RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IN THE CITY OF PARLIER

Transcription

1 RECOMMENDATIONS TO IMPROVE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IN THE CITY OF PARLIER August 2014 ByTonyDang,WendyAlfsen,CaliforniaWalks; JillCooper,UCBerkeleySafeTREC

2 Recommendations to Improve Pedestrian Safety in the City of Parlier BY TONY DANG, WENDY ALFSEN, CALIFORNIA WALKS; JILL COOPER, UC BERKELEY SAFETREC INTRODUCTION IncollaborationwiththeLatinoCoalitionforaHealthyCaliforniaandtheCentralCaliforniaObesity PreventionProgram(CCROPP),theCityofParlierwasidentifiedasafocuscommunityforaCommunity PedestrianSafetyTrainingbasedoncommunityresidentinterestinpedestriansafetyandwalkabilityat thejune7,2014parlierhealthycommunityforum.attheforum,communityresidentsidentifiedthe needformorefacilitiesforthecommunity,includingchildren,towalk,run,andplaysafely.key prioritiesincludedsaferoutestoschoolprograms,additionalmarkedcrosswalks,andspeed enforcement askeypriorities. Followingadditionalconversations,theCityinvitedtheUniversityofCaliforniaatBerkeley ssafe TransportationResearchCenter(SafeTREC)andCaliforniaWalks(CalWalks)toParliertofacilitatea pedestriansafetyactionvplanningworkshopwithanimmediatefocusonstrengtheningthecity sgrant applicationforthefresnocouncilofgovernment s(fcog)regionalactivetransportationprogram (ATP)throughacommunityVdrivenprocess.CalWalksfacilitatedtheworkshoponAugust13,2014and providedanoverviewofmultidisciplinaryapproachestoimprovepedestriansafety,awalkability assessmentofcitystreets,andsmallgroupdiscussionstofacilitatethedevelopmentof recommendationsforthecity songoingactivetransportationefforts,aswellastoinformthecity s regionalatpapplication.thisreportsummarizestheworkshopproceedings,aswellasideasidentified duringtheprocessandrecommendationsforsafetyprojects. BACKGROUND Community Pedestrian Safety Training Program TheCommunityPedestrianSafetyTraining(CPST)programisajointprojectofUCBerkeleySafeTREC andcalwalks.fundingforthisprogramisprovidedbyagrantfromthecaliforniaofficeoftraffic Safety(OTS)throughtheNationalHighwayTrafficSafetyAdministration.ThepurposeoftheCPSTisto trainlocalneighborhoodresidentsandsafetyadvocatesinpedestriansafetyandtoeducatethem aboutcollaboratingwithlocalofficialsandagencystafftomakecommunitiessaferandmorepleasant towalk.thehalfvdaytrainingisdesignedtoprovideparticipantswithpedestriansafetybestpractices andarangeofprovenstrategies(the6e s:evaluation,engineering,enforcement,education, Encouragement,Empowerment)toaddressandimprovepedestriansafetyconditionsandconcerns. 1

