HomeMy WebLinkAboutCSD-15-027 - School Related Traffic Impacts on Adjoining Neighbourhoods - CSD mtg of Mar 30, 20151
Staff Report
KiTCH NER Community Services Department www.kitchener.cu
REPORT TO:
Community and Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING:
March 30, 2015
SUBMITTED BY:
Justin Readman, Director, Transportation Services, 519- 741 -2200
ext. 7038
PREPARED BY:
Ronald Schirm, Supervisor, Crossing Guards, 519 -741 -2200
ext. 7232
WARD(S) INVOLVED:
ALL
DATE OF REPORT:
March 10, 2015
REPORT NO.:
CSD -15 -027
SUBJECT:
School Related Traffic Impacts on Adjoining Neighbourhoods
RECOMMENDATION:
For information
BACKGROUND:
At the Council Meeting dated January 26, 2015, Council made the following resolutions:
WHEREAS the lack of available on -site parking at schools results in adverse parking
conditions and places a strain on neighborhoods due to traffic volume during student
arrival and dismissal times; and,
WHEREAS increased traffic volume in school zones has resulted in complaints from
area residents regarding blocked driveways and unsafe street congestion; and,
WHEREAS area residents request By -law Enforcement staff to attend these locations to
issue tickets, which does not necessarily address the underlying issues; and,
WHEREAS the orderly movement of vehicular and pedestrian traffic in school zones
involves not only the City of Kitchener, but also the Region of Waterloo and local area
school boards;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Transportation Services staff undertake a review
of similar strategies utilized by other municipalities to improve safety, pedestrian and
traffic movement in school zones;
* ** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. * **
Please call 519- 741 -2345 or TTY 1- 866 -969 -9994 for assistance.
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However, the overall trend still sees an ever increasing impact of vehicular traffic on the
neighbourhoods in the proximity of schools.
In order to mitigate this issue and address the Council resolutions staff will undertake
the following:
1. Develop and administer a survey to other Ontario municipalities /school boards,
Questions include requesting information on programming, regulations, policies,
committees, who has responsibility for what, and most importantly, what has
worked.
2. The survey results will be brought to the existing Active and Safe Routes to
School Committee for dialogue.
3. With the Active and Safe Routes to School Committee staff will develop
recommendations, resource requirements, timing and responsibilities for
implementation of action items.
4. The City will host a stakeholder workshop, open to municipal and regional
councillors and school board trustees to discuss findings of the survey and Active
and Safe Routes to School Committee recommendations.
5. Report back to Council with key recommendations.
Using the existing Active and Safe Routes to School Committee throughout the process
represents the most effective working group in that the Committee already has staff
representation from key stakeholders, has expertise in school travel planning and is a
region -wide Committee. Members of the Committee include transportation staff from
Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge, planning staff from the Waterloo District School
Board and the Waterloo Catholic District School Board, staff from the School
Transportation Services of Waterloo Region, Travelwise Transportation Management
Association and Region of Waterloo Public Health.
Staff is currently preparing the survey which will be distributed shortly. Results will be
tabulated and shared with the Active and Safe Routes to School Committee in May
2015, with a stakeholder workshop planned for June. A report with recommendations
will be brought to Council in September 2015.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
This endeavour is in alignment with many elements of the Strategic Plan, including
being community minded, in providing and improving a service that "enhances the
quality, safety, security, health and welfare of the community and citizens we serve."
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
At this point there is no assigned budget; however, it is anticipated that the development
of the survey, survey administration and development of recommendations can be
accommodated within existing staffing resources. Recommendations from this process
may have budgetary impacts and will be reported back to Council at a later date.
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