Safe Routes to School

Transcription

1 DRAFT MAY 2018 Safe Routes to School A plan to make walking and biking to school a safe, fun activity NORTHROP URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER Minneapolis Public Schools Minneapolis, MN

2 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We gratefully acknowledge the participation of the following individuals and organizations in the development of this Safe Routes to School Plan. KERRI JAMISON Northrop Parent & Community Member AMY JAHNKE Northrop Urban Environmental Learning Center SHEILA CRACRAFT FEHLER Northrop Community Member SUZANNE MURPHY Office of Council Member Andrew Johnson/Minneapolis Pedestrian Advisory Committee STEPHANIE MUSICH Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board DAVID SHEEN Hennepin County NEAL BAXTER Minneapolis Pedestrian Advisory Committee MEGAN DAWSON Northrop Urban Environmental Learning Center EMILY KETTELL Hennepin County PETER VADER Minneapolis Pedestrian Advisory Committee GLENN SHOEMAKER Northrop Urban Environmental Learning Center KASSY NYSTROM Northrop Parent & Community Member ELIZABETH JARRETT ANDREW Northrop Parent & Community Member AMY BRUGH Northrop Parent & Community Member SAM NEWBERG Northrop Parent & Community Member DUANE TOUGAS Northrop Parent & Community Member LONN KORANDA City of Minneapolis Public Works AARON JOHNSON City of Minneapolis Public Works VIRGINIE NADIMI City of Minneapolis Public Works ANN ELWARD Northrop Urban Environmental Learning Center JENNY BORDON Minneapolis Public Schools

3 TABLE OF CONTENTS 01 INTRODUCTION + CONTEXT... 4 The Vision...8 Northrop Urban Environmental Learning Center in Context PROGRAMS Introduction to Programs INFRASTRUCTURE Introduction to Infrastructure...19 Existing Issues and Conflicts A APPENDICES Appendix A. For More Information...34 Appendix B. SRTS Facts for School Communication...35 Appendix C. Summary of Planning Process...38 Appendix D. Existing Conditions...40 Appendix E. Student Residences...44 Appendix F. Parent Survey...45 Appendix G. Student Hand Tally...59 Appendix H. Northrop Staff Survey...65 Appendix I. Engagement Summary...69 Appendix J. Infrastructure Toolbox...73 Appendix K. Bike Parking for Schools...81 Appendix L. Maintenance Planning...83 Appendix M. Equity in SRTS Planning...84 HOW TO GET INVOLVED Using this Plan...29 TABLE OF CONTENTS 3

4 01 INTRODUCTION + CONTEXT

5 Why Safe Routes to School? 48 % 13 % MOST KIDS ARE NOT GETTING ENOUGH PHYSICAL ACTIVITY THE PERCENTAGE OF CHILDREN WALKING OR BIKING TO SCHOOL HAS DROPPED PRECIPITOUSLY WITHIN ONE GENERATION ROADS NEAR SCHOOLS ARE CONGESTED, DECREASING SAFETY AND AIR QUALITY FOR CHILDREN KIDS WHO WALK OR BIKE TO SCHOOL: Arrive alert and able to focus on school Are more likely to be a healthy body weight Get most of the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity during the trip to and from school Demonstrate improved test scores and better school performance* Are less likely to suffer from depression and anxiety THE VICIOUS CYCLE OF INCREASED TRAFFIC LEADING TO REDUCED WALKING AND BICYCLING: Fewer students walking & biking to school More parents driving children to school Rising concern about safety of walking & biking Increased traffic at and around school *More information, including primary sources, can be found at

6 THE SIX E S Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs use a variety of strategies to make it easy, fun and safe for children to walk and bike to school. These strategies are often called the Six Es. Equity Equity is an overarching concept that applies to all of the Es. Equity in SRTS means that the SRTS program is inclusive, celebrates the diversity of students, allocates resources to overcome inequities, and supports a community where walking and biking is safe, comfortable, and convenient for every student Education Enforcement Programs designed to teach children about traffic safety, bicycle and pedestrian skills, and traffic decision-making. Law enforcement strategies aimed at improving driver behavior near schools and ensuring safe roads for all users. Encouragement Evaluation Programs that make it fun for students to walk and bike, including incentive programs, regular events, or classroom activities. Strategies to help understand program effectiveness, identify improvements, and ensure program sustainability. Engineering Physical projects that are built to improve walking and bicycling conditions. 6 SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PLAN NORTHROP URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS

7 NAVIGATING THIS PLAN Below is a roadmap for navigating the way through this plan. Use it to find all the information you need for helping students be safer and more active! Programs How to get involved Getting children to walk and bike to school requires fun and engaging programs for schools and families. Turn to this section for recommended events, activities, and strategies that will get students moving. The more people involved with a local Safe Routes to School process, the more successful it will be! Use this section to find out how you can be a part of this important initiative. Infrastructure Appendices Ensuring the safety of students on their trips to and from school means upgrading the streets. See this section for suggestions to improve the safety, comfort, and convenience of walking and biking, including paint, signage, and signals. There is more information available than could fit in this plan. For additional resources, turn to this section. INTRODUCTION + CONTEXT 7