3 Participantsarethenguidedonawalkabilityassessmentofnearbystreetsbeforesettingpedestrian safetyprioritiesandactionablenextstepsfortheircommunity. ForasummaryofoutcomesfrompastCPSTworkshops,pleasevisit: Selected Pedestrian Safety Conditions in the City of Parlier TrafficVolumes&SpeedAlongManningAvenue ManningAvenueisa4V5lane,highspeed(45MPH) streetthatexperiencesrelativelyhightrafficvolumes, aswellasheavyfreighttraffic.whilemanningave. servesasaregionalarterial,manycommunity residentsutilizemanningave.asaprimary transportationcorridoronfootasitistheonlystreet thatrunsthefulllengthofthecity. SidewalkGapsAlongManningAvenue MANNINGAVENUEWESTBOUNDATZEDIKERAVENUE Despitebeingaprimarytransportationcorridorfor manyresidents,therearecurrentlymanyexistingsidewalkgapsonthenorthsideofmanningave.the southsideiswithinthecounty srightvofvwayandgenerallylackssidewalks.manycommunity residentsonthewestsideofthecitytravelalongmanningave.tousevitalservicesontheeastsideof town,includingtheunitedhealthcenteratmanningandzediker theonlyhealthcareproviderinthe immediatevicinity.thelackofsidewalksalongmanningisasignificantbarriertoactualandperceived safetyforpeoplewalking,giventhehightrafficvolumesandspeeds,includingfrequentfreighttraffic. SidewalkconstructiontoaddressgapsbetweenZedikerAve.andMadsenAve.isfullyfundedthrough thefcogregionaltransportationplanandshouldbeconstructedwithin12months withthe sidewalkgapbetweenmadsenave.andmendocinoave.asthelargestremaininggap(roughly0.5 miles)inthecoreofthecity. SIDEWALKGAPSALONGMANNINGAVENUEMARKEDINRED Parlier s Pedestrian Collision History OveranineVyearperiod(2003V2011),therehavebeenatotalof20pedestriancollisionsand12 bicyclistcollisionsinthecityofparlier,ofwhich3haveresultedinsevereinjuries.inanalyzingthe collisiondata,thefollowingtrendswereestablished: Pedestriancollisionscomprised30%ofallsevereinjurytrafficcollisionsinParlier; 2

4 2ofthe3severeinjurypedestriancollisionsinvolvedchildren15oryounger; Thetoptwoprimarycollisionfactorsidentifiedinpolicetrafficrecordsforallpedestrian collisionsduringthistimeperiodwerepedestrianviolations(45%)andpedestrianrightvofvway violations(20%);and Oftheseverepedestriancollisions,bothpedestriananddriverbehavioraccountedforanequal numberofcollisions. AUGUST 13 WORKSHOP TheCityofParlierrequesteda workshoptoaddresstwogoals:1)to informthedevelopmentofthecity s RegionalATPgrantapplicationin alignmentwithcommunityresidents identifiedandprioritizedneeds,and2) toprovidecitystaff,community organizations,andresidentswitha toolkitforpromotingpedestriansafety andwalkabilitytoinformfuture comprehensiveactivetransportationplanningandimprovementefforts.theworkshopwashosted from5v8pmwithsimultaneousspanishtranslationandchildcareprovidedtoencouragecommunity residentparticipation.theworkshopwasattendedby25individualsrepresentingawiderangeof organizationsanddisciplines,aswellasthecommunityvatvlarge,including: CityofParlier o Mayor o CityCouncil o CityManager o ChiefofPoliceDepartment o CommunityDevelopmentDepartment o CityEngineer LocalBusinessOwner ParlierUnifiedSchoolDistrict UnitedHealthCentersofSanJoaquin Valley FresnoCountyOfficeofEducation FresnoCountyDepartmentofPublic Health ChampionsforChange:Networkfora HealthyCalifornia,CentralValleyRegion CaliforniaHealthCollaborative CentralCaliforniaRegionalObesity PreventionProgram(CCROPP) LatinoCoalitionforaHealthyCalifornia Walkability Assessment Walkabilityassessmentswereconductedalongportions ofmanningavenue,themajorarterialroadinthecity, aswellasonsmallersidestreets(zedikerave., StanislausSt.).Participantsformedintotwogroupsand wereaskedto1)observeinfrastructureconditionsand thebehaviorofallroadusersand2)applystrategies 3 WALKABILITYASSESSMENT,INCLUDINGMAYOR,CITYCOUNCILMEMBERANDCHIEFOFPOLICE

