VAN BUREN SCHOOL TRAVEL PLAN

VAN BUREN SCHOOL TRAVEL PLAN JULY 31, 2009

INDEX SECTION 1: THE SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL TEAM... 1 SECTION 2: INTRODUCTION... 2-4 SECTION 3: PUBLIC INPUT PROCESS... 5 SECTION 4: DESCRIPTION OF SCHOOLS... 6 SECTION 5: SCHOOL DEMOGRAPHICS... 7-10 SECTION 6: CURRENT SCHOOL TRAVEL ENVIRONMENT... 10 SECTION 7: BARRIERS TO ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION... 11-13 SECTION 8: CREATING SOLUTIONS AND COUNTERMEASURES... 14-15 SECTION 9: IMPROVEMENTS MAPPING... 16-19 SECTION 10: THE ACTION PLAN... 20 SECTION 11: PLAN ENDORSEMENTS... 21-22 SECTION 12: SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION... 23 TABLES TABLE 1: VAN BUREN TASK FORCE...1 FIGURES FIGURE 1: SCHOOL DISTRICT MAP...1 FIGURE 2: VILLAGE MAP WITH ONE MILE RADIUS...3 FIGURE 3: VAN BUREN SCHOOLS CAMPUS AERIAL...6 FIGURE 4: TOWN SQUARE AERIAL...12 FIGURE 5: SUGGESTED IMPROVEMENTS...17 FIGURE 6: TOWN SQUARE IMPROVEMENTS...18 FIGURE 7: SCHOOL SIGNAL IMPROVEMENTS...19

SECTION 1: THE SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL TEAM The Van Buren Safe Rutes t Schl task frce cnsists f the fllwing members: Name Title Task Frce Participatin Edward May Village f Van Buren Mayr Evaluatin Richard Lehman Van Buren Elementary Principal Educatin/Encuragement Jerry Ck Transprtatin Supervisr Educatin/Enfrcement Ann Kuhlman Bus Driver Educatin/Enfrcement Chris Henry Teacher Educatin/Encuragement Matthew Cnkle Van Buren Schl Bard Educatin/Evaluatin Steve Endictt Resident Educatin/Encuragement Paul Schmelzer Resident Educatin/Encuragement Stan Heitkamp Resident Educatin/Encuragement Dug Akers Law Enfrcement & Village Resident Enfrcement/Educatin Dn Masters Health & Gym Teacher Educatin/Encuragement Jay Clark Middle Schl Principal Educatin/Encuragement Mike Brand High Schl Principal Educatin/Encuragement Tim Myers Van Buren Schls Superintendent Evaluatin Greg Ayers Village Cuncil, Street & Sidewalk Cmm. Engineering Jim Fx Village Cuncil, Street & Sidewalk Cmm. Engineering Matt McCracken Resident Educatin/Encuragement Terri Mhr Resident Educatin/Encuragement Sctt Oestreich Village Cuncil, President Evaluatin/Engineering Steve & Brenda Endictt Residents Educatin/Encuragement Table 1 Van Buren Task Frce The primary cntact fr the prject is: Edward May Mayr-Village f Van Buren 210 Suth Main Street Van Buren, OH 45889 Phne: 419-421-3704 Fax: 419-421-3601 Email: edmay@marathnil.cm 1

SECTION 2: INTRODUCTION Van Buren Schls The Van Buren Schl District is apprximately 8 miles by 6 miles in size. The schl district is bunded by the fllwing schl districts: Nrth Baltimre, Arcadia, Elmwd, Findlay, Liberty Bentn and McCmb. Van Buren ffers pen enrllment t the surrunding area. Figure 1 Schl District Map The schl campus is lcated n Suth Main Street, suth f the village square and cntains all grade levels. Separate buildings are prvided fr elementary, middle and high schl students. 2

Village f Van Buren Van Buren is a village in nrthern Hancck Cunty and is lcated east f I-75 between Nrth Baltimre and Findlay. The village is lcated at the crssrads f SR 613 and CR 220. In the 2000 census, there were 313 residents, 113 husehlds, and 91 families residing in the village. Tday s ppulatin is very similar with a ppulatin 322 in 2007. The village prper is apprximately 0.2 square miles in size. A map f the village is shwn belw with a ne mile radius frm the schl campus. Figure 2 Village Map with One Mile Radius 3