8 The Vision In the summer of 2017, Northrop Urban Environmental Learning Center (Northrop) was awarded a Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) Safe Routes to School (SRTS) planning assistance grant to hold a planning workshop and create a plan for the school. In the grant application, the school acknowledged the walkability of the neighborhood surrounding the school. However, families are hesitant to walk and bike because of a few, but significant barriers. With a workshop that engaged local stakeholders in the formulation of recommendations to improve these conditions, Northrop aims to encourage more families to give walking and biking to school a try. Northrop is one of a few Minneapolis schools with an urban environmental curriculum. With this curriculum, there is a focus on urban sustainability, including how transportation choices affect the environment. Encouraging more students and families to choose non-motorized options for traveling to school is exactly in line with the school s environmental goals. The SRTS planning process and resulting recommendations contained in this plan can further the goals of Northrop and the surrounding community. Additionally, the neighborhood surrounding the school sees itself as connected to the school and to each other. Walking and biking to school creates relationships and fosters this sense of community. The Northrop team hopes this plan will address barriers to walking and biking to school, and thus grow and enhance community relationships in South Minneapolis. The community surrounding and within Northrop are committed to providing safe transportation options to the students, residents and visitors in the area. Northrop has an active parent teacher association (PTA) as well as a new committee specifically formed to address opportunities and issues related to SRTS. This plan was made possible by support from the SRTS committee, the PTA, and in partnership with MnDOT, the City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, and the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board. The following pages offer program and infrastructure recommendations to support a safe and comfortable environment for people walking and biking to Northrop. All recommendations are intended to be on an approximate five-year timeline. While not all of these recommendations can be implemented immediately, it is important to achieve shorter-term successes while laying the groundwork for progress toward some of the larger and more complex projects. EQUITY IN SRTS EQUITY HIGHLIGHT Equity in SRTS means that walking and biking to school is safe, comfortable, and convenient for every student, regardless of race, cultural identity, immigrant or refugee status, language, gender or sexual identity, income, religion, and whether or not a student receives special education, has a physical or mental disability, or is homeless or highly mobile. An equitable SRTS program celebrates differences and recognizes and overcomes avoidable inequities in opportunities for students to walk or bike to school. 8 SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PLAN NORTHROP URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS

9 Northrop Urban Environmental Learning Center in Context Northrop Urban Environmental Learning Center is a K-5 school in the Minneapolis Public School District. It is located at the corner of 31st Ave and 43rd St in the Standish-Ericsson neighborhood of South Minneapolis, four blocks east of Lake Hiawatha Park. Hiawatha Ave (Minnesota Highway 55) runs roughly north-south two blocks to the east, with a major intersection at 42nd St. Besides serving as a route across Hiawatha Ave for all modes of transportation, 42nd St. is a stop for the Metro Blue Line, Minneapolis first light rail transit route which began service along Hiawatha Ave in Northrop has a population of 530 students who use the neighborhood for field trips and other outdoor activities. Because Minnehaha Creek runs just three blocks south of school, students and staff often walk to the creek to engage in place-based learning along the natural and unique urban feature. In addition to Hiawatha Ave., high traffic volumes are present on 42nd St., which is the main crossing of Hiawatha in the neighborhood for anyone wanting to travel east. Families living to the north of 42nd St. must cross this street during the morning and afternoon commutes to and from school. For more information on existing conditions, the student locations, and how students travel to school, refer to the Appendices at the end of this document. OAKLAND AVE PARK AVE PARK AVE E 45TH ST OAKLAND AVE COLUMBUS AVE COLUMBUS AVE CHICAGO AVE CHICAGO AVE E 35TH ST ELLIOT AVE E 38TH ST ELLIOT AVE 10TH AVE S 10TH AVE S E 41ST ST E 47TH ST E 36TH ST 11TH AVE S E 39TH ST 11TH AVE S 12TH AVE S E 43RD ST 13TH AVE S 13TH AVE S E 46TH ST 13TH AVE S E 37TH ST 14TH AVE S 14TH AVE S 15TH AVE S E 40TH ST E 42ND ST E 44TH ST 15TH AVE S BLOOMINGTON AVE BLOOMINGTON AVE 16TH AVE S 16TH AVE S 17TH AVE S 17TH AVE S E 45TH ST 18TH AVE S 18TH AVE S 18TH AVE S CEDAR AVE S CEDAR AVE S LONGFELLOW AVE LONGFELLOW AVE 19TH AVE S 19TH AVE S E 38TH ST 20TH AVE S 20TH AVE S 21ST AVE S 21ST AVE S 22ND AVE S E 41ST ST 22ND AVE S E 35TH ST STANDISH AVE STANDISH AVE 23RD AVE S E 39TH ST 23RD AVE S E 43RD ST 24TH AVE S 25TH AVE S E 37TH ST 26TH AVE S E 40TH ST E 36TH ST 27TH AVE S E 42ND ST 28TH AVE S 28TH AVE S HIAWATHA LRT TRAIL HIAWATHA HIAWATHA AVE AVE / HWY HWY TH AVE S 29TH AVE S 30TH AVE S E 46TH ST DIGHT AVE RADIUS MILE 1/2 NOKOMIS AVE NOKOMIS AVE MINNEHAHA PKWY 31ST AVE S E 44TH ST MINNEHAHA MINNEHAHA AVE AVE RADIUS MILE 1/4 32ND AVE S 33RD AVE S E 45TH ST 34TH AVE S E 38TH ST 34TH AVE S 35TH AVE S 35TH AVE S CROSBY PL 36TH AVE S SNELLING SNELLING AVE AVE SNELLING SNELLING AVE AVE E 41ST ST 36TH AVE S 37TH AVE S E 37TH ST E 43RD ST E 47TH ST 38TH AVE S E 35TH ST 39TH AVE S 40TH AVE S 40TH AVE S E 39TH ST MINNEHAHA AVE E 36TH ST 41ST AVE S 42ND AVE S E 42ND ST E 40TH ST 42ND AVE S E 46TH ST NORTHROP ELEMENTARY SCHOOL MINNEAPOLIS, MN