5 learnedfromthe6e spresentationthatcouldworkinparlier. Community Resident Recommendations Followingthewalkabilityassessment,workshopparticipantsweredividedintothreegroups,withtwo groupsfocusedondevelopingconcreterecommendationsandprioritiesapplyingthe6e sforthe City sfutureactivetransportationplanningandprojectimplementationandonegroupfocusedon strengtheningthecity sregionalatpapplication.thegroupsidentified3priorityactionsforthecityto takeinthenext3v6months: 1) IdentifycitywideinfrastructuresafetyneedsforlowVcost,easyVtoVimplementsolutions; 2) Prioritizesafetyimprovementswithinschoolzonesandsafetyeducationprogramstoward studentsandchildren;and 3) SubmitapplicationtoAugust2014RegionalATPprogramtosecurefundingtoclosesidewalk gapalongmanningave.andinstallrectangularrapidflashingbeacon(rrfb)atmendocinoand Tuolumnetoimprovesafetyforstudentswalkingandbikingtoschool. SummaryofAllCommunityResidentRecommendations Problem/ Issue Fadedor Missing Marked Crosswalks HighSchool &Junior High Student Walking Behavior Broken, Unlevelor Obstructed Sidewalks Speeding Traffic Flooding Location Citywide; Zediker Avenue WestParlier Avenue; Parlier& Newmark Citywide; Mendocino between6 th &9 th Milton between Parlier& Ann Newmark& 3 rd Empower1 ment X Consult residentson placement; Prioritize school zones X X Involve residentsin identifying locations& typesof traffic calming Evaluation Engineering Education Enforcement Encourage 1ment X Develop inventoryof facilities X Bundle projects togetherto lowercosts X X Develop inventoryof facilities X Repair sidewalks& remove obstructions X Traffic calming measures X Teach students towait turn X Crossing Guardsor Police Department X Increased police enforcement X 4

6 No Pedestrian Signals Signage Obscured by Vegetation Fadedor PoorTraffic Lane Markings Insufficient Crossing Time Turning Conflicts between Pedestrians &Drivers Saladini Apartments X X X X Citywide Citywide Manning& Mendocino Manning& Mendocino X Review current settings X Review current settings X Restripe trafficlane markings X Increase crossing time; Install countdown timer X Install Leading Pedestrian Interval(LPI) X Citynotify property ownersto trimback RecommendationsforRegionalActiveTransportationProgram(ATP)Application WorkshopparticipantsbroadlysupportedtheCity sproposaltopursuearegionalatpgrantto improvewalkingconditionsforstudentstravelingfromthewestsideoftowntoaccesss.san BenavidezElementarySchoolaswellasParlierJuniorHighSchool.TheCity sproposalincludesapartial sidewalkgapclosurebetweenmendocinoave.andmadsenave.,aswellasinstallationofa rectangularrapidflashingbeacon(rrfb)atmendocinoave.andtuolumnest. WhiletheCitywouldpreferfortheapplicationtocovertheentiretyoftheMendcinoVtoVMadsengap, thecostsfortheprojectareprojectedtobetoohightobecompetitivefortheavailableregionalfunds. Participantsagreedthatitiscriticalforthescopeoftheprojecttobepareddowntoensure competitiveness.accordingly,theproposalwillfocusonthefirstsidewalkgapclosesttothe Manning/Mendocinointersectionduetheimpendingchangeinlanduse(incomingRiteVAiddrugstore) atthiscornerlotthatisexpectedtoincreasepedestriantraffic.thisproposalwillbuilduponthesoonv tovbevconstructedsidewalksbetweenmadsenandzediker movingthecityonestepclosertowarda completedmanningavenuethatfullyconnectsthecommunityfromwesttoeastandsupports Parlier sstrongwalkingandbikingculture.moreover,theeliminationofsidewalkgapsalongmanning Avenueisalongstandingcommunityandcitypriority.TheCityalsoaimstoleverageitsownlocalfunds toprovideasignificantlyhighermatchthanrequiredtoimproveregionalcompetitivenessforthis project. 5

