MOORELAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL RENOVATION PROJECT
Comprehensive Frequently Asked Questions
Act 34 Hearing | May 21, 2026
Traffic, Drop-Off & Parking
Q: What is the purpose of the new drop-off and pick-up design?
A: The purpose of the drop-off and pick-up design is to separate bus traffic from parent traffic and to move parent vehicles off public roadways during arrival and dismissal. This is intended to improve student safety, reduce congestion on surrounding streets, and create a more controlled traffic flow for families, buses, staff, walkers, and bicyclists.
Q: Will there be walking incentives?
A: No. Families may choose how their student arrives at and departs from school. The District neither encourages nor discourages students from walking; this remains a parent or guardian choice.
Q: How will the drop-off access road work without creating a bottleneck?
A: The design uses two incoming lanes to maximize on-site queuing distance and reduce the number of vehicles waiting on surrounding streets. The two lanes will then merge into a single drop-off and pick-up lane. Signage and pavement markings will direct parents through the merge and drop-off area.
Q: Will children be able to enter and leave school through the main entrance?
A: Yes. Students will be able to access the front entrance of the school. Arrival and dismissal procedures will be part of a controlled traffic-flow and safety plan designed to ensure the safe movement of students, staff, and visitors. Pedestrian access will remain available for walkers and bicyclists. Specific arrival and dismissal doors will be finalized as part of the school’s operational plan.
Q: What are the rules of the road during arrival and dismissal?
A: Parents and guardians should follow the designated traffic pattern, use approved drop-off and pick-up locations, and always yield to pedestrians. The safest place to drop off and pick up students will be within the controlled on-site traffic pattern. CASD will continue to coordinate with Borough Police, Special Police, and crossing guards to support traffic safety and discourage unsafe roadside drop-offs.
Q: Where will the raised crosswalks, bump-outs, and traffic-calming features be located?
A: The locations are identified on the project site plan. Updated site plans should be shared with the public to show the proposed locations of raised crosswalks, bump-outs, traffic tables, sidewalks, pedestrian routes, entrances, and parking areas.
Q: What is the rationale for the location of the bump-outs and raised crosswalks, including the area near Mooreland Avenue and Willow Street?
A: The traffic-calming features are designed to improve pedestrian safety and help slow traffic near the school. The raised crosswalk on Wilson Street is located to provide a direct connection to the school's front entrance and will replace the existing crosswalk at that location. The design has also been developed to maintain access to existing infrastructure, including driveways and the fire hydrant located near Mooreland Avenue and Willow Street. The hydrant will remain accessible. Because the bump-outs and raised crosswalks will be constructed
within the Borough's right-of-way on Wilson Street and Mooreland Avenue, their final design and location are subject to Borough review and approval.
Q: Was a traffic study completed or required?
A: A formal Traffic Impact Study (TIS) was not required for the Mooreland Elementary School project under the Borough of Carlisle's zoning ordinance. The ordinance requires a TIS for projects expected to generate more than 1,500 vehicle trips per day. Based on traffic engineering projections, the proposed school expansion is expected to generate approximately 538 additional average weekday trips, which is well below that threshold.
The project team has coordinated with the Borough of Carlisle, traffic engineering representatives, police, and emergency responders to review traffic flow and safety considerations associated with the project. In addition, pedestrian improvements are being evaluated to support safe student access within the Borough's walkable neighborhood environment.
Although the renovated school will have a maximum capacity of 450 students, current enrollment projections indicate approximately 348 students following the District's proposed elementary redistricting plan.
Q: Will traffic tables increase noise, cause rear-end collisions, create clearance concerns for pick-up trucks, or delay emergency vehicles?
A: During planning, emergency responders and police were consulted and no safety concerns were identified in the original project notes. The project team should provide additional technical information regarding the design of traffic tables, emergency vehicle passage, vehicle clearance, traffic speed, and noise considerations.
Traffic tables are designed to improve safety by encouraging drivers to reduce speed in areas with higher pedestrian activity, such as near schools. Unlike traditional speed bumps, traffic tables are longer, have a gradual slope, and are designed to allow vehicles to travel comfortably at appropriate neighborhood speeds.
Traffic tables are commonly used on streets that serve emergency vehicles and other larger vehicles. Their design accommodates passenger vehicles, pick-up trucks, school buses, and emergency response vehicles while promoting safer travel speeds.
The project team consulted with police and emergency responders during the planning process, and no safety concerns were identified regarding emergency access. Studies have shown that traffic-calming measures such as traffic tables generally have little impact on emergency response times.
