HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-17-063 - School Travel Planning Update
REPORT TO: Community and Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING: August 21, 2017
SUBMITTED BY: Ken Carmichael, Interim Director,Transportation Services
519-741-2200 ext. 7372
PREPARED BY: Dean McMillan, Supervisor, Crossing Guards
519-741-2200 ext. 7232
WARD(S) INVOLVED: All Wards
DATE OF REPORT: August 1, 2017
REPORT NO.: INS-17-063
SUBJECT: School Travel Planning - Update
___________________________________________________________________________
For Information Purposes Only
BACKGROUND:
-15-097). Specifically, this report explained School
Travel Planning and outlined the benefits in relation to decreasing the number of
motorists within a school area and thereby increasing the number of pedestrians
(students walking to school).
Also, the report mentioned that the School Travel Planner position (0.4 FTE) be
dedicated to the review of School Travel Planning for the City of Kitchener. The
responsibility of the School Travel Planner is to review up to five Elementary schools
within the City and to provide recommendations in relation to School Travel Planning
such as: encouraging walking to school through strategic initiatives,addressing school
related traffic issues and engaging affected stakeholders.
Moving forward, it is intended to report, on an annual basis, to Council an update of
ongoing and completed School Travel Plan reviews.
REPORT:
The School Travel Planner position is being overseen by Student Transportation
Services of Waterloo Region (STSWR) with funding provided by City of Kitchener, City
of Waterloo and City of Cambridge. Additionally, STSWR and the Cities meet monthly to
review various school travel planning related concerns; this gives the Cities an
opportunity to exchange ideas and share recent successes. Monthly meetings also give
the School Planner a chance to update City staff on progress that has been made in
relation to School Travel Planning and working with local schools. Within the 2015
*** 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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report, it was recommended that the School Travel Planner, in conjunction with the
Supervisor, Crossing Guards, begin to review approximately five (5) Elementary schools
(as opposed to Senior Public Schools and Secondary schools). Since Crossing Guards
are typically deployed to locations surrounding Elementary School locations, these
Crossing Guards and the Supervisor, Crossing Guards can provide input regarding
school operations and driving behaviour within the school area. To date, the School
Travel Planner is currently reviewing the following five Elementary Schools within the
City of Kitchener (including recommended initiatives):
SchoolInitiativesUnderway
St. John -School travelplan in place
Paul II-*Wayfinding signage
C.E.S.-**Trailblazers probable
Chicopee -School traffic management planning with stakeholders
Hills-School Travel Planningcommittee struck
P.S. -***Sidewalk paint and wayfinding signage
st
-Walking events lined up for 1week of school
-Scheduledmeetings for early school year
-Trailblazers probable
Groh -School traffic management planning with stakeholders
st
P.S. -Walking events lined up for 1day of school
-Committee and action planning planned for early in the school year
-Trailblazers probable
Wilson -
P.S.2017(which will include painting the intersection in front of the
schoolwith a unique design)
-Plans for Committee and Action Planning for the school year
2017/2018
-Trailblazers definite
Sandhills-Parent Council addressed
P.S.-STP Committee developed
st
-Walking School Bus scheduled to start 1week of school
-Action planning started
-Trailblazers probable
*Wayfinding Signage Signs that encourage residents to drop-off students a certain distance
from the school and outline the time it would take to walk or cycle to the school location
**Trailblazers students trained to travel along preferred walking routes with traffic vests on to
encourage other students to follow and walk to school
**Sidewalk Paint paint that has been applied to the sidewalk to encourage students to walk to
school
Schools were chosen by staff and the School Travel Planner based on input from
existing school staff and parents (St. John Paul II, Wilson and Sandhills) and a
prioritization tool that takes into consideration such things as collisions within the school
area. Both Groh P.S. and Chicopee Hills P.S. are two new schools that will be opening
in September 2017 and it was determined that new schools would benefit from School
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Travel Planning initially to encourage students to walk to school and dissuade parents
from driving.
Last school year was the inaugural year for the School Travel Planner to be working on
behalf of the City and therefore, initially, at least five schools were chosen and School
Travel Planning processes are in place. It is believed that up to five more schools will be
added to the list for the coming school year (2017/2018) and further School Travel
Planning will take place at these new schools and the existing schools where School
Travel Planning has been initiated. Schools are chosen based on a priority ranking
system that has been developed by the School Board, with assistance from the local
municipalities, including the City of Kitchener.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
Strategic Priority: Safe and Thriving Neighbourhoods
Strategy 3.6: Provide opportunities and support for citizens to lead the way in creating
-being
by capitalizing on local community assets such as community centres, pools, arenas,
libraries, parks, trails and other public spaces.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Fun
the existing Transportation Services Contract Services Other operating budget.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
School Travel Planning, when executed, involves extensive public involvement and on-
going communication with relevant stakeholders.
INFORM This Re
advance of the Council/Committee meeting.
PREVIOUS CONSIDERATION OF THIS MATTER:
School Travel Planning was previously reviewed by Committee in report INS-15-097,
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Justin Readman, Interim Executive Director
Infrastructure Services Department
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