George Greenaway Elementary School School Travel Plan Compiled by: Engineering Department, City of Surrey Production of School Travel Planning materials has been made possible through a financial contribution by the Public Health Agency of Canada. The views expressed herein do not necessarily represent the views of the Public Health Agency of Canada. Table of Contents Introduction .............................................................................................................................................. 3 What is School Travel Planning? ........................................................................................................................ 3 Benefits of School Travel Planning ..................................................................................................................... 3 How the process works ....................................................................................................................................... 4 School Overview ....................................................................................................................................... 5 School Profile ....................................................................................................................................................... 5 Travel Challenges Summary ....................................................................................................................7 Safety and Operations Study .............................................................................................................................. 7 “Hands up” Surveys ............................................................................................................................................. 9 Take Home Surveys ............................................................................................................................................ 10 School Walkabout .............................................................................................................................................. 12 Pictures of the Walkabout ............................................................................................................................ 20 Goals ........................................................................................................................................................ 21 Earth Day Walk and Roll to School Challenge Kick Off Event Photos .......................................................... 21 Action Plan .............................................................................................................................................. 25 Stakeholders ........................................................................................................................................... 28 School Committee ............................................................................................................................................. 28 Municipal Stakeholders Committee ................................................................................................................. 28 Resource persons ........................................................................................................................................... 28 Future Plans ........................................................................................................................................... 29 Consensus ............................................................................................................................................... 30 Introduction School Travel Planning is a community‐based approach that has been used with success in Canada to increase the number of children choosing active transportation modes to get to and from school. WHAT IS SCHOOL TRAVEL PLANNING? School Travel Planning addresses the issues of sustainability, safety and health associated with children travelling to and from school using a collaborative community‐based approach. Key community stakeholders (school boards, municipalities, police, public health professionals, parents, educators and children) work together with an STP Facilitator to identify and solve their school transportation problems. While the physical and attitudinal barriers to walking, cycling and other environmentally friendly modes of travel are addressed, all aspects of how children travel to and from school are investigated and documented. A key emphasis is placed on determining the extent to which a community allows for the independent mobility of children. Each school writes a School Travel Plan which includes an action plan section describing steps they plan to implement such as: • introduction of school infrastructure—e.g. bike shelters, bike racks, lockers; • education—e.g. safety training for walking and cycling, awareness raising; • community mobilization—e.g. walking school busses, walking buddies, ride sharing; • encouragement—e.g. celebrations of physical activity and environment, event days, recognition and rewards for walking/biking; and • engineering improvements at or near school sites—e.g. pedestrian crossings, adult crossing guards, repairs and upgrades to sidewalks, signage. BENEFITS OF SCHOOL TRAVEL PLANNING School Travel Planning aims to decrease the number of car trips and increase the number of children walking and cycling to and from school resulting in: • Improved health & fitness of the students; • Improved safety for students; • Reduced congestion and reduced principal time wasted dealing with traffic issues and complaints; • Positive environmental impacts: reduced pollution, improved