards could be part of the solution, but that decision involves how the Collier County Sheriff's Office allocates its resources.

"We know that all the stakeholders that were involved in that road safety audit will probably have a role in finding some solutions there," Monroy said. "The primary thing is the safety of both the parents and the children."

Monroy said the final report is hoped to be ready in September. The MPO could also pursue grant funding for safety improvements once the report is complete.