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HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/16/2000, C4 - SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL GRANT APPLICATION council j aGEnba Report IC4 CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO FROM: Michael McCluskey,Public Works Director 1�Y Prepared By: Jim Hanson, Associate Transportation Engineer SUBJECT: SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL GRANT APPLICATION CAO RECOMMENDATION Approve Safe Routes to School Grant Application. DISCUSSION On April 27, 2000, staff submitted an application to Caltrans for $14,400.00 of federal Safe Routes to School Grant money. The application requests 100 percent reimbursement for the purchase and installation of remotely programmable flashing beacons to accompany the school speed limit signs on Los Osos Valley Road adjacent to Laguna Middle School. The flashing beacons will alert approaching motorists of when the 25 mph school zone is in effect. Staff, the San Luis Coastal Unified School District, and parents have identified this section of roadway as an area of concern for pedestrian safety. Staff was unable to bring this grant application to City Council for approval before it was submitted to Caltrans because of the relatively short turn around time that was available between staff receiving the application materials and the submittal deadline. If the grant is not approved in its entirety, staff will not pursue the project. Goal& Objective Programmable flashing school zone beacons have been shown to significantly reduce vehicle speeds through school zones on roadways with approach speeds greater than 35 mph. As vehicle speed increases from 20 mph to 40 mph, the potential for the death of a pedestrian hit by a vehicle increases from 5 percent to 85 percent. The critical vehicle approach speed on Los Osos Valley Road during school commute periods (in the posted 25 mph school zone) is 48 mph. At this speed, a pedestrian — automobile collision is likely to be fatal. Currently, it is difficult for motorists to distinguish when the 25 mph school zone speed limit is in effect. Providing programmable flashing beacons that operate only when the school zone speed limit is in effect will help to define the appropriate times of the special speed zone and provide for more accurate speed enforcement adjacent to the school. Fortunately, there have not been any major school pedestrian — automobile incidents on Los Osos Valley Road in recent years. However, staff is recommending that the City take a proactive role in this issue to reduce the potential severity of such an incident if it occurs. Didn't the City remove flashing school beacons that used to be located on Los Osos Valley Road in this area? C4-1 Council Agenda Report—Safe Routes to School Grant Application Page 2 Yes. Flashing school zone beacons were installed on Los Osos Valley Road in the 1970's when there were no signalized intersections for pedestrians to cross to get to Laguna Middle School. Due to equipment and electrical service constraints at the time, these beacons were unable to be installed in the most appropriate locations relating to the school grounds, and the beacons flashed during the majority of the day. The beacons flashed not only during school commute times, but the entire time school was in session. Most of the people driving along Los Osos Valley Road saw the beacons flashing, when no school age pedestrians present and the school speed zone was not technically in effect. -This led to a lack of compliance of the school zone during appropriate times. When traffic signals were installed at Laguna Lane and at Royal Way, providing for improved pedestrian right-of-way for crossings, the need for the flashing beacons was further decreased and they subsequently were removed. However, approach speeds along this corridor have remained high. The proposed new equipment will substantially improve the effectiveness of school zone notification and enforcement area. So why is staff proposing to reinstall beacons here and how will they be more effective than previous efforts? The installation of flashing school zone beacons is no longer limited by costs associated with power source location. Solar powered beacons do not require a hard wire electrical source and therefore can be placed at locations that are most ideal for defining the school zone and slowing vehicles through the zone. The earlier flashing beacons were programmable, however because they were remotely located, they were limited in their ease of programmability. Because of this limitation, they would turn on in the morning when children were going to school, remain on while school was in session and no children were present on the street, and then tum off after the children returned home. The earlier flashing beacons would even turn on when school was not in session, further lending to disrespect for the system. The proposed system is programmable by staff via a remote pager system. The school schedule is placed into a computer and remotely updated automatically to the beacon system on a weekly basis, or as needed. The beacons will be programmed to flash only during school commute hours so that motorists observe the beacons flashing when it was necessary for them to slow down and not during other times of the day. Staff believes that the increased flexibility that new beacon systems offer will allow for the most effective placement and operation of a flashing school zone beacon system and will lead to speed reductions during the appropriate school times. Why is staff making this recommendation now? Staff is in the process of implementing the newly adopted City Pedestrian Crossing Policy. As part of this implementation effort, staff has begun to review areas in the City where pedestrian safety concerns