Oakwood Elementary traffic meeting
February 10, 2015
In attendance: Jim Palmer, Keith Bradshaw, Jim Day, Dianne Phillips, Tosh Kano, Randy Fitts,
Chris Bertram, Wendy DeBry, Kari Sikorski, Kim Tanner, Holly Fairbanks, Teresa Larsen
Excused: Mayor Rob Dahle
Purpose: To discuss the parking lot congestion problems and traffic issues on Highland Dr. and
determine solutions to act upon.
Discuss the parking lot congestion problems and reasons.
Problems:
1. Congestion in parking lot
2. Parents become impatient
3. Puts children and parents in danger
Oakwood information
-Approx. 500 students enrolled
-40% of these students out of area
-On average 158 cars enter/exit parking lot in 45-minute time frame twice a day at drop
off and pickup (see independent study)
-At times this number nears 200 cars (198 cars on Wednesday January 28, 8:30 a.m.-9:15
a.m.)
-Fardown ave. only side street available to use for different option picking up children
Mr. Bradshaw reminded us of the street behind the school where parents can pick up
students. Applewood Ave. by way of Shangri Lane and Fardown Ave.
-Church not an option for most parents due to fear for student’s safety crossing Fardown
Ave.
-If children have lessons that start at 4:00 p.m. they cannot be picked up in parking lot.
Unable to get out in time.
Mr. Bertram felt it would be hard to get to a 4:00 p.m. lesson even if you could get out of
parking lot. Kim stated 4:00 should be reasonable if the lesson is in close proximity.
-This also means some parents take their students out of school early to avoid being stuck
in parking lot, which causes stress on the office.
Dianne stated that the office is extremely busy from 3:15 p.m. to end of school due to
parents checking out students. Discussion about moving school start time earlier. Kim
felt that school time change would not solve parking lot issue.
Ingress/Egress is most significant problem
-Highland drive consists of four lanes of traffic with no center turn lane.
-Very challenging to turn left/ south out of parking lot.
-Not enough gap time
-Reduced speed zone not encompassing exit
-Cars heading north slow down from 40 mph to 20 mph only 80 feet from exit.
-Cars heading south have already passed end of reduced speed zone and increased
their speed back to 40mph.
-At times cars trying to enter are backed up all the way to exit
-Entrance not large enough for cars to feel safe entering two at a time.
Mr. Day states that the entrance is not intended to be wide enough for two cars to enter at
once as this may cause impatient drivers to use this as an exit.
Discussion of comparisons with other schools that have similarities to Oakwood.
Cottonwood Ele.
-Has significantly longer reduced speed zone-due to two crosswalks. North
crosswalk services very few homes in safe walking zone as no sidewalk past
crosswalk to the north.
Mr. Bertram states that he gives very few tickets at Cottonwood Ele. due to two
reduced speed zones which keep cars at 20 mph.
-Cottonwood has large shoulder in front of school and on the west side of street for
parents to park for student pickup.
-has side street for parent pickup
Woodstock
-has two entrances
-crosswalk close to exit, which allows for reduced speed zone to encompass exit
area
-has longer pickup/drop-off area and larger parking lot
Discussion about the history of the actions Oakwood has taken to help with problems and
results of these actions. (Parking lot issues started fall 2102)
1. Parking lot rules given out to parents at least twice a year. (rules attached)
2. Discussion about right turn lane only to exit, however decided this could cause U-turn
problems on Highland drive and side streets
3. Painting of red curb for no parking zone (still being discussed)Mr. Bertram feels that
painting the curb red is not a good idea, as this indicates the whole area as a fire lane.
4. Painting of lanes with no parking-loading /unloading only
5. Crosswalk lines painted on Fardown Ave. so students can be picked up at the church
(achieved)
6. Kari Sikorski has “patrolled” parking lot encouraging parents to pull forward, stay in
vehicle in drop off lane, tries to prevent double parking and cell phone usage.
7. Other parents have independently stopped northbound traffic on Highland Drive to
allow for cars to exit when significant backup and frustration occurs. Discussion about
how this is dangerous for these parents.
Questions:
1.
What conditions need to exist to warrant a signal? Could it be a signal that only functions when reduced
speed zone flashers on? Mr. Kano states there needs to be 80 cars for 8 consistent hours in a 24 hour period
to warrant a signal. A signal costs $250,000. Once you have a signal you can no longer have blinking
reduced zone-flashing lights.
2.
What are the reduced speed zone restrictions and distances from crosswalk? Reduced speed zones begin
250’ before a crosswalk and ends 50’ after a crosswalk.