7 MENDOCINOAVENUELOOKINGSOUTHBOUNDATRECENTLYINSTALLEDCROSSWALKANDSIGNAGEAT TUOLUMNESTREET/MULBERRYLANE MendocinoAvenueisa2V lanestreetwithoccasional turnpocketsandrestricted parking.however,dueto streetwidthandinfrequent parking,driversmay mistakenlyinterpretthe travellanetobemuchwider thanintended(combined travelplusparkinglanetotal roughly20feet). Consequently,drivers frequentlydrivefasterthanthepostedspeedlimitanddonotalwaysyieldtopedestriansatmarked crossings.mendocinoave.andtuolumnest.isanuncontrolledintersectionthatexperienceshigh volumesofstudentscrossingontheirwaytoandfromschool,includingseveralhearingvimpaired childrenwhoresideonmulberrylane(thewesternterminusoftuolumnest.).thecityhasrecently markedacrosswalkonthesouthsideoftheintersectionandinstalledpedestriancrossingsignageto alertdrivers.evenwiththeseimprovements,driversstillgenerallydonotyieldingtostudents.the installationofarrfbshouldincreasedriveryieldrates. California Walks/SafeTREC Recommendations CaliforniaWalksandSafeTRECalsosubmitthefollowingrecommendationsforconsiderationbythe City: SecureFundingforComprehensivePedestrian&BicyclePlanning:WhiletheAugust13workshop begantodocumentresidentsactivetransportationconcernsandneeds,westronglyrecommend thatthecitypursuefundingforacomprehensivepedestrianandbicyclemasterplanningprocess. DevelopingacommunityVdrivenactivetransportationmasterplanwillhelptheCitytodevelop citywideprioritiesbalancedwithexistingandprojectedfinances,aswellastoincreasethe competitivenessoffuturegrantapplications. PotentialfundingsourcesincludethestateDepartmentofTransportation(Caltrans)new SustainableTransportationPlanningGrantprogram(seewww.dot.ca.gov/hq/tpp/grants.html) whichhasconsolidatedtheenvironmentaljusticeandcommunityvbasedtransportationplanning Grantprograms.AcallforproposalsisexpectedtobereleasedSeptember2,2014with applicationsdueoctober31,2014.anotherpotentialfundingsourceiscycle2ofthestatewide andregionalactivetransportationprogram,expectedin2015. EvaluateInstallationofEdgeLinesonMendocinoAvenue&OtherLocations:Installationofedge linesclearlydemarcatestravellanesfromparkinglanesandshouldaffectdriverspeedsby,in effect,narrowingtheperceivedtravellane.werecommendthatthecityevaluatetheeffectof 6

8 installingedgelinesalongmendocinoavenueandotherstreetsincloseproximitytoschoolsor knownwalking/bikingroutesusedbystudents,especiallywhenbundledwithothermaintenance andrehabilitationprojects. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS WewouldliketothanktheUnitedHealthCentersofSanJoaquinValleyforhostingtheCommunity PedestrianSafetyTraining.ThankyoutoIsraelLara,Jr.,CityManagerforCityofParlierandPhilip Romero,CityEngineer,fortheirfullcommitmenttoandleadershipofcommunityVdriven transportationplanningandmeaningfulengagementwithcommunityresidents.thankyoutoxavier MoralesandShaylaSpilkeroftheLatinoCoalitionforaHealthyCalifornia,GenovevaIslasVHookerand ReynaVillalobosoftheCentralCaliforniaObesityPreventionProgram(CCROPP),andChristinaAlejo andfrancinevindiolaofyouthcentersofamericawhoprovidedleadershipandorganizationalsupport inplanningtheworkshop.wewouldalsoliketoacknowledgeparliermayorarmandolopez,city CouncilMemberJuanMontaño,ParlierUnifiedSchoolDistrictBoardofTrusteesMemberFernando Banuelos,theparentsandcommunitymemberswhoattendedtheworkshop. FundingforthisprogramwasprovidedbyagrantfromtheCaliforniaOfficeofTrafficSafetythrough thenationalhighwaytrafficsafetyadministration. 7