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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDSD-2022-005 - 2021-2022 School Safety Review Development Services Department www.kitchener.ca REPORT TO: Finance and Corporate Services Committee DATE OF MEETING: January 10, 2022 SUBMITTED BY: Barry Cronkite, Director, Transportation Services 519-741-2200 ext. 7738 PREPARED BY: Dean McMillan, Supervisor, Crossing Guards 519-741-2200 ext. 7232 WARD(S) INVOLVED: Ward(s) 1, 5 and 9 DATE OF REPORT: December 9, 2021 REPORT NO.: DSD-2022-005 SUBJECT: 2021/22 School Safety Review RECOMMENDATION: That a School Bus Loading Zone be installed on Montcalm Drive on the West (odd- numbered) side from a point 87m south of Old York Crescent to a point approximately 100m south thereof; and, That an Adult Crossing Guard be installed along Gage Avenue at Belmont Avenue; and, That an Adult Crossing Guard not be installed along Seabrook Drive at Park Glen Street; and, That the Adult Crossing Guard be removed along Ottawa Street at Wilderness Drive; and further, That the Uniform Traffic By-law be amended accordingly. REPORT HIGHLIGHTS: The purpose of this report is to assess and address safety issues at multiple elementary schools within the City of Kitchener. The key finding of this report is that safety and operations can be improved through the installation of a school bus loading zone on Montcalm Drive and crossing guard operation on Gage Avenue. This report also recommends the removal of a crossing guard on Ottawa Street at Wilderness drive due to little activity and does not recommend the installation of a crossing guard on Seabrook Drive due to sufficient gaps in traffic. The financial implications are approximately $3,000 taken from the existing sign maintenance budget This report supports the delivery of core services. *** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. *** Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance. BACKGROUND: Transportation Services is providing an update to Council regarding a number of changes that have been requested to support school safety and active travel. The following items have been outlined for review: A School Bus Loading Zone along Montcalm Drive; The warrant of a crossing guard for Gage Avenue at Belmont Avenue; The warrant of a crossing guard for Janet Metcalfe Public School along Seabrook Drive; Continued crossing guard operation on Ottawa Street at Wilderness Drive REPORT: Crestview Public School School Bus Loading Zone Student Transportation Services of Waterloo Region (STSWR) requested the addition of a School Bus Loading Zone (SBLZ) on the West side of Montcalm Drive (between Old York Crescent and Crestview Public School) to accommodate school buses dropping-off and picking-up students. Staff have reviewed and feel that this request can be accommodated with minimal impact to the neighourhood given the existing No Stopping restrictions on street for school operation. Adult Crossing Guard Gage Avenue at Belmont Avenue School administration requested the review of the intersection of Gage Avenue at Belmont Avenue for crossing guard operation. Accordingly, staff conducted observations to determine whether a crossing guard would be justified to guide pedestrians through the intersection. th Through review of both the morning and afternoon studies that were conducted October 20 th and 27 2021, it was found that there were a significant number of school related pedestrians accessing the intersection during before and after school times for both St. the pedestrian studies the following conflicts were observed: Ώ Students running (along the sidewalk to the intersection) to beat the countdown timer for pedestrians, then accessing the intersection with not enough time to complete crossing Ώ Students not utilizing the crosswalk properly, again, running behind stopped vehicles to access the crosswalk location, thereby surprising turning vehicles at the intersection and encountering students unexpectedly Ώ Students crossing against the traffic signal, walking when it is not safe to do so Based on the above, and the number unaccompanied students and pedestrians accessing the intersection, staff are recommending a crossing guard be implemented to assist students crossing at the traffic signal location (for the south and west legs of the intersection). This should help to ensure that students properly utilize the crosswalk area and ensure that pedestrians are adhering to the appropriate times to cross thereby