Van Buren Travel Plan Gals: The Van Buren schl district is very rural and the Village itself accunts fr nly 10 percent f the students. These students are nt prvided bus transprtatin and the Village wants t prvide the safest paths pssible t the schl campus. Als, the Van Buren Schl is used by the cmmunity as a recreatinal park. The Village f Van Buren has made a cmmitment t remving barriers like traffic cngestin, vilence, crime and busy intersectins s ur child are safe. The students als access the sprtsplex lcated east f the schl n SR 613 fr many extracurricular activities and must crss an active railrad line. A generatin ag, a majrity f children walked r bike t schl. Tday, mst children take the bus r are driven. Only 1 ut f every 8 children gets t schl n their wn tw feet. This quiet shift f nrms is taking a tremendus tll n ur cmmunities. Childhd besity has reached epidemic prprtins due in part t increasingly inactive lifestyles. An estimated 50% f mrning traffic is parents driving their children t schl. Mre cars n the street make neighbrhds seem less safe, discuraging walking and biking. Overcrwded schl drp-ff and pick-up areas bring pllutin and traffic danger t the drsteps f ur schl. The Village f Van Buren and the Van Buren Lcal Schls can cmbat these trends by: Bringing peple tgether in a jyful activity. Supprting the habit f mderate daily exercise. Addressing safety cncerns with structural imprvements and cmmunity building. Prviding an pen invitatin fr peple t be deliberate abut their transprtatin chices. Organizing diverse cmmunity members arund a unifying issue: neighbrhd safety. The Village f Van Buren and the Van Buren Lcal Schls desires t implement the fllwing: Seeking t build new sidewalks and imprve existing sidewalks Upgrade crsswalks t make them high visibility Encurage safe biking and walking t schl thrugh class cmpetitins, Traffic calming devices Established designed rutes t the Schl Bike safety classes Safety infrmatin sharing 4

SECTION 3: PUBLIC INPUT PROCESS The Safe Rutes t Schl prgram is led by the Village Mayr Ed May. Mr. May has been wrking clsely with the Elementary principal, Dick Lehman, and the Van Buren Facilities Team t crdinate STP activities. Key members f the cmmunity were invited t be invlved in the task frce t prepare and carryut this Schl Travel Plan. A kickff meeting was held n August 6, 2008 in the Cmmunity Rm lcated n the schl campus. This meeting was led by DGL Cnsulting Engineers and presented the SRTS prgram t the task frce. Discussin tpics at this kickff meeting included: Schl district is large - Only village residents have sidewalks and are eligible t walk t schl. Open enrllment attracts students frm ther cmmunities and are nt prvided bus service r live t far away t walk/bike. Many distance neighbrhds have bus pickup at ne lcatin-can we prvide safe places fr these students? Hw can we get the students t the park fr after schl sprts activities? This may be especially imprtant with changes t the schl campus. Railrad is a cncern. An update meeting was held n September 15, 2008. The meeting fllwed the Facilities team meeting. DGL discussed the rle f the surveys and hw t get parents t participate. Surveys have been cllected frm middle and elementary parents. Key cmments nted n the surveys include: Since we live ff a state rute, we wuld nt allw kids t use that rad r crss it n the trip t r frm schl. Only way I wuld let them walk is t carry a cell phne and call when they arrived at the schl building. Sidewalks and guards. We need a crssing guard! Cars dn t always stp r lk fr kids. My sn is in first grade and walks with lder brther sister and 2 cusins. Three f them carry cell phnes s that can call when they ve made it t schl safely. Traffic, sidewalks, guards. The Schl Travel Plan alng with the prpsed actin plan will be prvided t all village residents fr their cmment. The dcument will be psted n the village website and available at the village hall. 5

SECTION 4: DESCRIPTION OF SCHOOLS The schl campus is lcated at 217 Suth Main Street (CR 220). The Van Schl campus is lcated suth f dwntwn n CR 220. The campus huses all students K- 12. The elementary building is lcated in the suth edge f the campus. The middle/high schl is lcated in the main building with the middle schl lcated in the riginal building t the nrth. Athletic fields are prvided arund the schl buildings. The main access t the campus is via CR 220 (S. Main Street). Tw drives are prvided-ne perating as the entrance and the nrtherly drive perating as an exit. A bus pickup/drpff area is prvided adjacent t the elementary schl. A secndary access pint is prvided frm the ftball field area t the nrth. All students (K-12) exit the building at the same time. The aerial pht shwn in Figure 3 des nt reflect the current parking cnfiguratin. Recent parking lt imprvements have prvided additinal separatin between Main Street and the parking lt. Angled parking with ne-way peratin has been installed t prvide the required parking spaces in a smaller available ftprint. The aerial phts prvided in the Suggested Imprvements sectin have been enhanced t shw current parking cnfiguratins. Figure 3 Van Buren Schls Campus Aerial 6

