Safe Routes to School PLAN

Transcription

1 CONGDON ELEMENTARY Safe Routes to School PLAN SRTS Team Kick-off Meeting February 8, 2018

2 AGENDA Welcome and Introductions Safe Routes to School Program Overview History of SRTS work at Congdon Elementary Review Parent Survey/Classroom Tally Group Discussion Next Steps

3 Welcome and Introductions Icebreaker Please share a childhood experience of either walking or biking to school or around your neighborhood!

4 SRTS PROGRAM OVERVIEW Safe Routes to School Goal Where it s safe, get children walking and biking Where it s not safe, make changes

5 THE NEED FOR SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL % rode bus 48% walk or bike 12% family vehicle % rode bus 13% walk or bike 45% family vehicle

6 UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF LESS WALKING/BIKING Obesity on the rise in Minnesota and U.S. Rep. Minnesota Department of Health, n.d. Web Minnesota s overall obesity

7 UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF LESS WALKING/BIKING Parents driving Children are, on average, 12 times more distracting to a driver than talking on a mobile phone while at the wheel. (MUARC Study, 2013) Parents driving children to school make up 20%-25% of morning traffic (NHTSA 2003) Traffic Congestion/Engine Idling Idling an engine produces 2X exhaust emissions as an engine in motion Increases air pollution around the school 10 seconds of idling wastes more fuel than restarting the engine

8 THE IMPACT OF WALKING

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10 REASONS FOR DECREASED WALKING/BIKING Traffic danger Significant portion of traffic congestion is located around the schools Adverse weather Land-Use changes School Siting Individual community issues

11 WHAT CAN WE DO? The 6-E Approach Education Encouragement Enforcement Engineering Equity Evaluation

12 EDUCATION Teaches safety skills Creates safety awareness Fosters life-long safety habits

13 ENCOURAGEMENT Increases popularity of walking and bicycling Is an easy way to start SRTS programs Emphasizes fun of walking and biking

14 ENFORCEMENT Increases awareness of pedestrians and bicyclists Improves driver behavior Helps children follow traffic rules Decreases parent perceptions of danger

15 ENGINEERING Creates safer, more accessible settings for walking and bicycling Can influence the way people behave

16 EQUITY Equity allows resources to be provided on the basis of need. Walking, bicycling, and public transit need to be safe and convenient for everyone. Equity in safe routes to school aims to ensure that funding and programs prioritize underserved areas that may suffer from disproportionate health problems and traffic safety issues, or have limited transportation options.

17 EVALUATION Is the program making a difference?

18 6-E PLANNING APPROACH Education teaches safety skills. Encouragement increases popularity and emphasizes fun. Enforcement helps children keep traffic laws and improves driver behavior. Engineering creates safer conditions. Equity considers where enhancements are most needed. Evaluation determines the program s effectiveness.

19 PLANNING PROCESS OVERVIEW Meeting 1: Introduction to SRTS and Creation of Vision/Problem Statements Surveys, Existing Conditions, Observations Meeting 2: Walk Audit Event and Review of Vision/Problem Statements Action Plan Development Meeting 3: Action Plan Review Plan Document Development Meeting 4: Review of Draft Plan Finalize Plan

20 THE SRTS TEAM Made up of people (i.e. school administration, teachers, parents, etc.) interested in student safety and community livability. Expectations of the SRTS Team Provide input/collect information to inform the SRTS plan Edit and prioritize plan strategies Review the full plan document Who else should be on the SRTS Team?

21 Past SRTS Efforts at Congdon 2005 Planning begins for Duluth Safe Routes to School Plan 2006 Duluth SRTS Plan approved includes Congdon Park Elem. School specific recommendations 2007 SRTS grant awarded for new sidewalks along SRTS routes New sidewalks constructed along 34 th Ave E identified as SRTS routes.

22 Past SRTS Efforts at Congdon 2012 Effort to update the SRTS Plan for Congdon begins, includes walking audit and parent survey 2013 School renovation completed Bike racks installed 2017 Secured SRTS Planning funds which bring us to today!

23 Review of Parent Survey/Classroom Tally results Refer to packet containing results from already completed survey and tally efforts.

24 Group Discussion Existing Efforts promoting Walking/Biking to school-brief discussion

25 SRTS Vision Statement Exercise What are some outcomes you would like to see realized from this planning process? What are some Congdon SRTS program or community efforts you would like to see In the next year? 5 years? And beyond?

26 Group Discussion Issue and Concern Identification-Brief Discussion

27 NEXT STEPS Arrival/Drop-Off Observation Draft Vision and Problem Statement Creation Next meeting date Walk audit event March xx????

28 JUSTIN OTSEA SENIOR PLANNER ARROWHEAD REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION JAMES GITTEMEIER PRINCIPAL PLANNER DULUTH-SUPERIOR METROPOLITAN INTERSTATE COUNCIL