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Home My WebLink AboutDTS-07-171 - School Bus Loading Zone At Country Hills Public School ) Report To: Development and Technical Services Committee Date of Meeting: Submitted By: Prepared By: Ward(s) Involved: Date of Report: Report No.: Subject: November 19, 2007 John P.McBride Ronald Schirm Ward 3 October 22, 2007 DTS 07-171 SCHOOL BUS LOADING ZONE AT COUNTRY HILLS PUBLIC SCHOOL RECOMMENDATIONS: That a School Bus Loading Zone be established on the south side of Country Hills Drive from a point 210 metres east of Old Country Drive to a point 39 metres east thereof; and further, That the Uniform Traffic Bylaw be amended accordingly. BACKGROUND: Transportation Planning is in receipt of a request from the Transportation Department of the Waterloo District School Board to install a School Bus Loading Zone on Country Hills Drive at Country Hills Public School. At present there are 2 school busses that serve the school. This demand is expected to increase and stabilize at 3 full size school busses for the 2008-09 School Year as more students are bussed to the school. REPORT: Country Hills Public School is a Kindergarten to grade 6 school located on Country Hills Drive, east of Old Country Drive in the Gateway-Fairview Ward. At present there are 2 full size school busses that serve the school on a daily basis. Staff at the Transportation Department of the Waterloo District School Board expects demand for bussing to increase to 3 full size school busses for the 2008-09 School Year. It is not anticipated that school bus demand will increase further in the foreseeable future. There is a student safety patrol assisted school crossing located on Country Hills Drive at the western extremity of the school property. When installing School Bus Loading Zones there is always a concern with regard to visibility vis a vis pedestrians and passing motorists. School busses are large and can potentially create serious sight restrictions. Adequate sight lines with regard to crossing pedestrians must be maintained where a School Bus Loading Zone is considered as school busses are not required to activate the school bus stop sign and lights, bringing traffic to a halt, when occupying School Bus Loading Zones. If the School Bus Loading Zone is installed in the recommended location, the Driver Stopping Sight Distance to the school crossing when travelling westbound will be approximately 85 metres. This is in excess of the minimum 64 metres required for vehicles travelling at the posted 50 km/h speed limit. The Child's Visibility Distance when standing on the south side of Country Hills Drive is also 85 metres, which is less than the required 127 metres for vehicles travelling 50 km/h. This deficiency is correctable with the installation of a student safety patrol assisted School Crossing, which, in this case, is already in place. Visibility eastward at the School Crossing is optimal when standing on the north side of the road. Child's Visibility Distance from this vantage point looking eastward is 130 metres. This is greater than the minimum required 127 metres as previously stated. The school has agreed to increase the number of Student Safety Patrols operating at this location to two, with the intent of providing a Patroller on the north side of Country Hills Drive at dismissal times in order to cue Patrollers on the south side of the road when there are suitable gaps in traffic. For pedestrians looking westward and for eastbound traffic there are no visibility issues that arise with the installation of the proposed School Bus Loading Zone. Therefore school busses loading and unloading at the recommended location for the School Bus Loading Zone will permit the safe operation of the school crossing. Further, because school busses are not required to display their stop signs or flashing lights when loading and unloading passengers in a School Bus Loading Zone, through traffic on Country Hills Drive will not be disrupted by this activity. There is a Grand River Transit stop located on the south side of Country Hills School directly in front of the school, opposite Coach Hill Drive that serves the #22 Transit bus. Although at this point in time the bus is scheduled stop at this location at 8:40 a.m. and at 3:36 p.m., there is minimal conflict with school busses as the proposed School Bus Loading Zone will be located 45 metres east of the Transit stop, ample space for all busses to manoeuvre. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: The cost of the installation two School Bus Loading Zone signs is $200 and will be drawn from the sign installation account. COMMUNICATIONS: The Transportation Department of the Waterloo District School Board will be notified as well as the school. Country Hills Public School has been notified and is in agreement with the location of the proposed school bus loading. The school will provide the second student safety patrol at the school crossing when the School Bus Loading Zone is in place. The school bus operators will be notified by the Waterloo District School Board. CONCLUSION: The installation of a School Bus Loading Zone for 3 full size school busses at the eastern extremity of Country Hills Public School will help clearly define a space for school busses, reduce the impact on through traffic that stopped school busses create without detrimentally affecting the safety of students crossing at the school crossing. Ronald K. Schirm, Supervisor Crossing Guards Transportation Planning John P. McBride, Director Transportation Planning RKS Attach. DTS REPORT 07 -171 COUNTRY H ILLS PUBLIC SCHOOL SCHOOL US LOADING ON PROPOSED SCHOOL Bus LOADING ZONE SAFETY PATROLAsSISTED SCHOOL CROSSING