Traffic tables are also intended to provide predictable driving conditions. Because drivers can maintain a reasonable speed while crossing them, they are not expected to create the sudden stops typically associated with speed bumps. The final design will be reviewed and approved by the appropriate municipal and engineering authorities to ensure it meets safety and operational standards.
Q: What will happen to parking spaces along Wilson Street and Mooreland Avenue?
A: On-street parking is controlled by the Borough and will remain available for public and neighborhood use. Staff who currently park along the street will be encouraged to use the new parking lot. Striping parking spaces may also help visually narrow the street and slow traffic.
Q: Will staff or teachers need to wait in the parent traffic queue?
A: Elementary staff generally arrive before student arrival and leave after student dismissal. If staff members arrive during student arrival or dismissal times, they will follow the designated traffic flow to access the parking lot.
Stormwater, Drainage & Environmental Concerns
Q: How will stormwater and flooding be addressed?
A: The neighborhood has a known history of flooding, and this has been considered during the planning process. The project includes stormwater management improvements designed to collect, treat, and manage stormwater on-site in accordance with applicable regulations.
The School District is not responsible for fixing existing, offsite drainage issues in the area. In order to secure necessary permits from the Borough and the State (i.e. NPDES Permit), the District must provide adequate stormwater management so as to not increase peak flows to downstream property owners. They must manage volume and water quality on site so that any existing problems that may exist downstream are not exacerbated. It is possible that through implementation of stormwater management on a site that currently has little to no stormwater management, the situation downstream might even be improved. But the School District is required to mitigate runoff due to the proposed construction.
Q: Where will stormwater run near Wilson Street and Mooreland Avenue?
A: Stormwater will be managed on-site through the project’s stormwater management system. The final design should describe how runoff from paved areas, sidewalks, roof areas, and traffic-calming features will be collected and treated.
Q: How will drainage be addressed along the hillside and Wilson Street?
A: The project includes drainage improvements intended to manage water responsibly and maintain safe flow through the area. The installation of traffic calming measures may change the drainage patterns of the roadways on which they are located. As such, these improvements will be designed in accordance with the latest PennDOT standards with attention to the existing drainage characteristics which will determine the most appropriate measures should be implemented. Otherwise, problems such as ice/water accumulation on a pedestrian crossing or roadway could occur. The below is a common detail which allows the installation of the calming device without implications to existing drainage patterns:
Q: Will raised traffic tables or raised crosswalks block water flow?
A: Raised traffic tables and crosswalks should be designed so they do not block stormwater flow. The original notes indicate that drainage openings or slots may be included to allow water to flow through the area.
Q: Will covering more open ground with pavement and concrete increase runoff?
A: The project will increase impervious surface area; however, the proposed impervious coverage remains below the maximum permitted by local ordinance. Original project notes indicate approximately 50 percent proposed
impervious coverage compared with 60 percent allowable. Stormwater generated by the project will be managed and treated on-site.
Q: How will sinkholes near the sidewalk be addressed?
A: The area is known to be prone to sinkholes. Any sinkholes identified or reported in the project area will be evaluated and addressed as part of the construction work.
Q: Was an environmental study completed? What permits are required?
A: The project requires an Individual National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Permit because it is located within the LeTort Spring Run watershed. The NPDES permit application has already been submitted through the Cumberland County Conservation District (CCCD). An individual permit requires a higher level of review than a general permit, including review by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP).
Land Development plans have also been submitted to the Borough of Carlisle for review.
Q: Have all permits been received? What are the environmental impacts?
A: The project is currently under review by both the Cumberland County Conservation District and the Borough of Carlisle. All required permits and approvals will be obtained prior to the start of construction. The review process includes stormwater management, erosion and sediment control, and other applicable environmental considerations.
Q: What about vehicle pollution and carbon dioxide from cars?
A: The improved parent drop-off and pick-up traffic pattern is expected to reduce vehicle idling by allowing vehicles to move through the site more efficiently. Reduced idling should help reduce emissions during arrival and dismissal.
Q: What will happen to the grassy area near the modular and gaga ball pit?
A: Original notes indicate that students currently use the grassy area beside the existing modular, but do not use the grassy area on the other side of the gaga ball pit. The District is evaluating how best to balance green space, hard-surface play areas, drainage, and site circulation needs.
Park, Fields & Recreation Areas
Q: Will the park be preserved and maintained?
A: Yes. The Borough has been and remains responsible for maintaining the park. The District and the Borough will continue to coordinate regarding maintenance and future use of shared or adjacent areas.
Q: Who is responsible for the field?
A: The Borough is responsible for the field.