3.
Is a school or district liable if a student is injured in front of school but not within reduced speed zone? The
school is not liable once a student is off school property. Sidewalk is not school property.
4.
Can ANY exceptions be made to the law to extend reduced speed zone farther south to increase available
gaps for egress? No
5.
Can an additional crosswalk be added to the south end of school property? What conditions need to exist for
additional crosswalk? This is the area where we may be able to accomplish change. We need to call Michael
Duncan to get a count of students southwest of Oakwood that would utilize an additional crosswalk. Mr.
Kano states the number was 20. Others feel the number is 10 students. Mr. Kano will complete a study to
see if an additional crosswalk could be warranted. If the count warrants an additional crosswalk it will be
sent for discussion with Holladay city. Kim Tanner to talk to Michael Duncan then to Mr. Kano to proceed in
this direction.
6.
If exceptions cannot be made for larger reduced speed zone and additional crosswalk not possible, can
crosswalk be moved farther south to slow cars down earlier and help increase available gaps for egress?
This is also an area that we can act upon in the very near future. It was determined that the crosswalk
should be moved just north of the exit. This would then move our reduced speed zone much farther south,
nearer to the entrance and the reduced speed zone would surround the exit. Discussion about painting a
stop here line on Highland drive so cars do not block exit when crossing guards are crossing students. Mr.
Kano felt this would not be able to be done till summer when school is out. Mr. Palmer felt we should shoot
for May. Holly wondered about the possibility of Easter break.
Mr. Palmer also discussed possibility of variable speed down program flashing lights that would slow cars
down to 30 mph prior to the reduced speed zone. This would be a very beneficial addition. Discussion that
this would only be necessary for northbound traffic.
7.
Would a crossing guard on Fardown Ave. be possible? Crossing guards are expensive-costing the city
$12,000 per year per cross guard. Other options may be more cost effective.
8.
If so, could this warrant an extension to the reduced speed zone? A cross guard on a street running east and
west would not provide reason for reduced speed zone. Crosswalk must cross Highland for reduced speed
zone.
9.
Could ingress lane size be increased to allow for safe double car entrance? No, reasons as above.
10. Could those students in boundaries annexed to Canyons district be allowed to ride bus with pickup at the
church at 23rd East? Discussion about possibility of having annexed Canyon students permitted to ride bus.
Some parents have been told their children cannot ride the bus if out of area. Will discuss with Tom Given
from transportation office. (Spoke with Mr. Given after meeting and he states there are 10 seats available
for Canyon district students.)
11. Any other options available to provide more transportation for out of area students? Mr. Bradshaw
reminded us that we could be more proactive is using a carpooling system among out of area parents.
12. Would painting “pull forward” on drop off/pick up lane help? Mr. Day felt this is not significantly helpful.
13. Can schools ticket and fine parents who don’t follow parking lot rules? Mr. Bertram states that there are
very few reasons that you can legally write a ticket on private property, inc. fire lane violations and
handicapped parking violations. He felt trying to write fines for breaking parking lot rules would be very
difficult to enforce and cause problems.
14. Can parents who ask for special permits need to sign parking lot rules and state they will comply as
requirement for special permit? for school to determine.
“It will take a child getting hit by a car to make real changes. The problem is no one is willing to
sacrifice their child. “ quote by Holly Fairbanks.
Kim asked how to proceed to make sure these solutions get acted upon.
Mr. Fitts states he will take all our concerns to the city and come up with a proposal and we
should meet again in 4 weeks or so.
Mr. Kano will begin work on where to move north crosswalk and determine best location for
crosswalk. Mr. Kano and Kim Tanner to meet together again in a couple weeks.
Kim to talk with Michael Duncan to begin study of possible additional crosswalk.
Meeting adjourned
Independent traffic study of Oakwood Elementary
Completed by Kim Tanner
Cars individually counted as they exited parking lot.
Time frame approx. 30 minutes before school begins to 15 minutes after drop-off
Or
15 minutes before school ends to 30 minutes after pickup.
Random days were used for counting.
Friday January 23, 2015 from 1:25-1:50 p.m.
110 cars exited
Monday January 26, 2015 from 3:30-4:15 p.m.
132 cars exited
Wednesday January 28, 2015 from 8:30-9:15 a.m.
198 cars exited
Monday February 9, 2015 from 8:30-9:15 a.m.
191 cars exited
Conclusion: average 158 cars exit parking lot twice daily
A comparison study:
Olympus Jr. High signal exit
Tuesday January 27, 2015 from 2:30-3:15 p.m.
50 cars exited