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 Accidents

K-12 School Children Children Ages 5-17 Seniors 55 and up The Disabled Our Community Tourists 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

Regional Pedestrian Safety:Educational and Safety PSA Programs

Enforcement: Active/Passive

SF School Adult Crossing Guards

Parking-Traffic Control Officers

SFPD-Traffic Unit

Pedestrian & School Site Audits

Purpose of Pedestrian and School “Safe Routes” Audits

Generate concern about school and community pedestrian safety and walkability issues

Channel concern into commitment Structure commitment into a

realistic plan action Recognition that “safety” impacts

our health, our environment, and local business

To improve “Our Quality of Life” Help transform problem awareness

into a commitment to solutions…

PTA Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Survey Results – SFUSD K-12 Sites

99% Unsafe school site traffic conditions, double parking or loading zone 92% Cannot pull safely outside of traffic flow to unload/pick-up children. 94% Loading Zones need to be reconfigured for drop-offs and pick-ups 75% No agreement and compliance by parents for safe drop-offs and pick-

ups. 75% Crosswalk non-existent or lacking crossing signs or yellow markings 79% Children and adults frequently crossing outside of marked crosswalks 49% Adult crossing guards needed due to traffic volume, speed, or congestion 75% No regular site personnel monitoring parent drop-offs and pick-ups 98% New (FYG) signs for school awareness, speed control, school crossing 92% Signs missing, damaged or requiring repair 98% Bus loading curb paint, bus lane lines, or “SLOW SCHOOL XING” marking 75% Lack of adequate stop signs/signal timing at school intersection

crossings 94% 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 room

Slide Presentations of examples of “good and bad” pedestrian design

Discussion of the community’s vision for reducing “Barriers to Pedestrian Safety and Walkability”

A 60-90 minute area walking tour Regroup to discuss & develop

through consensus an Action Plan Organize Priorities and Funding

Sources for starting community and local officials implementation process

PARENTS

Form A Safe Routes To School Team Organizing A School Site Safety Committee:

Team/Committee members:

Principal or Assistant Principal PTA/PTSA Members: 3-4 (Parents, Teachers, Students) School Health/Counselor Staff School Transport Director/Staff Neighborhood Organization Local Traffic Engineer/TAC Police /Traffic Safety School Crossing Guard ES/MS Bike/PED CAC member County/Local Public Transit Staff

Mapping and Observing School 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 Plan Presidio Middle School SF

School Traffic and Pedestrian Safety Improvement Resolution – CA PTA

Resolved 1: Creation of School Safety Committees Resolved 2: Work with local agencies and school communities to

increase traffic and pedestrian safety for children, improving safe routes to and from schools

Resolved 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 programs

Resolved 4: Policy makers in partnership with schools and community organizations to create a safer environment for all

Resolved 5: Advocate for increasing traffic fines (Double Fine Zone) in locally designated problematic school zones

Three levels for intervention:

POLICY

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

PROJECT CONCEPT

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

SITE SPECIFIC

Retrofit existing problem areas with new design & technology

State, Regional MPO, Cities, Neighborhoods

Citywide, Business and Transit Corridors

Street/School

Site/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

INV

OLV

ED BE INO

VATIVE

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