School Safety Improvement Project - San Francisco

Grassroots AdvocacyMaking it Happen!

Roger Bazeley, M.S.T.M., M.S.I.D., C.T.S.M. DesignStrategy-USA, Transportation Consultants

Pedestrians: Have Rights and Expectations for a Safe Journey

Growing Safety Concerns:Techno-inattention, Panhandling, Jaywalking, Health/Age/Vision

Vulnerability to Traffic AccidentsK-12 School ChildrenChildren Ages 5-17Seniors 55 and upThe DisabledOur CommunityTourists and Visitors

Note: GPS accident mapping tool usage (SFCTA_ K-12 schools)

Parents/PTA/Community Ask San Francisco for Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Improvements

Three E’s of Safety: Engineering, Education, Enforcement

Engineering: Design Enhancements

School Site ImprovementsBold/Yellow School LADDER crosswalks

School Zone/Site: New TechnologyFYG Signs, Signals/Traffic Control Devices

School/PED Zone Driver FYG LED Speed Feedback Signs (3M)

Embedded Strobe pavement lights

Crosswalks and School Zones

New Technologies: Communicate and Educate 24/7

OLD PED Signal

Countdown

:Educational and Safety PSA Programs

Enforcement: Active/Passive

SF School Adult Crossing Guards

Parking-Traffic Control Officers

SFPD-Traffic Unit

Pedestrian & School Site AuditsPurpose of Pedestrian and School “Safe Routes” Audits

Generate concern about school and community pedestrian safety and walkability issuesChannel concern into commitmentStructure commitment into a realistic plan actionRecognition that “safety” impacts our health, our environment, and local businessTo improve “Our Quality of Life”Help transform problem awareness into a commitment to solutions…

PTA Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Survey Results – SFUSD K-12 Sites99% Unsafe school site traffic conditions, double parking or loading zone92% Cannot pull safely outside of traffic flow to unload/pick-up children.94% Loading Zones need to be reconfigured for drop-offs and pick-ups75% No agreement and compliance by parents for safe drop-offs and pick-ups.75% Crosswalk non-existent or lacking crossing signs or yellow markings79% Children and adults frequently crossing outside of marked crosswalks49% Adult crossing guards needed due to traffic volume, speed, or congestion 75% No regular site personnel monitoring parent drop-offs and pick-ups98% New (FYG) signs for school awareness, speed control, school crossing 92% Signs missing, damaged or requiring repair98% Bus loading curb paint, bus lane lines, or “SLOW SCHOOL XING” marking75% Lack of adequate stop signs/signal timing at school intersection crossings94% Need police or DPT to patrol, monitor and enforce site traffic safety 72% No School Site Traffic Safety Program: School Parents/PTA interest in a PTA Traffic Safety Workshop, Safe Routes To and From School/Transit Plan

“Safe Routes To School” community Audits/Workshops should include:

Cross section of Community PTA, School Officials, Government Agencies, Elected Officials,Business.Accessible Community meeting roomSlide Presentations of examples of “good and bad” pedestrian designDiscussion of the community’s vision for reducing “Barriers to Pedestrian Safety and Walkability”A 60-90 minute area walking tourRegroup to discuss & develop through consensus an Action PlanOrganize Priorities and Funding Sources for starting community and local officials implementation process

PARENTS

Form A Safe Routes To School TeamOrganizing A School Site Safety Committee:

Team/Committee members:

Principal or Assistant PrincipalPTA/PTSA Members: 3-4 (Parents, Teachers, Students)School Health/Counselor StaffSchool Transport Director/StaffNeighborhood OrganizationLocal Traffic Engineer/TACPolice /Traffic SafetySchool Crossing Guard ES/MSBike/PED CAC memberCounty/Local Public Transit Staff

Mapping and ObservingSchool Site Safety Committee: Tasks

Prepare The Base Maps

1.) School Neighborhood Map– School District + School Site Location– Roads, Paths/Sidewalks, Transit Systems– “Walk-Zone” & “Transit Stops”– Residential-After School Sites/Parks

2.) School Site Map– Loading Zones – Bus/Auto– Drop-off and Pick-up Areas– Student Entrance/Exits– Major Intersections, Road configurations– Traffic Signs, Signals, Crossings, School

Signs

School Site Traffic Pattern:Analysis Diagram and Parent Drop-off Plan

Safe Routes Site PlanPresidio Middle School SF

School Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Improvement Resolution – CA PTA

Resolved 1: Creation of School Safety CommitteesResolved 2: Work with local agencies and school communities to increase traffic and pedestrian safety for children, improving safe routes to and from schoolsResolved 3: Urges state and local policy makers to implement systematic and uniform improvements in traffic signs, pavement markings and control devices, with the latest technology – and educational and enforcement programsResolved 4: Policy makers in partnership with schools and community organizations to create a safer environment for allResolved 5: Advocate for increasing traffic fines (Double Fine Zone) in locally designated problematic school zones

Three levels for intervention:

POLICYInfluence policy, legislative law, local ordnances, funding priorities, methodology, guidelines (MUTCD)

PROJECT CONCEPTInterject safety issues into current project planning, pedestrian plan, infrastructure design and TOD’s

SITE SPECIFICRetrofit existing problem areas with new design & technology

State, Regional MPO, Cities, Neighborhoods

Citywide, Business and Transit Corridors

Street/SchoolSite/Intersection

Influence policies, practices, plans, programs and funding processes

Interject safety and design solutions into current or future project plans

Eliminate problems with new design solutions and ITS technologies

Vital Impact Areas for Implementing Sustainable Improvement

POLICY PLANNING DESIGN

Project Benefits: Safer CommunitiesWorkshops, School/Community Audits, Building Active Partnerships

BE IN

VOLV

ED

BE INOVATIVE

Be Aware, Be Safe, Be Active, Walk & Bike---or Skate