air quality, fewer greenhouse gas emissions that impact climate change; and • Potential cost savings: opportunity for parents to reduce expenditures on gas, chance for school boards to reduce bussing costs (in cases where children are bussed due to safety, i.e. lack of sidewalks or need to cross a busy street, rather than distance), chance for schools to save staff time in the long term as recurrent safety issues are dealt with and parent complaints decline. HOW THE PROCESS WORKS A dedicated School Travel Plan Facilitator leads schools and the wider community through five steps (which do not flow in a linear order, but often overlap, e.g. implementation usually begins before action planning is complete): 1. Program Set‐up – Select municipality; establish a Municipal STP Committee with representation from all key stakeholder groups; choose a school that is committed to project; establish a School STP Committee comprised of school staff, parents, interested community members and possibly students; and determine project timeline. 2. Data Collection & Problem Identification – Conduct Classroom Hands‐up Student Survey, Family Survey and Traffic/Pedestrian/Cyclist Count; Coordinate School Site Visit & Walkabout with key stakeholders; analyze data collected; write summary of issues identified. 3. Action Planning – School STP Committee designs a plan of action for dealing with challenges identified and achieving stated goals (including initiatives, timeline and assignment of responsibility for each task). STP Facilitator compiles the written School Travel Plan document that summarizes background information and outlines the detailed action plan. 4. Implementation – Action items are carried out. 5. Ongoing Monitoring – Follow up data collection is done to evaluate progress toward goals. The plan is tweaked as necessary. A School Travel Plan is intended to be a living document that becomes part of school policy and is revisited and updated on a regular basis. School Overview SCHOOL PROFILE School Name School Type, e.g. public, separate, private Contact Information (including full mailing address, phone number, fax number, website, email address) Name of School Board Number of Students Number of Families Grades, e.g. K‐6, K‐8 School Bell Times Number of Parking Spaces (staff/visitor) Description of Location, e.g. city centre/suburban/rural % Bussed Students Socio‐Economic Description of Families High‐Level Description of Any Major School Travel Problems Existing Facilities, e.g. bike rack/storage, kiss ‘n ride, school bus drop‐off zone, adult or student crossing guards, public transit bus stops serving school Existing Safety Policy & Education, e.g. school safety policy and rules, current safety education programs George Greenaway Elementary School public Yanping Wang 17285‐61A Avenue Surrey, B.C. V3S 1W3 Ph: 604‐576‐1136 Fax: 604‐576‐7952 or wang_y@sd36.bc.ca
Surrey School District 36 362 269 k‐7 8:35am and 2:30 pm ‐ pick‐up/drop‐off bay ‐ 48‐stall staff parking lot ‐ 12‐stall angled visitor parking lot Suburban/urban, inner city Cloverdale Ball Park adjacent to school(east side) Special Education 4‐5 Some lower income, social assistance, in‐care Congestion, people parking on both sides of the street, not observing signs, flooded path behind school, not observing speed limits, jay walking student crossing guards with staff supervision, drop off zone not used properly, 3 old style bike racks, and no public transit serving school Talk about at assembly, newsletter and PAC meetings‐ safe walking, riding, scooters, roller blades Travel Challenges Summary Parents and staff reported traffic issues at the school site and on routes to school, including unsafe vehicle movements on school site, disregard of signage by motorists, concern for the safety of some street crossings and some need for upgrades to pedestrian infrastructure on paths and trails. These issues are detailed in the Take Home Surveys and School Walkabout Sections. SAFETY AND OPERATIONS STUDY The City of Surrey is conducting a comprehensive analysis of safety and operation around schools in all schools in the City (largest school district in B.C., with over 125 public schools). Apart from the safety study itself, specific counts and observations were made specifically for the School Travel Plan at George Greenaway Elementary School. STP TRAFFIC COUNT SUMMARY Figure 1: Vehicle Activity in Pick Up/Drop Off Lot Fronting School Figure 2: Vehicle Activity on South Shoulder of 61A Ave Figure 3: Vehicle Activity on North Shoulder of 61A Ave Figure 4: Pedestrian Use of 61A Ave/173 St Crosswalk Figure 5: Vehicle Use in Parking Lot East of School (Cloverdale Ball Park) Figure 6: Pedestrian Use of Field Pathways North of School Travel Survey Baseline Data To gain a clearer picture of the status of travel at George Greenaway Elementary, travel data was collected using a variety of methods, including: traffic surveys (counting vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists); a walkabout with committee members; classroom surveys of students; and take‐home surveys of families. To collect information on how students get to and from school, a classroom “hands up” survey was completed in all classes from November 30th to December 4th, 2009. The results of this survey are illustrated in Figures 7 and 8, below. “HANDS UP” SURVEYS Figure 7: Modes of travel on the way to school (from classroom survey) Figure 8: Modes of travel on the way from school (from classroom survey) TAKE HOME SURVEYS The Family Transportation Survey was sent to 269 families on December 4th in hopes of gaining a better understanding of why certain modes of travel were favoured. 