LAS VEGAS (KTNV) — Additional safety measures are on the way to Buffalo Drive outside of Arbor View High School.
This comes after the crash that killed senior McKenzie Scott, who was crossing the street outside the school when a suspected drunk driver hit her.
WATCH | Updates on safety improvements coming to roads near Arbor View High School
"I'm excited," Arbor View parent Krista Holloway told Channel 13 on Wednesday. "I'm happy that something's being done."
Holloway is one of the dozens of Arbor View parents and students who have been relentlessly calling for changes to road safety around the school for weeks.
WATCH | Parents volunteer to showcase need for crossing guards at more CCSD schools
Holloway created "WalkSafelyLV" in the wake of Scott's death to advocate for street safety around Arbor View, and volunteered with other parents as crossing guards over the last few weeks of school, which she says made a big difference.
"There [has been] a change," Holloway said. "But we're afraid once school starts, [students and drivers] will forget."
WATCH | Parents and students demand change to improve road safety near schools
The city of Las Vegas conducted a traffic study following Scott's death and found that all of the traffic safety devices on Buffalo, including the crosswalk, signage and school zone flashers, were appropriate for the area and functioning properly at the time of the deadly crash.
However, the city will be adding the overhead pedestrian activated flashers, adding signage and repainting the crosswalk on Buffalo this summer as a result of the traffic study.
“We wish that safety enhancements could prevent tragedies on our roadways, but the difference-maker is that everyone in the community must be responsible and make good decisions while using the streets,” Mayor Shelley Berkley said. “My heart goes out to McKenzie’s family and friends and the entire Arbor View family for this senseless and tragic loss."
Improvements will also be made to Whispering Sands Drive on the south side of the school.
In 2024, the city installed roadway dividers along Whispering Sands at the front of the school. Parents, students and school staff reported U-turns and other dangerous activities on Whispering Sands while students were arriving or leaving the school.
These improvements on Whispering Sands are set to be upgraded further in 2026, with the city and school district adding a new crosswalk on Whispering Sands between Buffalo and Tenaya Way, as well as installing permanent concrete roadway dividers.
"Student and staff safety is our priority. We commend the city of Las Vegas for implementing these vital safety improvements," said Jhone Ebert, Superintendent. "We continue to support the students and staff of Arbor View High School, and McKenzie Scott's family and friends."
Holloway says all of these improvements are steps in the right direction, but it's not enough.
"It's not enough because we need the public to be aware of the crosswalk rules and laws," Holloway said. "If they're not going to do that then we still have a problem, because that is the problem."
Holloway says she'd still like to see crossing guards assigned to all high schools in the valley.
That could be on the way—in a statement emailed to Channel 13 on Wednesday, a city of Las Vegas spokesperson said the info gathering portion of their pilot program exploring the feasibility of expanding crossing guards to all middle and high schools in the city has wrapped up, and they're currently in the process of evaluating the results.
In the meantime, while the area around Arbor View has been WalkSafelyLV's immediate focus, Holloway says they plan to expand their reach and advocate for road safety improvements at schools all around the Las Vegas valley in the future.
"We won't stop," Holloway said. "It's going to take a team, and parents at those schools will have to come help us, but, yeah, we're definitely doing to do more."
A city spokesperson said they hope to have the work completed around Arbor View High School before the start of the 2025-2026 school year.