SECTION 5: SCHOOL DEMOGRAPHICS Enrllment Statistics Elementary (K-5) 844 Middle (6-8) 390 Student Statistics Van Buren Elementary Student Ethnicity Ethnicity This Schl State Average White 93% 78% Asian r Pacific Islander 4% 1% Unspecified 3% n/a Surce: OH Dept. f Educatin, 2007-2008 Student Subgrups This Schl State Average Ecnmically disadvantaged students 9% 36% Students with disabilities 12% 14% Surce: OH Dept. f Educatin, 2007-2008 Van Buren Middle Student Ethnicity Ethnicity State This Schl Average White 93% 78% Unspecified 7% n/a Surce: OH Dept. f Educatin, 2007-2008 Student Subgrups This Schl State Average Ecnmically disadvantaged students 7% 36% Students with disabilities 8% 14% Surce: OH Dept. f Educatin, 2007-2008 7

Schl Statistics The surveys were sent hme t families living within 2 miles f the schl campus. The return rate f these surveys was 100 percent fr families living in the village. 94% f the respnding families live within ne mile f the schl campus. 6% f respndents live between 1 and 2 miles. There are differences in the travels mdes t and frm schl fr thse living within the Village. 8

Students living with ¼ mile f the schl have a higher percentage f family vehicle travel mde in the afternn than in the mrning. Students living within ¼ t ½ mile reprt n family vehicle pickups in the afternn. Classrm surveys were als taken fr all K-8 classrms. The results shwn belw are schl district wide. 9

Apprximately 3 percent f all students in grades K-8 walk r bike t schl. As stated earlier, apprximately 10 percent f students live within the village limits. 90% f all students are bused due t their distance frm schl. SECTION 6: CURRENT SCHOOL TRAVEL ENVIRONMENT Arrival/Dismissal Prcedures Schl Hurs 8:00 am t 3:00 pm Arrival Students arrive by bus and walking arund 7:50 am when the first bell rings. Students that arrive between 7:00 and 7:50 am g t the cafeteria where they wait until 7:50 am. Dismissal - Elementary students are dismissed t the buses at 2:55 pm, middle and high schl students are dismissed t the buses at 3:00 pm. All buses leave by 3:10 pm. Parents picking up their children cme t the frnt lt at 2:50 and students cme ut the frnt drs f the elementary; enter cars and leave parking lt. Transprtatin Plicy Van Buren Schls prvides transprtatin fr all students that live utside the Village f Van Buren limits. Safety/Supprt Plices N crssing guards are prvided. One signalized intersectin is prvided at the schl exit. N pedestrian crsswalks r signals are present. One crsswalk is prvided in frnt f the middle schl. Schl staff is present during arrivals and dismissals t aid students. Distance Frm Schl Apprximately 10 percent f all students live within ne mile f schl. 10

SECTION 7: BARRIERS TO ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION The schl departure was bserved n May 26, 2009 during the walking audit. Parents were able t pull int parking spaces in the lt because high schl senirs were nt in attendance n the day f bservatin. The nrmal queuing f vehicles n Main Street did nt ccur due t the available parking. Bus Lp Parents Waiting Car Pick-up Middle schl bus riders must walk alng the frnt f the high schl building t get t the bus lp. There is n sidewalk alng this prtin f the building. Students walk in the drive area. Vehicles exiting the parking area als use this drive. The exit drive fr the schl parking lt is signalized. The signal perates pretimed during schl hurs. N pedestrian signals are prvided. Parking is allwed n the suthbund side f S. Main Street within the intersectin area. A crsswalk can be fund nrth f the signal in frnt f the middle schl. Crsswalk signs are present, althugh legends and clrs need t be updated t meet current OMUTCD cde. Signal at Schl Exit Kids Crssing at Middle Schl Main Street Crsswalk Sidewalks were fund n many f the village streets althugh the type and cnditin was fund t vary. Sandstne sidewalks that have crumbled r brken were seen. It was reprted that several areas where gaps were fund may have ld brick sidewalks that have been grwn ver with grass. Sidewalk width varies thrughut the village with fur t five feet being the nrm. Residents are required t match adjacent walk widths 11