110 surveys were returned by the deadline of December 11, 2009. Some of the most significant findings were: • 44% of children walk to school and 49% of children walk home • 51% of children are driven to school and 46% of children are driven home • 4% of children are carpooled to school and 4% of children are carpooled home • 36% of children live within 500 m of the school • 87% of children live within 1.5 km of the school • 46% of parents said “I would let my child(ren) walk if they walked with somebody else.” The results of this survey are illustrated in Figures 9, 10, 11 and 12 below. Figure 9: Overall Modes of travel on the way to school (from take home survey) Figure 10: Overall Modes of travel on the way from school (from take home survey) Figure 11: Distance families live from school (from take home survey) Figure 12: Reasons to allow a child to walk to school (from take home survey) SCHOOL WALKABOUT On March 4th 2010 Municipal and School Committee Members met before the morning bell to observe the traffic issues first hand. The following pages show a detailed overview of the walking route that was taken, and the key issues at each location. All this information was provided to participants in the walkabout. Figure 13: Walkabout Route Overview
Figure 14: Pick Up/ Drop Off Lot at School Front Figure 15: Traffic issues at School Front on 61A Avenue Figure 16: Crosswalk and Ball Park Parking Lot Figure 17: Pathways Connecting to School Figure 18: 172nd Street Figure 19: 60th Avenue Pictures of the Walkabout Discussing unsafe parking of vehicles on grass and walkway into the school Observing commonly used routes to school Goals The main goal is for safe, convenient and healthy active travel to and from school. Achieving this requires a comprehensive approach: • Enhancing the safety of the school site by reducing individual car trips and addressing frontage signage and layout • Enhancing safety on routes to school and at the school site using a combination of engineering, enforcement, group walking and road safety education solutions • Using education and organization to encourage safe, active walking groups from different parts of the catchment • Enabling and encouraging individual families to take part in active travel all or partway to school. George Greenaway Elementary staff and parents have started a walking group organization on the Best Routes to School from different parts of the catchment and are promoting a student contest with rewards for those students that walk. The following photos illustrate a regional event that was kicked off at George Greenaway, attended by Mayor Watts and School Trustee Laurae McNally, with a performance featuring students with Charlotte Diamond and her Walking School Bus song. EARTH DAY WALK AND ROLL TO SCHOOL CHALLENGE KICK OFF EVENT PHOTOS Walking school bus Another walking school bus Walking school bus participants with Principal Wang, Mayor Watts, Members of the School Committee and Douglas Fir Members of the School Travel Planning Municipal Committee with Douglas Fir Charlotte Diamond performing the walking school bus song Charlotte Diamond with Mayor Dianne Watts
Action Plan George Greenaway
Action Plan
Action/Initiative
Tasks
Responsibility
Objective 1: To encourage more students to walk or cycle to and from school
Walk and Roll Challenge
Organize walking school buses
School Committee
kick-off event
Plan assembly
Principal Wang
Walking School Bus
Try out as part of Earth Day
School Committee
Survey parents to find out
Principal Wang
interest/need
Try to extend to regular schedule School Committee
(monthly or weekly)
Cycling Skill Courses
Available through VACC
Principal Wang, GG staff
Bicycle Parking
Apply for newer bike racks
Principal Wang, GG staff
through HASTE
Investigate helmet
Ask store about discounts for
School Committee (Michelle)
discounts at CAPS bikes
students of GG
Find out about how kids
Find out if CAPS sells locks that
School Committee (Michelle)
can lock up scooters
work for scooters
Objective 2: To improve the safety of children en route to and from school
Parking improvements
Install barriers in front of
City of Surrey,
pathway where cars park on
Transportation & Parks Dept
grass
(Kristen Tiede, Luciana
Moraes).
Traffic Calming
New speed hump on 61A Ave
City of Surrey,
(west end of school zone)
Transportation (Kristen
Curb bulges and new crosswalk
Tiede, Luciana Moraes).
at 61A & 173A
Timeframe
Estimated Cost & Source of
Funds
By April 22
n/a
By April 22
By May 31
n/a
May/June
June
Fall 2010
Cost covered by City
n/a
May/June
n/a
May/June
n/a
2010/2011
Cost covered by City
2011
Cost covered by City
Crossing guards
New crosswalks
&
Curb bulges
Signage
Make request for Crossing Guard
61A & 173A to Mike Joyal (check
school safety review)
60th and 172nd
63rd and 172nd
61A and 172nd
62A and Charbray Pl
Install new “no stopping” signs in
key locations around the school
Objective 3: Map the best routes to walk to school
Define meeting points
Choose 4 meeting points for
walking school buses
Identify crosswalks,
Map created that can be added
sidewalks and pathways
to by School Committee and
students
Send out best route to
Alter map
school maps to families
Send out at beginning of year
Objective 4: Increase Travel Awareness
Idle free signs
Obtain through HASTE
Idle free campaign
Senior students can hand out
educational cards about idling or
get parents to sign a pledge not
to idle
Notify Parents about
signage changes
Teach Traffic Awareness
Safety
Send out notification of signage
changes in newsletter
ICBC resources (Roadsense for
kids (K-3, 4-7)
DVDs for Classrooms (Bike Safe,
Principal Wang, GG staff
By June 2010
City of Surrey,
Transportation (Kristen
Tiede).