10 02 PROGRAMS

11 Introduction to Programs The Safe Routes to School movement acknowledges that infrastructure changes are necessary for shifting school travel behavior, but are insufficient on their own. Programs are a necessary component of any successful SRTS plan. While engineering improvements such as sidewalks, crosswalks, and bikeways are important, equally important are education programs to give children and families basic safety skills, encouragement programs to highlight walking and bicycling to school as fun and normal, enforcement against unsafe and illegal motorist behavior, and evaluation of the impact of investments and non-infrastructure efforts. Often, programs that help to get more kids walking and biking lead to increased public support for infrastructure projects - they can be an important first step towards building out the physical elements that make walking and biking safer and more comfortable. And relative to certain infrastructure projects, most programs are very low cost. Northrop is currently a leader when it comes to encouraging students and families to walk and bike to school. Staff and families participate in formal events that are held on a recurring basis, or more informal initiatives that might occur less frequently. The following list highlights some of these programs: Annual Bike Rally Ongoing bike field trips Minnehaha Mondays remote bus drop and walk Annual Walk-a-Thon fundraiser Student school patrol Use and promotion of MPS walking route map Recommended Programs To increase the number of students walking and biking to school, the following programs are recommended for Northrop. In order for a program to be successful and sustainable, a network of support within and outside school is necessary. The programs listed below were compiled after conversations with school and district staff, parents, students, community members, and city and county staff. The team discussed existing resources at schools, in the district, and within the community that might support programs to ensure they succeed. The following programs are recommended for Northrop: Paint the Pavement Trip Tracker/classroom competition Walk! Bike! Fun! curriculum training / safety education training Use of the Minneapolis Public School bike fleet Increase the number of walk and bike field trips Walking School Bus Bike Train Increase the number of Walk/Bike to School Days Expand the crossing guard program On the following pages, additional information is provided for programs listed above - a brief description, a suggestion for who should lead the program, a suggested timeline, and rationale to support its recommendation. PROGRAMS 11

12 PAINT THE PAVEMENT Brief Description: Working together with the local road authority, school communities can use paint and plantings to create a gateway on nearby streets or intersections that alerts drivers they are entering a school area where children are present. Colorful paint can be applied to the pavement to mimic the shape of curb extensions and act to narrow the roadway and decrease speeds. The painting can be more elaborate, even taking over the entire intersection. The painted areas could share a theme with the school community. Students, parents and staff can help design and implement the paintings. Program Lead: City of Minneapolis, Northrop SRTS team Timeline: Short term (1-2 years) Why we recommend it: This kind of treatment could work well at 43rd Street and 31st Avenue, where the majority of activity occurs during arrival and dismissal. Other possible intersections could include 31st Ave and 43rd St or 31st Ave and 46th St at the entrance to Minnehaha Creek - a crossing frequently used by the school community. There is a strong community of students, staff, parents, and neighbors. Creating a welcome to Northrop gateway would make this connection to the neighborhood even stronger, while letting visitors to the area know they should slow down and expect to see children. Consider involving parents with artistic backgrounds or skills in the initial design. The City of Minneapolis has a guide for Paint the Pavement at cped/documents/webcontent/wcms1p pdf TRIP TRACKER/CLASS COMPETITION Brief Description: A trip or mileage tracking program can be implemented as an opt-in club, a classroom activity, or a collaborative school-wide event. Students track trips or mileage made by walking, bicycling, transit, and/or carpools with some type of goal or culminating celebration or reward. Classrooms can compete for prizes and bragging rights. Students can work towards a certain milestone to earn a prize or raffle entry, or they can track their individual or group progress as miles across their town, the state of Minnesota, or the United States. There are even online apps that sync to wearable fitness trackers. Prizes or charitable donations can be unlocked when certain goals or number of steps have been reached. The accompanying online app can be a platform to compete between classrooms or other MPS schools! Program Lead: School staff, Northrop SRTS team Timeline: Short (1-2 years) Why we recommend it: There are a relatively high number of students who already walk to school. Walking field trips and Minnehaha Mondays are ways of tracking miles for those students who cannot walk to school because of distance. To complement Northrop s environmental mission, consider incorporating a prize or recognition for the student or classroom who collects the most different types of tree leaves on the walk. That way, students will be encouraged to get outside and walk even if they aren t winning the mileage competition. 12 SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PLAN NORTHROP URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS

13 WALK! BIKE! FUN! Brief Description: Walk! Bike! Fun! helps children ages five to thirteen learn traffic rules and regulations, the potential hazards to traveling, and handling skills needed to bike and walk effectively, appropriately and safely through their community. Any community member or staff member at school can sign up to be trained in the Walk! Bike! Fun! curriculum and it is structured to meet Minnesota education standards. Program Lead: MPS, Northrop SRTS team, BikeMN Timeline: Short term (1-2 years) depending on availability of trainings offered by BikeMN Why we recommend it: Northrop already hosts an annual bike care and safety day. If a staff member were trained in the Walk! Bike! Fun! Curriculum, these essential skills could be taught during other times of the school year. Additionally, Northrop currently has a family group focused on initiatives for equity and justice. Combined with the MPS bike fleet and a staff member trained in the safety curriculum, this group could reach Northrop students and families who might not have access to these resources. MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS BIKE FLEETS Brief Description: MPS owns two bicycle fleets that are available to all schools in the district. The bikes are sized to fit elementary and middle school students and housed within a large trailer that moves from school to school for about two weeks at a time. In the fleets reached more than 1,500 students at 12 different schools all these students used the bicycles under the guidance of an MPS physical education or health teacher trained in Walk! Bike! Fun! and nearly all the students put their learning into practice with off-campus rides on the streets and trails of Minneapolis. Program Lead: Northrop SRTS team, MPS Timeline: Short (1-2 years) Why we recommend it: The bike fleets can be used to provide bicycles to students who cannot supply their own, further reducing barriers to bicycling. Before the fleets could be reserved for a period of time at Northrop, a staff member must be trained in the Walk! Bike! Fun! Curriculum. PROGRAMS 13

14 INCREASE THE NUMBER OF WALK AND BIKE FIELD TRIPS Brief Description: A field trip made by foot or by bicycle gives students a supportive environment in which to practice their pedestrian safety or bicycling skills. Walk/bike field trips can also showcase the many benefits of walking and bicycling for transportation including health and physical activity, pollution reduction, and cost savings. The destination of the field trip may vary, or the field trip could be the ride or walk itself. Program Lead: School staff, Northrop SRTS team Timeline: Short (1-2 years) Why we recommend it: Because of Northrop s environmentally-related curriculum, students and teachers are already taking walking field trips to enjoy and learn about nature. Field trips can cover greater distances if made by bicycle. These could be planned to overlap with the use of the MPS bicycle fleet. Nearby Minnehaha Creek provides an excellent and safe network of off-road trails for the school community to use. WALKING SCHOOL BUS Brief Description: A Walking School Bus is a group of children walking to school with one or more adults. Parents can take turns leading the bus, which follows the same route every time and picks up children from their homes or designated bus stops at designated times. Ideally, buses run every day or on a regular schedule so families can count on it, but they often begin as a one-time pilot event. Program Lead: Northrop PTA, Northrop SRTS team, MPS Timeline: Short (1-2 years) Why we recommend it: Minneapolis Public Schools can provide training, equipment, and technical assistance. The school community strongly supports walking to school. During the engagement event and in the original grant application, it was mentioned that parents wanted their children to walk but were concerned of a few streets acting as major barriers. In addition, parents cited lack of time in the morning as a reason to not walk to school. If parents or trusted adults could share the duty of leading a walking school bus, it might invite more students and families to walk. A Walking School Bus could help continue the momentum of safe and comfortable walking to school during the colder months when Minnehaha Mondays are not held. Consider incorporating a campaign or messaging that encourages neighbors to keep sidewalks clear of snow. 14 SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PLAN NORTHROP URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS

15 BIKE TRAIN Brief Description: A Bike Train is very similar to a Walking School Bus: groups of students accompanied by one or more adults bicycle together on a pre-planned route to school. Routes can originate from a particular neighborhood or, in order to include children who live too far to bicycle the whole way, begin from a park, parking lot, or other meeting place. Program Lead: Northrop PTA, Northrop SRTS team, MPS, BikeMN Timeline: Short (1-2 years) Why we recommend it: The school community strongly supports biking to school and already host an annual bike rally. Several students and staff members bike to school on a regular basis. A parent or volunteer could stop along their ride to work and be a trusted adult to lead students the rest of the way. The school could try it once as a pilot, and expand depending on PTA or other volunteer availability. SAFETY CAMPAIGN Brief Description: A school safety campaign is a way to promote safe driving, walking, and biking behaviors around school. Students can create banners, posters, or lawn signs that remind drivers to slow down, stop for pedestrians, pay attention, and interact safely with crossing guards. The campaign can take place over a week, or on select days throughout the school year. This event could also partner with increased or targeted MPD enforcement during arrival and dismissal. Program Lead: School staff, Northrop SRTS team, MPD Timeline: Short term (1-2 years) Why we recommend it: At the workshop, engagement event, and in the grant application, the intersection of 43rd Street and 31st Avenue was identified as a barrier for students walking or biking to school. While student patrols are present, confusion among different modes can cause uncomfortable crossings for people walking and biking. At the intersection of 42nd Street and 31st Avenue, students and families face higher vehicle volumes and speeds. Both of these intersections would be ideal locations for posters or banners to encourage safe driving and to alert drivers that children are present. Targeted MPD enforcement at 42nd Street and 31st Avenue could be paired with this type of event, further elevating and enforcing the need for safe driving in the area. Consider partnering with the Standish-Ericsson Neighborhood Association (SENA) to organize and implement a safety campaign. PROGRAMS 15