have been previously raised. Staff has received many requests to slow traffic on Los Osos Valley Road during the school commute times. Because of the volume and natural speed of traffic on Los Osos Valley Road, there are few options that would effectively result in reducing speeds during school commute hours. Staff shares the public's concern regarding the C4-2 Council Agenda Report—Safe Routes to School Grant Application Page 3 mixture of the high approach speeds of automobile traffic with the number of school age pedestrians in this area. The use of remotely programmable flashing beacons will allow staff to better differentiate the existing school zone and time it is in effect so that it is better defined for motorists as well as law enforcement personnel. FISCAL IMPACT None. ALTERNATIVES None. ATTACHMENTS Safe Routes to School Grant Application C4-3 ►��������►�►io�Ilill�lll�lllll���°"""�i III cityo san l�u�s oBispo 955 Morro Street • San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 April 27, 2000 California Department of Transportation, District 5 Attn: Jerald Gibbs, Local Assistance Engineer 50 Higuera Street San Luis Obispo, CA 93401-5415 Subject: SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROGRAM APPLICATION Dear Mr. Gibbs: Enclosed is an application from the City of San Luis Obispo, with support of the San Luis Coastal Unified School District, for Safe Routes to School Program money. The City is applying for $14,400.00 to install flashing beacons that will accompany school zone speed limit signing along Los Osos Valley Road. The City is requesting 100 percent reimbursement for the installation of the beacons under Title 23, United State Code Section 120(c), which allows 100 percent federal reimbursement for projects that construct or install traffic signals, traffic signs, or pavement markings. Thank you for consideration of the City's application. If you have any questions, please contact,Jim Hanson,Associate Transportation Engineer, at(805) 783-7707. Sincerely, Timo tt Bochum Deputy Director of Public Works Enclosure JWH :fTi \§P1reP-QgWd9s*901 RiY&EcOginclude the disabled in all of its services, programs and actC4_ Telecommunications Device for the Deaf(805)781-7410. W Local Assistance Program EXHIBIT A Application Form APPLICATION FORM FOR SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROGRAM FUNDS APPLICANT: (City of:or County of:) City of San Luis Obispo SCHOOL DISTRICT: San Luis Coastal Unified School District SCHOOL NAME(S): Laguna Middle School& C.L.Smith Elementary School CALTRANS DISTRICT: District 5 CHP DIVISION: N/A SHORT DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS: Install remotely programmable flashing beacons to accompany the existing 25 mph School Zone Signage. GENERAL LOCATION OF PROJECT: Los Osos Valley Road adjacent to Laguna Middle School PROJECT COSTS: Preliminary Engineering Environmental........................S 0.00 PS&E................................... $ 0.00 Right-0f--Way....................................$ 0.00 Construction Construction...........................$ 14,400.00 Construction Engineering..........$ 0.00 Other(please list)...............................$ 0.00 $ 0.00 Total Project Cost..............................$ 14,400.00 PROPOSED CONSTRUCTION CONTRACT AWARD DATE: July 2000 The followin.g parts of this Application Form request specific project related information. Some of the sections request the applicant to prepare maps or other documents that contain specific information. Other sections contain questions that the applicant can simply answer in the space provided. If a section does not apply to the proposed project or if data is not available, simply write"not applicable(N/A)" or"data not available(DNA)",respectively,beneath or near the question heading or subheading. I CA-61i Local Assistance Program EXHIBIT A Application Form SCHOOL DEMOGRAPHICS The following information may be acquired by a student survey taken on a typical school day. Attach the survey,the data,and its summary, if available. Number of students at the school....................................842(Middle),386(Elementary) Age range of students at the school..................................5 years to 14 years Number of students that walk to school............................ 150 Number of students that bike to school.............................50 Number of students that take a bus to school.......................DNA Number of students driven to school with parents or others.....DNA Number of cars used to drive students to school'..................DNA Percentage of students living within 2 miles of school............DNA The survey might also be written to answer questions 2,3,and 5 below: 1. Does your project involve the improvement to an"existing"walking or bicycling route? Yes_X_ No (If no, skip to Question#4) 2. If yes,how many students currently use this route to walk or bicycle to school? 200 3. How many students will use this route after the improvements are made? 200 4. Does your project involve the creation of a"new"walking or bicycling route? Yes_ No_X_ (If no,go to next Section) 5. If yes,how many students will use this route upon its completion? Note: This survey is a suggestion, not a requirement. Some projects may not require a student trip survey to justify an improvement. For other projects, a survey will help demonstrate the need for a project and assist participants in prioritizing a host of other proposed improvements. The survey will also help the Project Review Committee prioritize projects on a statewide basis. Be assured that a large school will not be automatically ranked higher than a small school simply due to the"gross"number of students attending the school or using a specific route to school. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PROBLEM Provide a detailed, narrative description of the problem. Describe the breadth/scope of the population at risk and the population to be served by the project. Include primary population (students)and secondary population (parents, school employees, neighbors, community, etc.). Discuss resources, financial and otherwise,that have been identified to correct the problem,but were not secured,or were insufficient. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED SOLUTION Provide a detailed, narrative description of the proposed solution. Describe options or alternatives that were considered. Discuss how the proposed alternative is the best, most cost effective solution to the problem. ' The number of cars used gives an indication of traffic at the school. As well, it provides an indication of air pollution reduction potential with the improvement of walking and biking conditions. 2 r AA 27RQ� The Problem More than 200 children along with accompanying parents and school district staff daily walk or bicycle along Los Osos Valley Road to access Laguna Middle School or nearby C.L. Smith Elementary School. Laguna Middle School is the community's only Junior High and directly adjoins Los Osos Valley Road,while C.L. Smith Elementary School is located only a few blocks from this busy street (see accompanying aerial photograph). Los Osos Valley Road is a wide principal arterial street with a roadway width exceeding 25 meters. The right-0f--way includes four travel lanes, a center turn lane,Class II bike lanes and integral sidewalks.Traffic volumes average 22,000 vehicles on weekdays and traffic speeds measured adjoining Laguna Middle School (85th percentile)are 48 miles per hour. This high speed traffic poses a serious threat to school children that must walk along Los Osos Valley Road. Given the street's design, vehicles pass within 1.8 meters of the curb face and pedestrian crosswalks along intersecting side streets. Los Osos Valley Road divides the Laguna Lake Neighborhood, with a significant portion of the neighborhood's school population lying west of the road. Built in the 1960's and 1970's, residential subdivisions that front Los Osos Road are separated from the street by continuous noise barrier walls. These walls and the design of adjoining subdivisions limit pedestrian or bicycle access to quieter neighborhood streets. Consequently, children must cross Los Osos Valley Road at a limited number of signalized intersections and travel along its length to access area schools. About a year and a half ago,the City modified the traffic signal at the Laguna Lane—Los Osos Valley Road intersection to include"protected—permissive"phasing. This modification eliminated a condition where left turning vehicles were turning at the end of the "through phase"which conflicted with pedestrians crossing the street. While these modifications reduced conflicts at the intersection,they did nothing to moderate the traffic speed along the major street. Years ago, school zone signs were installed that direct motorists to slow down when children are present. However,these signs fail to attract the attention of motorists because of the speed and volume of traffic on Los Osos Valley Road — a major commuter route between the communities of San Luis Obispo and Los Osos. Since the majority of motorists along this street are frequent users of the road,passive signage is not likely to be effective. Proposed Solution The City proposes to replace the existing school zone signs with programmable flashing beacons and signs that read: "25 mph when children are present or light is flashing." By using programmable beacons, motorists will be alerted to the potential for school children only during school commute periods and not during non-commute periods. By being selective about when the beacons are flashings,motorists should be less likely to dismiss the flashing lights as a background element of the neighborhood's environment. The City is requesting 100 percent reimbursement under the Safe Routes to School program and Title 23, United State Code Section 120(c), which allows 100 percent federal reimbursement for projects that construct or install traffic signals,traffic signs,or pavement markings. The City is working on interconnecting the traffic signals along Los Osos Valley Road. When this work is completed,the signals will be coordinated during school commute times for 25 mph. However, because the minor cross streets at these signalized intersections have relatively low traffic volumes,it is unlikely that this coordination strategy will slow traffic during school commute periods. The only other option is to do nothing. C4-7 Local Assistance Program EXHIBIT A Application Form SAFETY INDEX CALCULATION As stated in Section IV - Project Categories, 25% of the SR2S funding will be targeted specifically for locations that have a poor accident history. Projects that have documented accident reports can calculate a Safety Index using the following formula: Safety Index=[(A*B)+(C*D)]/E where A=Number of pedestrian or bicycle fatalities in the past 3 years B=Total comprehensive value of a fatality($2,710,000) C=Number of pedestrian and bicycle injuries in the past 3 years D=Total comprehensive value of an average injury,($51,656) E=Total Project Cost Projects submitted for Safety Index funding must attach a listing of pedestrian and bicycle injuries sustained by students of the school on their trips to and from school during the past three years. Diagrams indicating the approximate location and date of each accident is desirable. Accident information beyond three years may also be attached, if it provides more compelling evidence of a problem. However,only the last three years of accident history may be used in the formula. Remember, even if the project does not "make the cut" for Safety Index funding, it will automatically