By June 2010
2011
Cost covered by City
City of Surrey, Traffic
Operations (Kristen Tiede to
follow up).
By June 2010
Cost covered by City
School Committee
April 7th
n/a
City of Surrey,
Transportation (Kristen
Tiede).
School Committee, City of
Surrey Transportation
(Kristen Tiede), HASTE
Principal Wang
April 22nd
Cost covered by City
City of Surrey,
Transportation (Kristen
Tiede).
City of Surrey,
Transportation (Kristen
Tiede) to obtain supplies
School Committee to
organize plan
Principal Wang
Principal Wang and GG staff
By June 2010
September 2010
By Sept 2010
Cost covered by Provincial
Government
By Sept 2010
By June 2010 (once
changes are made)
Sept 2010
n/a
Walk Smart)
Objective 5: Encourage sustainable travel modes
Dreamrider Theatre
“Keep Cool, a play about climate
change” was performed at
assembly
Get involved in events
Environmental Extravaganza
Bike to School Week
that promote cycling and
Clean Air Day
walking
Iwalk
Team challenge
Educate families on health
and wellness benefits
Students collect points for
walking or rolling to school and
are entered in weekly draw
Provide in school communication
(newsletters etc.)
Lisa Jamieson, STP
Facilitator
Dec 2009
Principal Wang and GG staff
April to June
Principal Wang and GG staff
May 31-June 4
June 2
October (1st week)
ongoing
Lori Smart, Fraser Health
HASTE
Principal and PAC
Objective 6: To monitor effectiveness of initiatives and revise School Travel Plan annually
Monitor transportation
Conduct follow-up survey
Principal Wang
mode
Report on implementation Oversee the implementation of
STP Facilitator
of STP and initiatives
the action plan items and track
the actual timing and cost of
initiatives versus planned
Cost covered by City
n/a
Provided from Sept
2010
October 2010
n/a
2010/2011
Cost covered by City
Stakeholders SCHOOL COMMITTEE Yanping Wang, Principal Lisa Jamieson, Vice Principal Sharon Power, Teacher Michelle McGillivray, Parent Tabitha Reise, Parent Mandeep Sira, Parent Tammy Gran, Parent MUNICIPAL STAKEHOLDERS COMMITTEE Tracy Sutherland, STP Facilitator, City of Surrey – Drainage & Environment Kristen Tiede, City of Surrey – Transportation Planning Luciana Moraes, City of Surrey – Transportation Planning David Sadler, City of Surrey – Planning/Parks & Recreation Bill Hamilton, Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition (VACC) Glenn Massey, City of Surrey – Bylaws Mike Joyal, School District #36 ‐ Manager, Transportation Marg Mahan, Better Environmentally Sound Transportation (BEST) Julie Bion, Surrey RCMP‐ School Liaison Rachelle Rebman, Fraser Health ‐ Healthy Living/Healthy Communities Lori Smart, Fraser Health ‐ Healthy Living/Healthy Community Specialist Surrey/White Rock Resource persons Sandra Jones, Hub for Action on School Transportation Emissions (HASTE) Future Plans The school and Travel Planning Committee will continue with the Action Plan in September, when school reconvenes. The School Travel Plan will be revisited in 2010‐11 and revised as necessary. Final data collection for the STP pilot will occur in October 2010, with the follow‐up family survey. The results will be compared to the baseline data gathered in December 2010. After the new data has been analysed and compared to the baseline information, results will be shared with STP stakeholders through STP Committee meetings and/or email. Results will also be shared with parents/caregivers through the school newsletter and at school events.