Parking Lot Map by Popular Demand
By popular request, we created an updated parking lot map. This has been updated on our website as well. There’s a lot more information and backstory on our parking lot below if you’re curious about the right-turn only rule.
Right Turn Only Context
It’s the start of a new school year, and we are all learning new routines to help things run smoothly. There have been a few questions about how we navigate the parking lot – specifically, why we require you to turn right if you are exiting the parking lot during drop-off and pick-up.
Morning Drop-Off Times: 7:45-8:15 am
Afternoon Pick-Up Times: 3:00-3:30 pm
If you ride a bus or are already turning right when you leave the parking lot, feel free to stop reading now. If getting out of the parking lot affects you because you want to turn left, read on!
The Background
A parking lot redesign started in 2014 based on feedback from our school community and community council, and was finally approved by the school board and completed during the summer of 2024. The main purpose of the redesign was not to add additional parking, although that was a benefit. The main purpose was to make it possible for every student to load into a bus or vehicle from a sidewalk.
The Limitations
During the redesign process, we evaluated a variety of options to help get you out of the parking lot as quickly as possible; this was already an issue with the old parking lot setup and we knew it would be an issue with a redesign. We worked with traffic engineers, South Jordan City, and the South Jordan City Police Department to work within code to maximize ways to get you out quickly. We also looked at the design at Oquirrh Hills Middle School in Riverton, which has the same basic parking lot design and also exits onto 2700 W.
At the end of the day, we were limited largely by three things: 1) Most of our boundary is to the south of the school, meaning most people enter and exit south. 2) There is a busy road and traffic light at 10400 S near the south parking lot, too close for another light to be placed at our parking lot exit. 3) A protected left turn lane similar to the one at Elk Meadows Elementary isn’t possible because of the number of driveways on the other side of the street where it would need to go.
The View From the Sky
Once the parking lot opened, and we had gone a few weeks using it, we sent a drone up to record drop-off and pick-up from above to see what was holding us back. It quickly became apparent that it was people turning left out of the south parking lot. It affected the north lot as well, but not nearly as much.
In essence, each person that turns left takes about 15 seconds on average to find an opening large enough to cross traffic and go left. That doesn’t seem like long to that person, but to the 60 cars behind them, that stacks up quickly into 10-15 minutes of waiting at a near stand-still.
Solutions
Again, we looked at a protected left turn, a traffic light, and other options. All had reasons that we couldn’t implement them. At the end of the day, the only thing we can do is have everyone turn right during busy times.
Yes, this means you may have to go north to go south, heading to 9800 S and going east or west in order to get back to your home. You can also do a U-turn on 2700 W if there is an opening down the road once you turn right. It adds 3-5 minutes to your trip home. But our hope is that you are gaining much more than 3-5 minutes sitting at a stand-still in the parking lot, and are actually faster getting home in the end.
The Catch
This really only works if we all turn right. Our resource officer has been out today helping people follow the posted traffic signs, and will likely do so sporadically as a reminder. But this is one of those ‘let’s come together for the greater good’ moments we want to teach our kids about when we talk about being good citizens. Our SBO’s chose the theme ‘We’re All in This Together’ for the year, and that feels particularly applicable here. Please help the people waiting patiently in line behind you and turn right instead of left.