16 CONTINUE AND INCREASE THE NUMBER OF WALK / BIKE TO SCHOOL DAYS Brief Description: Walk and bike to school days are organized events encouraging students to walk or bicycle to school. They can happen as part of National Walk / Bike to School Days, or monthly or weekly. Program Lead: School staff, Northrop SRTS team Timeline: Immediately Why we recommend it: Northrop students and families participated in Winter Walk to School Day in February In addition, the school consistently participates in the fall and spring Walk to School events. When the weather is warm, Northrop holds weekly remote bus drop and walk events, called Minnehaha Mondays. A monthly or weekly walk to school day could be organized to piggyback off of Minnehaha Mondays. Consider piloting a Walking School Bus during a Walk to School Day event. EXPAND CROSSING GUARD PROGRAM Brief Description: Crossing guards are trained adults, paid or volunteer, who are legally empowered to stop traffic to assist students with crossing the street. Student crossing guards can also be used at corners after they have received safety training from a certified youth crossing guard trainer. Program Lead: MPD, Northrop PTA, St. Helena s Catholic School Timeline: Immediately Why we recommend it: Northrop currently has adult-supervised student crossing guards at the intersection of 43rd Street and 31st Avenue. Student crossing guards are also stationed at 44th Street and 32nd Avenue, but are not directly supervised by an adult. Additional student crossing guards were discussed at the workshop in November 2017 for the intersection of 44th St and 31st Ave. Consider partnering with St. Helena s Catholic School at this intersection. PROGRAMS FURTHER READING For a complete list of all potential programs and descriptions, see 16 SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PLAN NORTHROP URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS

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18 03 INFRASTRUCTURE

19 Introduction to Infrastructure In addition to program recommendations, changes to the streetscape are essential to making walking and biking to school safer and more comfortable. The initial field review and subsequent meetings yielded specific recommendations to address the key barriers to walking and bicycling in the areas surrounding Northrop. This plan does not represent a comprehensive list of every project that could improve conditions for walking and bicycling in the neighborhood, but rather the key conflict points and highest priority infrastructure improvements to improve walking and bicycling access to the school. The recommendations range from simple striping changes and school signing to more significant changes to the streets, intersections and school infrastructure. All engineering recommendations are shown on the Recommended Infrastructure Improvements map and corresponding tables on pages It should be noted that funding is limited and all recommendations made are planning-level concepts only. Additional engineering studies will be needed to confirm feasibility and final costs for projects. Before recommendations are presented, pages show and discuss conditions currently existing in the area surrounding Northrop. These observations were made during a walk assessment of the area. A walk assessment is the process of walking the streets surrounding the school to assess and observe the barriers and challenges faced by people walking and biking. The Northrop Safe Routes to School team performed a walk assessment led by consultants in the fall of INFRASTRUCTURE 19

20 Existing Issues and Conflicts The section that follows highlights some of the major issues in the area surrounding Northrop. The photos and observations described below were made during the fall of 2017, when the Northrop SRTS team performed a walk assessment of the area surrounding the schools. A walk assessment allowed the team to experience the conditions faced by people who walk and bike in the area. More observations and recommendations to improve conditions can be found on the pages following this overview. E 43RD ST & S 31ST AVE 43rd St and 31st Ave is the main intersection for families walking and biking to school from the north and west. The school posts student crossing guards and an adult volunteer at the intersection to assist students crossing to the main entrance of Northrop, but because of vehicle drop offs and busing, the long crossings can be challenging and uncomfortable. There is no stop sign controlling north and south traffic on 31st Ave, which can be confusing for drivers as they approach the intersection during arrival and dismissal. E 46TH ST & S 31ST AVE School buses drop students in the area of 46th St and 31st Ave during Minnehaha Monday events. Additionally, when staff and students take field trips to the Creek, they frequently use this crossing. There is no marked crosswalk, the crossing distances are long, the curb ramp is aligned to the center line of 31st Ave, and the curb ramps are not compliant with ADA standards. The photo below shows this crossing. 20 SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PLAN NORTHROP URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS

21 E 42ND ST A major barrier to traveling to and from Northrop on foot or by bike is the 42nd St corridor, which runs eastwest one block north of campus. Though an on street bike lane is present along 42nd, high vehicle volumes and speeds along the corridor make the crossings uncomfortable for students and families. E 42ND ST & S 28TH AVE The intersection in the photo on the right connects two major roadways in south Minneapolis. Many families attending Northrop live to the north and west of this intersection (see Appendix E for maps of locations of student residences). This crossing acts as both a gateway and barrier to safe and comfortable walking and biking to Northrop. INFRASTRUCTURE 21

22 E 43RD ST AND S 28TH AVE For families traveling to Northrop from the west, perhaps the biggest barrier is the crossing of 28th Ave. A former Hennepin County road, 28th Ave is the main north-south route running on the east side of Lake Hiawatha and Nokomis Parks. Because of this, traffic volumes are higher than surrounding neighborhood streets. A parking lane on either side of 28th Ave along with a single lane in either direction make the crossing distances long. Metro Transit Route 22 serves the corridor, which can create difficult sight lines for people walking and biking across 28th Ave on 43rd St. Finally, as shown in the above picture, curb ramps do not meet ADA standards. WINTER MAINTENANCE FURTHER READING In colder climates, it is important to consider how winter can affect the safety and comfort for youth walking and biking to school. See Appendix L for information related to winter maintenance that will allow kids to stay active and healthy year round. 22 SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PLAN NORTHROP URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS

23 E 40TH ST 21ST AVE S 24TH AVE S 26TH AVE S Roosevelt Library Roosevelt High School E 40TH ST E 40TH ST 18TH AVE S 19TH AVE S M E 41ST ST STANDISH AVE 25TH AVE S K 27TH AVE S N Q F E 41ST ST E J HIAWATHA AVE / HWY 55 Community Garden E 41ST ST SNELLING AVE D CEDAR AVE S E 42ND ST 20TH AVE S 22ND AVE S E 43RD ST 23RD AVE S P C E 42ND ST 30TH AVE S E 43RD ST I A 32ND AVE S G 34TH AVE S E 42ND ST E 43RD ST MINNEHAHA AVE E 44TH ST E 45TH ST LONGFELLOW AVE O Lake Hiawatha Park 28TH AVE S 29TH AVE S E 45TH ST E 44TH ST NOKOMIS AVE H 31ST AVE S Northrop Urban Environmental Learning Center St. Helena s Catholic School L 33RD AVE S HIAWATHA AVE / HWY 55 HIAWATHA HIAWATHA AVE AVE / HWY HWY E 44TH ST 34TH AVE S E 45TH ST E 44TH ST E 45TH ST E 46TH ST Intersection Opportunity 28TH AVE S 30TH AVE S B 32ND AVE S E 46TH ST E 46TH ST Corridor Opportunity Minnehaha Creek Primary Existing Walking or Biking Routes 34TH AVE S N INFRASTRUCTURE 23

24 Infrastructure Recommendations LOCATION PROBLEM/ISSUE POTENTIAL SOLUTION/RECOMMENDATION ANTICIPATED OUTCOME LEAD PRIORITY A 43rd St & 31st Ave Drivers not anticipating people crossing through this intersection (primary school gateway); long crossing distances; uncomfortable motor vehicle volumes and multiple turning movements during arrival and dismissal; vehicles parked close to the marked crosswalks decreasing visibility; two-way stop control unexpected by motorists Install curb extensions; install raised crosswalks/speed table or raise the entire intersection; install signage alerting drivers to slow during approach to grade change; install all-way stop; install forward stop bars Slower vehicle speeds, higher yielding compliance by drivers, better visibility, more comfortable experience for people walking. Drivers in the area identify the intersection as a gateway to the school City of Minneapolis High B 46th St & 31st Ave Drivers not anticipating people crossing from 31st to Minnehaha Creek; crossings do not meet accessibility standards; intersection design encourages crossing outside of crosswalk to access the creek trails; frequently used crossing by Northrop classroom fi eld trips and Minnehaha Mondays Install curb extensions; install high visibility crosswalk on east crossing; install signage upstream of crossing to highlight it as an area where drivers should expect people; install ADA compliant curb ramps to align with crossings Slower vehicle speeds, higher yielding compliance by drivers, better visibility, more comfortable experience for people walking City of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board High C 43rd St & 28th Ave Drivers not anticipating people crossing 28th Ave (primary access point to neighborhoods west of 28th Ave); crossings do not meet accessibility standards; long crossing distances Install curb extensions; install high visibility crosswalk on south crossing; install signage upstream of crossing to highlight it as an area where drivers should expect people; install ADA compliant curb ramps Slower vehicle speeds, higher yielding compliance by drivers, better visibility, more comfortable experience for people walking City of Minneapolis High D 43rd St & Cedar Ave Uncomfortable motor vehicle volumes and speeds on Cedar Ave; drivers not anticipating people crossing Cedar Ave (primary connection to access neighborhoods west of Cedar Ave); long crossing distances; vehicles parked close to the marked crosswalks decreasing visibility; crossings do not meet accessibility standards Install curb extensions; install high visibility crosswalk on south crossing; install signage upstream of crossing to highlight it as an area where drivers should expect people; install activated fl ashing beacon; install ADA compliant curb ramps where absent Slower vehicle speeds, higher yielding compliance by drivers, better visibility, more comfortable experience for people walking Hennepin County, City of Minneapolis High E 42nd St & 31st Ave Uncomfortable motor vehicle speeds on 42nd St; drivers not anticipating people crossing through this intersection (primary connection from school to neighborhoods north of 42nd St); long crossing distances Install curb extensions; install high visibility crosswalk on east crossing; install signage upstream of crossing to highlight it as an area where drivers should expect people; install activated fl ashing beacon; install ADA compliant curb ramps where absent; install no parking zone at all times on 42nd St for a minimum of 30 feet upstream from the crossings Slower vehicle speeds, higher yielding compliance by drivers, better visibility, more comfortable experience for people walking Hennepin County, City of Minneapolis High F 42nd St & Nokomis Ave Drivers not anticipating people biking and walking through this intersection; inconsistent driver compliance with existing stop control; long crossing distances; Install curb extensions; install high visibility crosswalk on east crossing; install forward stop bars; install ADA compliant curb ramps where absent; install bicycle intersection crossing markings across 42nd St Slower vehicle speeds, higher yielding compliance by drivers, better visibility of people riding on the Nokomis Bike Blvd; more comfortable experience for people walking and biking Hennepin County, City of Minneapolis High G 43rd St & 32nd Ave Drivers not anticipating people crossing through this intersection (frequently used connection to Community Garden); long crossing distances; vehicles parked close to the marked crosswalks decreasing visibility; two-way stop control unexpected by motorists Install curb extensions; install high visibility crosswalk; install forward stop bars; install all-way stop Slower vehicle speeds, higher yielding compliance by drivers, better visibility, more comfortable experience for people walking City of Minneapolis Medium H 44th St & 31st Ave Drivers not anticipating people crossing through this intersection; long crossing distances; vehicles parked close to the marked crosswalks decreasing visibility; two-way stop control unexpected by motorists Install curb extensions; install forward stop bars; install all-way stop Slower vehicle speeds, higher yielding compliance by drivers, better visibility, more comfortable experience for people walking City of Minneapolis Medium I 43rd St & Nokomis Ave Drivers not anticipating people crossing Nokomis Ave; long crossing distances; uncomfortable motor vehicle volumes and speeds on Nokomis Ave; vehicles parked close to the marked crosswalks decreasing visibility; crossings do not meet accessibility standards. This intersection previously had a police crossing guard and marked crosswalk. Install curb extensions; install high visibility crosswalk; install forward stop bars; install ADA compliant curb ramps Slower vehicle speeds, higher yielding compliance by drivers, better visibility, more comfortable experience for people walking City of Minneapolis Medium J 42nd St & 32nd Ave Uncomfortable motor vehicle speeds on 42nd St due to drivers speeding to cross Hiawatha Ave; drivers not anticipating people crossing through this intersection (connection to Community Garden); long crossing distances; crossings do not meet accessibility standards Install curb extensions; install high visibility crosswalk on east crossing; install signage upstream of crossing to highlight it as an area where drivers should expect people; install ADA compliant curb ramps where absent Slower vehicle speeds, higher yielding compliance by drivers, better visibility, more comfortable experience for people walking Hennepin County, City of Minneapolis Medium 24 SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PLAN NORTHROP URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS

25 Infrastructure Recommendations (continued) LOCATION PROBLEM/ISSUE POTENTIAL SOLUTION/RECOMMENDATION ANTICIPATED OUTCOME LEAD PRIORITY K 42nd St & 26th Ave Uncomfortable motor vehicle speeds on 42nd St; drivers not anticipating people crossing through this intersection; long crossing distances; crossings do not meet accessibility standards Install permanent median safety island; install curb extensions; install ADA compliant curb ramps; coordinate with SENA Slower vehicle speeds, higher yielding compliance by drivers, better visibility, more comfortable experience for people walking Hennepin County, City of Minneapolis Medium L 44th St & 32nd Ave Drivers not anticipating people crossing through this intersection (primary connection to Northrop for St. Helena s students who share buses); long crossing distances; vehicles parked close to the marked crosswalks decreasing visibility; two-way stop control unexpected by motorists Install curb extensions; install high visibility crosswalks; install forward stop bars; install all-way stop Slower vehicle speeds, higher yielding compliance by drivers, better visibility, more comfortable experience for people walking City of Minneapolis Medium M 42nd St & 21st Ave Uncomfortable motor vehicle speeds on 42nd St; drivers not anticipating people crossing through this intersection; long crossing distances; crossings do not meet accessibility standards Install permanent median safety island; install curb extensions; install ADA compliant curb ramps; coordinate with SENA Slower vehicle speeds, higher yielding compliance by drivers, better visibility, more comfortable experience for people walking Hennepin County, City of Minneapolis Medium N 42nd St & 28th Ave Long crossing distances; long traffi c signal cycle / wait time for people desiring to cross; drivers not anticipating people crossing; high vehicle speeds and volumes during commute hours Install curb extensions; install leading pedestrian interval (LPI) Increased visibility of pedestrians, less wait time for people walking; less jaywalking; more comfortable experience for people walking Hennepin County, City of Minneapolis Low O 44th St & 28th Ave Long traffi c signal cycle / wait time for people desiring to cross 28th Ave and access Lake Hiawatha Park; current MPS recommended safe route across 28th Ave Install curb extensions; install leading pedestrian interval (LPI) Increased visibility of pedestrians, less wait time for people walking; less jaywalking; more comfortable experience for people walking City of Minneapolis, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Low P 43rd St from Cedar Ave to 31st Ave Drivers not anticipating people walking and biking to access the school campus along this primary east-west spine (this is the shortest, most direct route to neighborhoods west of Cedar Ave) Consider traffi c calming improvements along corridor including median safety islands, midblock neckdowns, curb extensions at intersections, bicycle boulevard/neighborhood greenway, etc. Slower speeds and increased comfort for people walking and biking in the corridor City of Minneapolis Coordinate with Items A, C, D & I Q 42nd St from 25th Ave to 34th Ave Wide street cross section encourages drivers to move quickly; drivers not anticipating people walking and biking and crossing to access the school campus Consider traffi c calming improvements along corridor including median safety islands, midblock neckdowns, curb extensions at intersections, etc. Slower speeds and increased comfort for people walking and biking in the corridor Hennepin County Coordinate with Items E, F, J, K & N APPENDIX FURTHER READING For a complete list of infrastructure to increase bicyclist and pedestrian safety and comfort, turn to Appendix J. The toolkit found here will help you brainstorm additional improvements for the area surrounding Northrop. INFRASTRUCTURE 25

