RE: School Safety Enhancement Options

Transcription

1 HALDIMAND COUNTY Report PW-ES of the General Manager of Public Works For Consideration by RE: School Safety Enhancement Options OBJECTIVE: To provide Council with options to enhance safety in school areas and to provide recommendations for the installation of flashing amber beacons at four existing crossing guard locations. RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. THAT Report PW-ES Re: School Safety Enhancement Options dated May 12, 2014 be received; 2. AND THAT staff be directed to install flashing amber beacons at the following school crossings: Thorburn Street at Joseph Street in Cayuga; Main Street South at Park Place in Hagersville; King Street East at Sherring Street in Hagersville; and, Broad Street at Pine Street in Dunnville. 3. AND THAT the Revised Budget outlined in Report PW-ES be approved. Prepared by: Tyson Haedrich, M. Eng., P. Eng. Director, Engineering Services Date: May 12, 2014 Respectfully submitted: Approved: Paul Mungar, C.E.T., CMM III General Manager Public Works Department Donald G. Boyle Chief Administrative Officer Date of Meeting: June 17, 2014 Page 1 of 13

2 BACKGROUND: At the April 28, 2014 Council meeting staff were directed to bring a report to Council regarding additional options for enhancing safety in school areas. The resolutions providing direction are as follows: THAT staff be directed to contact the OPP to request they monitor crossing guard locations identified as high risk within the County during the remainder of the 2013/14 school year; AND THAT staff be directed to report back to Council at the June 17, 2014 Council in Committee meeting with criteria for installing amber flashing lights at crossing guard locations and those locations recommended for flashing amber lights based on the established criteria; AND THAT those locations recommended for flashing amber lights be installed by the start of the school year in the fall of 2014; AND THAT staff be directed to report back to Council at the June 17, 2014 Council in Committee meeting with additional options to enhance safety in school areas such as school speed zones. The Council discussion regarding the resolutions was initiated by a motion to approve the installation of a flashing amber beacon at an existing school crossing. This report discusses options for enhancing safety in school areas and identifies those school crossing guard locations recommended for flashing amber lights based on established criteria. ANALYSIS: Based on a review of standard practices and existing County policies staff have determined that there are several options available for enhancing safety in school areas including School Crossing Guard locations which may be enhanced by amber flashing lights and/or coloured road markings, School Maximum Speed Zones and Community Safety Zones. Details on each of the options are provided in the following sections. School Crossing Guards Currently there are nineteen school crossing guard locations in Haldimand County (see Attachment 1) including six in Caledonia, two in Cayuga, five in Dunnville, four in Hagersville, and two in Jarvis. The School Crossing Guard Program is a contracted services program administered by the Building Controls and By-law Enforcement Division. Through Report PW-ES Re: School Crossing Guard Warrant Guidelines, Council approved School Crossing Guard Warrant Guidelines (see Attachment 2) to assist staff in assessing requests for new school crossing guard locations. The purpose of the warrant guidelines is to provide for student safety in a consistent and uniform manner. The criteria used in the warrant assessments are as follows: Date of Meeting: June 17, 2014 Page 2 of 13

3 Minimum Number of Students Site Safety Review Traffic Data Collection Student Behaviour Before Entering a Roadway These warrant guidelines are used to evaluate any requests for additional school crossing guards and could also be used to assess if a crossing guard is no longer required due to changing conditions such as school closings. Based on the current contract, the operating cost for a school crossing guard is approximately $9,000 per year. Amber Flashing Lights One of the safety enhancements that can be used to increase the visibility of school crossing guard locations are amber flashing lights. Of the nineteen designated school crossing guard locations, the following five locations currently have flashing amber lights: Argyle Street and Sutherland Street (Caledonia) Argyle Street and Renfrew Street (Caledonia) Parkview Road at Laidlaw Street (Hagersville) Main Street at Monson Street (Jarvis) Talbot Street at John Street (Jarvis) Haldimand Road 55 at Concession 10 Walpole also has flashing amber lights but is not a supervised school crossing. At the February 5, 2013 meeting staff presented Report PW-ES Re: Options to Improve Visibility at Jarvis School Crossings which discusses the options for improving visibility at school crossings and provides the following Council approved guideline for the installation of flashing amber lights: AND THAT the appropriate locations for flashing amber lights are those school crossings that cross high volume arterial roads or connecting link roads as identified in the applicable Master Servicing Plans. In response to the Council resolution of April 28, 2014 staff have reviewed the Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) counts and the road classification of the existing nineteen school crossing guard locations and have identified the following four crossings as appropriate locations for flashing amber lights given that they are high volume arterial or connecting link roads identified in the respective Master Servicing Plans: Thorburn Street at Joseph Street (Cayuga) Main Street South at Park Place in (Hagersville) King Street East at Sherring Street (Hagersville) Broad Street at Pine Street (Dunnville) Date of Meeting: June 17, 2014 Page 3 of 13

