(above, l-r) Supervisor of Traffic Maintenance Tyrone Givens, Police Chief Dave Hart, Traffic Bureau Commander Lt. Chris Guenther, Phillips 66 Community Relations Coordinator Mary Phillips, Accident Review Committee Chairwoman Councilwoman Lisa Ormon, Phillips 66 Manager of Public Affairs Nancy Sadlon, 4th Ward Councilman Alfred Mohammed, Mayor Derek Armstead, and Director of Community Services Nick Pantina.
Donation to Improve Traffic Safety Around Schools
Submitted by Lt. Christopher Guenther
A Linden company is working with Police to get drivers to slow down around a number of local schools.
The Phillips 66 Bayway Refinery donated $45,000 to the Police Department in October of last year. The money was used to purchase a total of ten radar speed signs that display the speed of approaching vehicles to warn drivers when they are speeding.
“The Phillips 66 company vision is ‘providing energy, improving lives’. This project is a great example of living our vision and acting on our Phillips 66 values of safety, honor and commitment. We are very pleased to be able to support this safety initiative and to do our part to help community school areas be safer,” stated Nancy Sadlon, Phillips 66 Bayway Refinery Manager of Public Affairs.
This is not the first time the company has partnered with the Police in the interest of improved safety; in 2018 they donated nearly $10,000 to purchase a radar speed display and flashing signs near a dangerous curve on S. Park Ave.
“Phillips 66 continues to demonstrate that not only are they a good corporate neighbor but that they genuinely are concerned for the safety and well-being of our children,” said Mayor Derek Armstead.
The first pair of signs were installed on Bower St near School #5 earlier this week, with additional signs scheduled to be installed near Schools #1, 2, 6, and 8 over the next several weeks. Schools were chosen based on a number of factors, including the age of students and traffic conditions in the area.
“Improving safety around our schools just makes sense” said Police Chief David Hart. “Our children are our most valued commodity, and protecting them will always be our most important job.”
The improvements are just one of the many measures taken over the past several years to improve traffic safety; Officers have worked closely with school officials to improve traffic patterns during peak hours, and the department is currently participating in a Street Smart pedestrian safety campaign.