when replacing r installing walks. A fur ft minimum sidewalk is required per Village Ordinance. Sidewalk in Gd Cnditin Sidewalks in Pr Cnditin The twn square area has limited sidewalks. The suthwest crner prvides sidewalk alng the western side f the square. The Pst Office is lcated in this quadrant f the square. An ice cream shp and the museum are lcated in the nrthwest quadrant. The fire statin can be fund in the sutheast quadrant. Parking is prvided n all quadrants except the sutheast. The parking areas perate ne way with entering traffic n Market and exiting traffic n Main. Several crsswalks are prvided. The SR 613/Main Street intersectin is all-way stp cntrlled. Figure 5 shws the Twn Square Aerial. 4-WAY STOP MARKET ST MAIN ST Figure 4-Twn Square Aerial 12

On the day f the bservatin, elementary classes were bserved walking frm the ice cream shp back t the schl campus. The elementary students walked alng the west edge f the fire statin lt because there is n sidewalk. After schl, lder students were als bserved walking where sidewalk wuld nrmally be placed. Students did nt crss at the prvided crsswalk east f the intersectin. Students crssed near the stp bars t take the shrtest rute. Elementary Students NE Quadrant lking suth NW Quadrant lking suth Streets with n sidewalk include: Maple, May, Elm, Main (nrth f Lincln) and SR 613 (Market) west f Lcust n the suth side. Students walk alng Elm Street where the buses enter and exit the schl. Students als walk alng Maple. The tw main SR 613 (Market) crssing lcatins are at Maple and Elm. SR 613 is primarily an east-west rute while in the village limits. The rute curves between Elm and May streets. The students invlved in the walking audit stated that they crssed at Maple because it was farther away frm the curve. Students will crss at Elm t get t the newer subdivisin. Students that crss at Elm have sight distances issues with parked cars and the curve. Walking audit participants were cncerned with vehicle speeds especially in the westbund directin at the curve. An at-grade railrad crssing n SR 613 is lcated n the east side f the village. Track usage is estimated at ver 50 trains per day. At the present time, students east f the railrad crssing are bussed. The parents that participated in the walking audit indicated that they encurage their students t crss where painted crsswalks are prvided. They als instruct their children t avid bad r missing sidewalk when pssible. 13

SECTION 8: CREATING SOLUTIONS AND COUNTERMEASURES The Van Buren Schl District des nt bus students living within village limits. The majrity f eligible walkers d walk t schl, many with a parent r lder sibling. The gal f the Van Buren Safe Rutes t Schl Prgram is t prvide a safer walking envirnment fr thse already walking and t get all village students t walk thus reducing the number f village resident family vehicles during drpff and pickup. A cmprehensive slutins strategy was develped cnsisting f a tlbx f general slutins alng with benefits f each slutin. Strategies were develped fr each f the 5 E s (Engineering, Encuragement, Educatin, Enfrcement, and Evaluatin). A general strategy list is shwn belw. Further detail can be fund in the engineering reprt (Sectin 12-Supprting Dcumentatin). The schl needs t encurage and prmte walking and biking in all kinds f weather. This will help reduce the number f parent vehicles drpping ff and picking up. Reductin f parent vehicles will imprve the air quality at each schl building and help reduce cngestin during dismissal. Engineering imprvements may help reduce hazard bussing. Until additinal schl buildings are cnstructed in newer residential areas, many students will cntinue t be bussed due t distance. Strategies that allw bussed students t engage in walking t schl are included. Law enfrcement can quickly help change unsafe behavirs arund schl campuses. These changes will make walking and biking mre attractive t students and parents will feel mre cmfrtable allwing their students t walk r bike. Educatinal prgrams are mst clsely linked t encuragement prgrams althugh they are als cmplement enfrcement and engineering. Engineering (Infrastructure) Schl Crsswalk Upgrades Schl Zne Signage and Pavement Marking Upgrades Pavement Marking Upgrades Signal Upgrades Sidewalk and Curb Ramp Installatin Imprved Pedestrian/Railrad Crssings Encuragement Walking Schl Bus Team up students that live alng a rute t walk tgether. Walk t Schl Days Encurage all students t walk ne day a week. Walk and Park Days Encurage families that drive t schl t park at the twn square and walk t the schl campus. Start mnthly and wrk twards weekly t reduce parent vehicles at schl. Remte Drpff Days Bus drps students at the twn square and students walk with staff members t the building. Allws students that must be bussed t participate. 14