be moved to the Work Type Improvement funding category. Hence, all applicants are encouraged to continue to complete this application in its entirety. SAFETY INDEX= WORK TYPE IMPROVEMENT PROJECTS All applicants should prepare an application that contains the following project information. This information will assist the Project Review Committee in prioritizing Work Type Improvement projects. Describe how the project might reduce the potential for child injuries and fatalities. Include information on: • Potential safety hazards that are being corrected,removed or replaced as part of the project • Measures taken to reduce motor vehicle speeds,congestion,and traffic violations • Measures taken to reduce the exposure of pedestrians or bicyclists to vehicles • Measures taken to provide more protection for pedestrians and bicyclists • Measures taken to attract pedestrians and bicyclists • Measures taken to redirect motor vehicles to alternate routes • Measures taken to remove barriers along the route that inhibit pedestrian and bicyclist travel Attach a map of the school and nearby surrounding area that identifies the route(s) being proposed for improvement. Please identify any existing and potential safety hazards along the route(s). Safety hazards to look for are: • Lack of,or unsafe sidewalks • Lack of,or unsafe bikeways • Lack of street lighting • Lack of pedestrian-activated crosswalks and signals • Non standard sidewalks,bikeways,crosswalks,traffic signals,traffic signs and traffic stripes,etc. • Excessive speeding by vehicles • Continuous encroachment of vehicles into a walkway or bikeways • Poor separation of vehicular traffic from pedestrian traffic 3 GAY, Mitigation With 200 middle and elementary school children walking or bicycling along or across Los Osos Valley Road every week day,their interaction with traffic can have serious consequences. As shown in the table below,as vehicle speed increases,the potential for the death of a pedestrian hit by a vehicle significantly increases. Vehicle Speed %Pedestrians Involved in Collisions That Are Killed 20 mph 5% 30 mph 45% 40 mph 85% Source: Walk Tall,A Citizen's Guide to Walkable Communities Even with the posting of school zone speed limit signs of 25 mph on Los Osos Valley Road, the critical speed of traffic is 48 mph during school commute periods. Because of the layout of the neighborhood and the location of the schools, there are limited alternative routes that children can use to reach school. Therefore,the current pedestrian access pattern is not likely to change. The City is therefore exploring ways to reduce vehicle-pedestrian conflicts along existing school access routes in the neighborhood— the most significant route being Los Osos Valley Road. The City believes that installing a programmable flashing beacon in combination with existing school zone speed signs will be effective is reducing traffic speeds during school commute periods. We base our belief on the findings of a recent study conducted in the State of Washington. This study evaluated the effect of various school zone speed limit markings on actual vehicle speed. The study found that programmable beacons attached to school zone speed limit signs that flashed only when children were traveling to and from school were very effective in reducing vehicle speeds on streets with approach speeds of 35 mph or greater. Los Osos Valley Road is an example of this type of street. Vehicle Speeds in School Zones,ITE Journal, Volume 69,Number 11,November 1999,p.38-42, Charles ,-al. Local Assistance Program EXHIBIT A Application Form • Locations with a history of actual,or perceived,conflicts and/or accidents • Locations that pose a"barrier'to pedestrian/bicycletravel • Other Identify the participants that were involved with the development of the project. Also, provide a list of organizations that were contacted and support the project. Attach letters of support, if available. Groups, associations or organizations to contact include,but are not limited to: School based associations(such as PTA,student associations) Traffic engineers(city,county,state,and federal) Elected officials Law enforcement agencies School officials Other community groups(walking and bicycling groups) Other neighborhood groups Others ff1I California Highway Patrol Approval(if required): IV f (Signature) 1A (Signing Officer's Name and Division) Project participants may also want to provide comments on a variety of other factors not identified above. The following are general considerations that may warrant additional explanation by project participants: • Existing groups that have convened in the past to address this or similar problems. • Existing Pedestrian or Bicycle Master Plans that have been prepared. • Discussions on the opportunities to partner or leverage existing resources with SR2S funds • Preferences and practices that have emerged from existing transportation plans or community/school surveys • Checklists or surveys from"Walk a Child to School Day"events • Petitions submitted by students,parents or community groups Agency: G Ill o r SA hl Lu kS0$&'C§chool Name: LA&tAt,>A l i D p a Sci-fuu i.- l..L,SM ri-, Agency Official: ,96'Q2 177 •A>l School Official: 13 RA:Z Nam Signantr Signature Title: AsSISrAtJf Gry�vm N cS^.n uuf rYfytCitle: 1R rata i< IX h Phone Number: �``>S ) ?`d l ` 711 y Phone Number: 9-05 -% i 3'i6 90 Email: Email: (w]5«us0•K!Z• CA. 11 C436"o N A lk �'} i j • � ,� : �... l� J am^ 61 a '\'.. .44 OZ 13 h r • i V1 l V Tt S, i aAM '7 ;; � n f� 1 � Q NP,Noll °�.5 .�:i a $`Z'dY we r'eTr✓,,, c a'r� si" 1. • 1 RJ ' W}'� r � �J�i�� �Q6 � tt• �, 511s�� , � • Y T �'� C♦��Of t 1 195$'�'s.���'�q ty �'yd z s3 � '�: F ,'�:. 1 • 11 Y • • • N � 1 A L kv ' ar. ppr t Y.. r` J • nad<�,N , x ( •+ 9•ti +1 �. � ti O. 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