decreasing the likelihood of pedestrian/vehicle conflicts at the intersection. Recommending a crossing guard for these legs of the intersection will assist pedestrians traveling to and from Westmount Public school (west leg) and students traveling to and from Staff recommend that, due to the safety concerns observed, that crossing guard recruitment commence as soon as possible with operation to begin as early as January 2022. Janet Metcalfe Public School Requests have come from both school administrators at Janet Metcalfe public school as well as from local residents for a crossing guard at Seabrook Drive at Park Glen Street. Staff have conducted studies during both the morning and afternoon time periods on multiple ndrd occasions, November 2 and 3 2021, to determine whether a crossing guard is justified for this location. Since there is only a stop condition on the side street (Park Glen Street), a gap study was conducted to determine if there are adequate gaps, which is time period between vehicles for pedestrians to determine when it is safe to cross Seabrook Drive. During gap studies time periods are divided into five-minute windows to determine how many gaps in traffic exist for pedestrians to cross. The number of pedestrians crossing is also recorded. During both the morning and afternoon studies, adequate gaps were observed during all five-minute time periods to sufficiently allow students and pedestrians to cross safely with little overall delay. This indicates that there are still adequate gaps for pedestrians to determine when it is safe to cross the roadway. Given that this neighbourhood continues to grow, staff recommend that the location be reviewed for a crossing guard again during the 2022 school year to determine if a crossing guard would be suitable at that time. It should be noted that staff have recently enhanced the school zone through the installation of a 40km/h school zone speed limit as well as recent installation of bicycle lanes along Seabrook Drive. Ottawa Street at Wilderness Drive Staff are recommending the removal of the crossing guard location for Ottawa Street at Wilderness Drive. Frequently, during crossing times in both the morning and afternoon, there are less than a dozen students accessing the intersection (most times only 3 students per crossing guard shift). Since there are infrequent pedestrian crossings it is difficult to retain staff working at this location (hired staff do not wish to work there and become bored with the location and end up leaving the program). Additionally, this location is not close to schools (within the adjacent neighbourhood) and there is a traffic signal that creates appropriate gaps for pedestrians to cross safely. For these reasons staff are recommending the removal of the crossing guard for this location beginning January 2022. STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT: The recommendation of through the delivery of core service. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: Capital Budget The recommendations will cost app. $3,000.00 to make the necessary signing changes on Montcalm Drive, Belmont Avenue and Ottawa Street. Operating Budget The recommendations included in this report has no impact on the Operating Budget given that it is recommended that one crossing guard be removed which will be offset by the recommended new crossing guard location. It should be noted that a typical crossing guard location has an annual operating impact of approximately $9,500.00. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: INFORM the council / committee meeting. PREVIOUS REPORTS/AUTHORITIES: There are no previous reports/authorities related to this matter. APPROVED BY: Justin Readman, General Manager Development Services Department ATTACHMENTS: Appendix A Proposed School Bus Loading Zone Montcalm Dr Appendix B Proposed Crossing Guard Installation Gage Avenue at Belmont Avenue Appendix C Crossing Guard Location Review Seabrook Drive Appendix D Proposed Crossing Guard Removal Ottawa Street at Wilderness Drive Appendix A Proposed School Bus Loading Zone Montcalm Dr \[ĻŭĻƓķ tƩƚƦƚƭĻķ {ĭŷƚƚƌ .ǒƭ \[ƚğķźƓŭ œƚƓĻ Appendix B Proposed Crossing Guard Installation Gage Avenue and Belmont Avenue \[ĻŭĻƓķ tƩƚƦƚƭĻķ /ƩƚƭƭźƓŭ DǒğƩķ LƓƭƷğƌƌğƷźƚƓ Appendix C Crossing Guard Review Location Seabrook Drive (Janet Metcalfe Public School) \[ĻŭĻƓķ wĻǝźĻǞĻķ ŅƚƩ ĭƩƚƭƭźƓŭ ŭǒğƩķ ƌƚĭğƷźƚƓ Appendix D Proposed Crossing Guard Removal Wilderness Drive at Ottawa St \[ĻŭĻƓķ /ƩƚƭƭźƓŭ DǒğƩķ wĻƒƚǝğƌ