We, the undersigned residents of Rapid Valley and surrounding areas, urge the South Dakota Department of Transportation and Pennington County officials to evaluate and install a dedicated right-turn only lane at the intersection of Homestead St and Elk Vale Rd.

This intersection serves as a primary exit point from the neighborhood, and during peak morning hours (especially between 7:00 AM and 8:30 AM), it becomes severely congested as most drivers attempt to turn right from Homestead St onto Elk Vale Rd to access schools, work, and the interstate. Since few cars proceed straight, the absence of a dedicated right-turn lane creates a serious bottleneck, often backing up traffic nearly a mile into the neighborhood.

To make matters worse, two neighborhood roads intersect with this traffic, including one that leads directly to the community’s main grocery store. This not only causes confusion and delays but makes it difficult and dangerous for residents to enter or exit side streets during rush hour.

This traffic issue causes:

Long delays and stress for drivers, especially parents and commuters
Safety risks from stalled or merging vehicles
Difficulty accessing essential services, including local businesses

We respectfully request the following:

That the South Dakota DOT and county transportation planners conduct a formal traffic study of the Homestead St & Elk Vale Rd intersection
That the city install a right-turn-only lane for traffic exiting Homestead St toward Elk Vale Rd
That safety, efficiency, and community impact be made a priority in future planning

This is a simple, actionable improvement that would benefit the entire Rapid Valley community.

Please sign and share this petition to support a safer, more efficient intersection for our neighborhood.