Q: What will become of the softball field?
A: The softball field will no longer be regulation size; however, original notes indicate that it may accommodate youth recreational use, potentially up to a 12U league. The District and Borough will coordinate closely regarding future use of the field.
Q: What about traffic going through the site all day?
A: Mooreland Elementary will be a K-3 building with limited events and activities outside the school day. The District intends to allow public use of the new parking lot during non-school hours, with appropriate signage to communicate after-hours availability.
Q: Will families still have access to the park, walking path, and field?
A: Yes. Families and community members will continue to have access to the park, walking path, and field.
Q: Will there be a sidewalk to connect the existing front area to the new front area?
A: Yes. Additional sidewalk connections are included in the project to improve pedestrian circulation and site connectivity.
Neighborhood Preservation & Property Concerns
Q: Will the playground equipment be reused?
A: No. Reusing existing playground equipment is often more costly than purchasing and installing new equipment. Removal, storage, reinstallation, insurance requirements, and current safety standards all factor into this decision. New equipment will better support compliance with safety and insurance expectations.
Q: Will the neighborhood be preserved?
A: The project is being designed to improve Mooreland Elementary while maintaining neighborhood access, pedestrian routes, public park access, and existing alley access where applicable. The District will continue to coordinate with the Borough and neighbors throughout the process.
Q: What will happen to Parker Street access?
A: A gate will be installed at Parker Street to allow emergency vehicle access to the site.
Q: What will happen to the existing fence line, including chain-link fencing and rusted barbed wire?
A: The District is evaluating the existing fence line and will determine whether fencing will remain, be repaired, be removed, or be replaced.
Access, Sidewalks & Alleyways
Q: Will access to garages from the Mooreland Northeast Alley remain?
A: Yes. Access to garages from the Mooreland Northeast Alley will remain as it currently exists.
Q: How does the project address walking awareness and pedestrian safety?
A: The new design emphasizes safe pedestrian routes through and to the site. School-zone flashing signs are proposed along Mooreland Avenue and Wilson Street, and the District will continue to coordinate with Borough Police and crossing guards regarding pedestrian safety.
Q: Will new sidewalks be added?
A: Yes. New sidewalk connections are included in the project to improve pedestrian access and circulation.
Construction & Site Concerns
Q: Will there be issues with digging or blasting in the area?
A: Blasting will not be permitted. Construction activities, including excavation and earthwork, will be regulated through the required permits, including erosion and sediment control measures associated with the NPDES permit. Construction activity will be limited to normal work hours.
Q: How will snow removal be handled?
A: Snow removal will continue to be handled in a manner consistent with School District and Borough practices and similar traffic-calming features throughout the Borough.
Financial, Legal & Project Questions
Q: What is the purpose of Act 34?
A: Pennsylvania’s Act 34 of 1973, commonly referred to as the “Taj Mahal Act,” was enacted to protect taxpayers and prevent school districts from overbuilding or overspending on large construction projects. The law gives local residents a voice and provides oversight in the planning and financing of new school buildings and major renovations. Act 34 applies to the construction of new school buildings, new administrative offices, and additions that increase an existing building’s size by more than 20 percent.
Q: What is the project cost estimate and schedule?
A: As presented in the Act 34 Booklet and reviewed during the hearing, the total estimated project cost is $15,491,797. A detailed breakdown of costs can be found on pages 10-11 of the Act 34 Booklet.
Pending land development and NPDES approvals, the project team plans to be ready to bid the project in August 2026. This would allow construction to begin in early October 2026 and be completed by January 2028. If the land development and approval process takes longer than anticipated, construction may start in late fall 2026 and be completed in summer 2028.
Q: Are there separate costs for the architect?
A: The architect’s fee is based on 6 percent of the estimated construction cost of the project, which is consistent with industry standards. This fee is included in the total project cost presented in the Act 34 Booklet.
Q: What insurance coverage will be in place during construction?
A: The District will maintain a Builder’s Risk insurance policy throughout construction. Contractors will also be required to carry appropriate insurance coverage under the construction contracts.
Q: Will this project increase school taxes?
A: No tax increase is anticipated as a result of this project. Existing debt service is scheduled to decline as current debt is retired, allowing the District to finance this project while maintaining a stable annual debt service obligation.
Q: Will there be a gathering place for students who arrive early? Will there be outdoor seating or protection from rain?
A: Some informal outdoor seating areas are being proposed adjacent to the entrances. Both new entrances will have an overhang to provide some weather protection. As with all schools, families are encouraged to follow established arrival times to minimize the number of students waiting outside before supervision begins.