Traffic & Transprtatin Safety Update Mary Ellen Dunn Asst. Supt. Finance and Business Operatins Liaisn,Traffic Safety Advisry Cmmittee and Schl Transprtatin & Safety Study Judy Crcker Chair, Schl Transprtatin & Safety Study and Sidewalk Cmmittees Crdinatr, Safe Rutes T Schls Overview Traffic Safety n Schl Prperty Upgrading Traffic Safety Resurces & Recmmendatins frm Twn Partners Actin Steps 1
Traffic Safety n Schl Prperty Schl Prperty features include radways, sidewalks, signage, crsswalks, play structures, public playing fields, private residential access and schl building(s) access Traffic Safety n Schl Prperty Schl Cmmittee is the fficial prperty wner respnsible fr setting plicy and usage cntrls, including access and egress. 2
Traffic Safety n Schl Prperty Stakehlders: pedestrians, bicyclists, schl buses & special educatin vans, private vehicles, delivery trucks, cmmunity traffic, public safety vehicles, abutters, Schl emplyees, and Schl Cmmittee as the prperty wner Traffic Safety n Schl Prperty Psted radway signage vilatins are unenfrceable Exceptins: psted handicap parking & fire lane Plice have n jurisdictin n schl prperty except fr vilatrs f disrderly cnduct Each schl requires the same basic traffic rules Each schl pssesses unique gegraphy & histry 3
Traffic Safety n Schl Prperty Upgrading Traffic Safety Schl Plicy Cmmunity Public Educatin Safety 4
Upgrading Traffic Safety Establish safety centers fr traffic access and flw. Shuld a Schl Bus have the same pririty access as Ambulance r Fire Truck? Hw can vehicular flw be sensible and safe? Upgrading Traffic Safety Enfrced & Enfrceable Safety Rules Staff (used as Traffic Mnitrs) must be able t manage arrival r dismissal with ease; Orientatin fr staff, DPF, Plice, Fire, and vlunteers Cmmunicatin t parents and cmmunity 5
Upgrading Traffic Safety Change culture f rule enfrcement What unifrm Traffic rules shuld be in place? Hw will new signs & plicy change behavir? Hw will behavir expectatins be unifrmly cmmunicated? Shuld we create deterrents fr car use and create incentives fr bicycle, walkers, and bus riders? What penalties shuld be set fr thse wh fail t fllw psted rules? Resurces Wh is here t help and already wrking n traffic safety? Traffic Safety Advisry Cmmittee (TSAC) http://www.lexingtnma.gv/cmmittees/tsac.cfm Safe Rutes t Schls (SRTS) http://www.lexingtnma.gv/cmmittees/sidewalk/saferutes.cfm Ad Hc Schl Transprtatin & Safety Study Cmmittee (STS) http://www.lexingtnma.gv/schltransprtatincmmittee.cfm 6
Traffic Safety Advisry Cmmittee (TSAC) Charge Meets mnthly t study prblems related t traffic safety Makes recmmendatins t the Bard f Selectmen and the Twn Manager Membership Lexingtn Transprtatin Crdinatr LPS administratin Planning Bard Plice Department DPW/Engineering Bard f Selectmen Three at large members TSAC Recmmendatins Actin Requested: Schl Cmmittee establish traffic cntrl and mitigatin plicy and prtcl that mirrrs the Bard f Selectmen using TSAC as the same filter fr review. 7
TSAC Recmmendatins Immediate Recmmendatins Bridge Bwman Hastings Bridge Schl Parent parking alng Middleby Rad and at the ends f the driveways is causing a life safety issue. Cars are blcking access fr emergency vehicles and schl buses. Plice need the vte f the Schl Cmmittee t be able t assist us in enfrcement n schl prperty 8
Bwman Schl Buses and Emergency Vehicles access Bwman Schl via Wrthen Rad and the driveway extensin. Allwing cntractrs and/r ther emplyee parking jepardizes life safety fr the building and bus access. The crssing guard is nt a traffic enfrcement agent. The crssing guard dis there t crss pedestrians and direct traffic. Hastings Schl Parents cue n ne side f the street clsest t the schl. The balance f the rad needs t be left accessible fr emergency vehicles and passing traffic. Cars are and have been parking n bth sides, resulting in grid lck at arrival, dismissal, and parent events. 9
Safe Rutes t Schls (SRTS) Charge Prmting Lexingtn s sidewalks, pathways, and mass transit as alternative student transprtatin ptins Fcus n student safety, exercise, and fstering a sense f cmmunity SRTS is mdeled after natinal and internatinal prgrams and in Massachusetts is parented thru the Massachusetts Dept f Transprtatin Members PTA representatives frm participating Partner schls Twn-wide Crdinatr frm Sidewalk Cmmittee Safe Rutes t Schls (SRTS) Overview Cmmunicatin Calendar 2013-2014 Schl Year Planning May 2013 prgram dates and gals are set; June September: apprve bkmark, plan distributin, and request permissin fr listserv use First day f schl bkmarks distributed. 1st Wednesday in Octber is Internatinal Walk t schl day Events fllw mnthly 10
Safe Rutes t Schls (SRTS) Supprt January 15 Mem Recmmendatins fr TSAC review Reinstall N Idling Signage Schl Prperty Crsswalks Schl Prperty Curbing N Parking & ther Traffic Management Signage Update GIS Mapping New Car Cunts in March Safe Rutes t Schls (SRTS) Schl Zne Grant Bike Walk N Bus Week May 5-11 Schl Bus Tur & Parcurse Walk n May 9 LHS Bike Incentives Week 11
Ad Hc Schl Transprtatin & Safety Study Cmmittee (STS) Update Charge Identifying i prpsals t reduce cst f schl bus service Identifying ways t increase schl bus timeliness Prpsing initiatives t prmte schl bus ridership Prpsing appraches t address traffic and pedestrian safety cncerns in and arund ur schls Members Sidewalk Cmmittee/Safe Rutes t Schl LPS administratin LPS Transprtatin Crdinatr Transprtatin Advisry Cmmittee Plice Department Tw at large members STS Update Lcal STS article hit a natinal trade publicatin Safety Greeter Kits distributed t schls Cntinue t address Bus Discipline Bus Camera Installatin Imprved reprting system by C&W Transprtatin Update n status f bylaw prpsal March 12 Schl Cmmittee meeting Bus Registratin and Marketing Update 12
STS Recmmendatins Need t embrace cllabrative change amng all stakehlders thrugh wrking dialgues, fstering cmmn lng-term gals, pririties, and values, and shared respnsibility and expectatins. STS Recmmendatins Cmmunicate schl hurs t parents When will unifrm Middle Schl hurs be annunced? What are the Elementary Schl Hurs? What are the High Schl Hurs? 13
STS Recmmendatins Evaluate Arrival/Dismissal Prcedures Streamline use f staff; Examine student earliness/tardy rules; Use f playgrunds befre/after schl with r withut supervisin; Review reasns fr shrtened afternn instructinal time in rder t prepare students fr dismissal; Dismissal wait time prprtinate t bus discipline issues; and What supprt d the Principals need? STS Recmmendatins Unifrm Drp-ff & Pick Up Prcedures & Penalties Cmmunicatin and Reinfrcement 14
Actin Items 1. Apprve TSAC Recmmendatins fr Bwman, Bridge, and Hastings 2. Apprve schl district t mve frward with wrk necessary t achieve traffic cdificatin n schl prperty by the pening f schl 2013. 15