4 If Council directs staff to install lights at the four identified crossings, staff are proposing that solar powered flashers be used to provide location flexibility and reduce operating costs. The estimated cost to install amber flashing signals at a single location is approximately $10,000. Coloured Road Markings Another safety enhancement that can be used to increase the visibility of school crossing guard locations are coloured road markings. All school crossings are legislated to be marked with two parallel white lines on each outside edge outlining the school crossing location. The current County practice for implementation of coloured road markings is to colour the area inside the white lines with blue paint. Of the nineteen designated school crossing guard locations only the Main Street at Park Place in Hagersville location currently has coloured road markings. The blue painted crossing was trialed in 2011 as a pilot project. There are no guidelines for the implementation of coloured road markings and staff are recommending that coloured road markings may be used to enhance visibility at school crossings where the crossing visibility is a clearly identified issue. The estimated cost to paint a school crossing with durable coloured markings is approximately $5,000. School Zone Maximum Speed The School Zone Maximum Speed indicates to motorists that they should reduce their speeds at certain times because they are entering a school zone where school children are present and may be crossing the road. The typical zone warning consists of signage and flashing lights, as shown in Attachment 3, that are turned on during the hours that the speed reduction is in effect. The County does not have set warrants or guidelines for the installation of School Zone Maximum Speed areas. According to the MTO s Ontario Traffic Manual (OTM) Book 5, in some jurisdictions, studies have shown that School Zone Maximum Speed signs are effective in decreasing speeds, although not to the extent specified on the sign. Other jurisdictions, however, have found the signs to be ineffective unless it is visibly enforced or there are children present. The driving environment has a major impact on what drivers perceive to be reasonable restrictions, therefore the type of road, lane width, level of built-up development and other physical factors will influence driver compliance with speed reduction signage. The estimated cost to install a set of School Zone Maximum Speed Signs at a single location is approximately $15,000. A Council by-law is required to designate the school zone and the hours that the speed reduction is in effect. Community Safety Zone A Community Safety Zone is a zone that the community has designated as an area where the safety of its children/citizens is paramount. The Community Safety Zone is identified by additional signage and increased fines for traffic violations. Date of Meeting: June 17, 2014 Page 4 of 13

5 Through Report PS-EI Re: Community Safety Zone Policy, Council approved the Community Safety Zone Policy as shown in Attachment 4 that provides the warrants to establish a Community Safety Zone. The four warrants that must be met for the creation of a Community Safety Zone are: Designated Areas of Special Concern Safety Other Applicable Measures/Devices Ability to Enforce It should be noted that a Community Safety Zone (CSZ) is not specific to school areas and is only temporary with a recommended duration of six months. The policy also stipulates that only two CSZs should be implemented at any given time due to the increased requirement for enforcement. The estimated cost to install Community Safety Zone signs at a single location is approximately $500. A Council by-law is required to designate the Community Safety Zone and the times and days that the zone is in effect. BUDGET/LEGAL IMPLICATIONS: The 2014 Tax-Supported Capital Budget did not include a budget for the installation of amber flashing lights at the four school crossing guard locations. Staff propose a revision to the budget as follows: Expenditures: Current Approved Budget Proposed Revised Budget Amber Flashing Lights $0 $40,000 Total Expenditures: $0 $40,000 Financing: CRR Roads Infrastructure $0 $40,000 Total Financing: $0 $40,000 As the proposed project is a new initiative/enhancement to existing services that was not included in the 2014 Tax Supported Capital Budget, the replacement and regular maintenance/repairs associated with the addition of this infrastructure will ultimately impact the County s existing long range capital funding plan. INTERDEPARTMENTAL IMPACTS:. Date of Meeting: June 17, 2014 Page 5 of 13

6 LINKS TO STRATEGIC PLANS:. CONCLUSION: In summary, there are several options available for enhancing safety in school areas including School Crossing Guard locations which may be enhanced by amber flashing lights and/or coloured road markings, School Maximum Speed Zones and Community Safety Zones. Based on established criteria, staff have identified four school crossings as appropriate locations for flashing amber lights given that they are high volume arterial or connecting link roads identified in the respective Master Servicing Plans. ATTACHMENTS: 1. School Crossing Guard Locations. 2. School Crossing Guard Warrant Guidelines. 3. School Zone Maximum Speed Signage. 4. Community Safety Zone Policy. REQUIRED AND RECEIVED COMMENTS FROM: Yes or Clerk s Community Services Department Finance Health & Social Services Department Human Resources Information Systems Legal Public Works Department Planning & Economic Development Department Support Services Other Yes Date of Meeting: June 17, 2014 Page 6 of 13

7 CLERK S DIVISION REVIEW - School Safety Enhancement Options COUNCIL IN COMMITTEE: RECOMMENDATION NO Approved Approved with Amendments Defeated Deferred Other COUNCIL: RESOLUTION NO: Approved Approved with Amendments (Noted below) Defeated Deferred Other Amended Recommendation(s): Council Direction: Clerk s Division Action Taken: Date of Meeting: June 17, 2014 Page 7 of 13

8 School Crossing Guard Locations, Attachment 1 Jarvis (Ward 1) Main Street (Highway #6) and Walpole Street Talbot Street (Highway #3) and John Street Flashing amber lights Flashing amber lights Cayuga (Ward 2) Haldimand Road 54 and Highway 3 Signalized intersection Thorburn Street and Joseph Street Caledonia (Ward 3) Argyle Street North and Sutherland Street McKenzie Road and Haddington Street Flashing amber lights All Way Stop Haddington Street and Scott Acres Boulevard Argyle Street South and Braemar Avenue Argyle Street South and Renfrew Street Signalized intersection Flashing amber lights Wigton Street and Renfrew Street Hagersville (Ward 4) Main Street South and Parkview Road Parkview Road and Laidlaw Street Main Street South and Park Place Signalized intersection Flashing amber lights Coloured crosswalk King Street East and Sherring Street Dunnville (Ward 6) Broad Street and Pine Street Alder Street and Pine Street Alder Street and Cedar Street John Street and Fairview Avenue Pine Street and Lock Street Date of Meeting: June 17, 2014 Page 8 of 13

9 , Attachment 2 Date of Meeting: June 17, 2014 Page 9 of 13

10 , Attachment 3 Date of Meeting: June 17, 2014 Page 10 of 13

11 , Attachment 4 Date of Meeting: June 17, 2014 Page 11 of 13

12 , Attachment 4 Date of Meeting: June 17, 2014 Page 12 of 13

13 , Attachment 4 Date of Meeting: June 17, 2014 Page 13 of 13