26 Northrop has two bicycle parking racks on the north side of school. The rack pictured in the top left photo offers two contact points on which a person can lean their bicycle, then securely lock it. The rack on the top right can lead to bicycles being damaged when the front wheel is bent. Additionally, a bicycle in the top right photo can often only be locked to the rack by its front wheel, which does not provide maximum security. The bottom left photo shows a bicycle fix-it station, which provides a bicycle pump and various tools for anyone to use. The bottom right photo shows the intersection of 28th Ave and 42nd St. Because many Northrop families live to the north and west of this intersection, it is often used when traveling to school on foot or by bicycle. 26 SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PLAN NORTHROP URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS

27 PLACE HOLDER FOR CONCEPT DRAWINGS INFRASTRUCTURE 27

28 04 HOW TO GET INVOLVED

29 Using this Plan At the heart of every successful Safe Routes to School comprehensive program is a coordinated effort by parent volunteers, school staff, local agency staff, law enforcement, public health, and community advocates. This plan provides an overview of Safe Routes to School with specific recommendations for a 6 E s approach to improve the safety and the health and wellness of students. The specific recommendations in this plan are intended to support improvements and programs over the next five years. These recommendations include both long- and short-term infrastructure improvements as well as programmatic recommendations. FOR MORE INFORMATION MN SRTS Resource Center There are many great resources already available on the Minnesota Safe Routes to School Resource Center. You can find answers to many common questions, information about upcoming events, and even promotional material that can easily be customized for your community s SRTS event. The MN SRTS Resource Center is a great way to stay engaged throughout the year! mnsaferoutestoschool.org It should be noted that not all of these projects and programs need to be implemented right away to improve the environment for walking and bicycling to school. The recommended projects and programs listed in this plan should be reviewed as part of the overall and ongoing Safe Routes to School strategy. Some projects will require more time, support, and funding than others. It is important to achieve shorter-term successes while laying the groundwork for progress toward some of the larger and more complex projects. HOW TO GET INVOLVED 29

30 WHO ARE YOU? Successful programs are achieved through the coordinated efforts of parent volunteers, school staff, local agency staff, law enforcement, and community advocates, such as public health. Each partner has a key role to play in contributing to a plan s success. The following paragraphs highlight the unique contributions of key partners in Safe Routes to School. I AM A PARENT Parents can use this report to understand the conditions at their children s school and to become familiar with the ways an SRTS program can work to make walking and bicycling safer. Concerned parents or city residents have a very important role in the Safe Routes to School process. Parent groups, both formal and informal, have the ability and the responsibility to help implement many of the educational and encouragement programs suggested in this plan. Parent groups can also be key to ongoing success by helping to fundraise for smaller projects and programs. I AM A COMMUNITY MEMBER Community residents, even if they don t currently have children enrolled in school, can play an important role in supporting implementation of the plan. They can use this report to better understand where there may be opportunities to participate in programming initiatives and infrastructure improvements. Community members, including seniors or retirees who may have more flexible schedules than parents with school-aged 30 children, may volunteer in established programs or work with school staff or community partners to start new programs recommended in this plan. I WORK FOR THE SCHOOL DISTRICT School district staff can use this report to prioritize improvements identified on District property and develop programs that educate and encourage students and parents to seek alternatives to single family commutes to school. District officials are perhaps the most stable of the stakeholders for a Safe Routes to School program and are in the best position to keep the program active over time. District staff can work with multiple schools, sharing information and bringing efficiencies to programs at each school working on Safe Routes. I AM A SCHOOL ADMINISTRATOR School administrators have an important role in implementing the recommendations contained within this SRTS plan. For a plan to succeed, the impetus for change and improvement must be supported by the leadership of the school. School administrators can help with making policy and procedural changes to projects that are within school grounds and by distributing informational materials to parents within school publications. Please read the SRTS Facts for School Communication in Appendix B. SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PLAN NORTHROP URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING CENTER, MINNEAPOLIS

31 I AM A TEACHER OR OTHER STAFF MEMBER Other than parents, teachers might interact with students the most. Teachers can include bicycle and pedestrian safety in lesson plans (see Walk! Bike! Fun!). Sharing books in your classroom that promote walking and biking is a good way to get kids interested at an early age. Teachers can also arrange for field trips within walking distance of school and incorporate informal lessons about safety along the way. In general, being positive and encouraging about walking and biking is a great way to start! For all infrastructure recommendations, a traffic study and more detailed engineering may be necessary to evaluate project feasibility. Additional public outreach should be conducted before final design and construction. For recommendations within the public right-of-way, the responsible agency will determine how (and if) to incorporate suggestions into local improvement plans and prioritize funding to best meet the needs of each school community. I WORK FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT MnDOT SRTS grants Police department staff can use this report to understand issues related to walking and bicycling to school and to plan for and prioritize enforcement activities that may make it easier and safer for students to walk and bike to school. The Police Department will be instrumental to the success of the enforcement programs and policies recommended in this plan. The Police Department will also have a key role in working with school administrations in providing officers and assistance to some of the proposed education and encouragement programs. Federal SRTS grants I WORK IN PUBLIC HEALTH Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) Public health staff can use this report to identify specific opportunities to collaborate with schools and local governments to support safety improvements and encourage healthy behaviors in school children and their families. I WORK FOR THE CITY OR COUNTY City and County staff can use this report to identify citywide issues and opportunities related to walking and bicycling and to prioritize infrastructure improvements. City staff can also use this report to support Safe Routes to School funding and support opportunities such as: HOW TO GET INVOLVED 31