Walking r Mileage Club Students earn a reward fr miles walked during recess r after schl. Ride t Schl Week Encurage bike riding ver a ne week perid. Bike/Walk Scavenger Hunt Enfrcement Schl Zne and Speed Limit Electrnic Speed Measurement N Parking Znes Sidewalk Repair Sidewalk Installatin with New Develpment Educatin Pedestrian and Bike Safety Media Supprt Safety Twn Safety Pster Cntest Evaluatin Pedestrian and Bicycle Cunts Speed Data Cllectin 15

SECTION 9: IMPROVEMENTS MAPPING Specific Cuntermeasures (Cst Estimate) With reference t the abve slutins, belw are specific cuntermeasures t help prvide safer pedestrian and biking t/frm Van Buren schls. Cuntermeasures are priritized as shrt, lng term r legislative based n safety, urgency, cst, and cmplexity. Shrt Term/High Pririty ($244,000) S. Main Street (CR 220) Install Flashing 20 MPH Schl Signs. ($12,000) S. Main/Walnut, E. Market/Maple and E, Market/Elm - Paint Enhanced Crsswalks and prvide crsswalk signage. ($10,500) S. Main/Schl Drive Install new traffic signal with pedestrian crsswalk and cuntdwn pedestrian signals. ($100,000) Sidewalks (Repair r fill in gaps) Install r repair sidewalks alng S. Main Street frm the Twn Square suth t the schl cmplex; Walnut Street between Main and Elm; Market Street between Ash and Elm. Install ADA cmpliant ramps where required. ($24,000) E. Market Street east f Elm - Advanced Pedestrian Warning Signs ($2,000) Schl Campus Imprvements Implement parent pickup prcedures t reduce backup f vehicles nt Main Street. ($5,000) Twn Square Install sidewalks in each directin t meet existing walk. Install ADA cmpliant ramps where required. Paint Enhanced Crsswalks and prvide crsswalk signage. ($25,000) Sidewalk Netwrk Install sidewalk alng Elm frm West Street t the Schl prperty. Install ADA cmpliant ramps where required. ($65,000) On Site Pickup/Drpff Prcedures Buses use lane alng frnt f schl building t pickup students. Parents use current bus lp fr pickup and exit via Elm. Use staff t prvide safety between the tw pickups sites. Use staff r law enfrcement t prhibit parent entrance t the frnt parking lt. Lng Term/Lw Pririty (>$100,000) Sidewalk Netwrk - Cmplete the sidewalk netwrk within Village limits. Streets include May, Walnut, Market t Village limits, Main t Village limits. (> $100,000) Figure 5 depicts all the nted cuntermeasures. Figure 6 shws a mre detailed view f the Twn Square imprvements. Figure 7 shws a mre detailed view f the Schl Signal installatin. 16

Figure 5 Suggested Imprvements 17 VAN BUREN SCHOOL TRAVEL PLAN JULY 31, 2009

Figure 6 Twn Square Suggested Imprvements 18

Figure 7 Schl Campus Suggested Imprvements 19

SECTION 10: THE ACTION PLAN The Van Buren SRTS Task Frce has develped an actin plan that priritizes the actin items discussed in this plan. The Task Frce evaluated the abve prjects and determined the list f pririties. The rating fr priritizing prjects were based n prximity t schl, greatest number f students utilizing imprvements, the greatest safety impact, and the return n investment (ROI). The list was determined by utilizing the task frces visual bservatins, the walking audit, survey results, and the engineer s recmmendatins. 20 VAN BUREN SCHOOL TRAVEL PLAN JULY 31, 2009

SECTION 11: PLAN ENDORSEMENTS The Van Buren Safe Rutes t Schl Task Frce cnsists f members f the cmmunity, City administratin, schl administratin, and lcal law enfrcement. The Village f Van Buren and the Van Buren Schl Administratin have cmmitted t being active partners in fulfilling the items addressed in the schl travel plan. Their endrsement is indicated belw: 21

The Mayr f Van Buren and Safe Rutes t Schl Task Frce leader has als prepared a letter f endrsement as shwn belw: 22

SECTION 12: SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION The dcuments in this sectin prvide additinal infrmatin including the Engineering Reprt, Parent Surveys, and Students Surveys. 23