Title
Review and Comment on School Street Safety (Discussion Item)
Body
Transportation Commission
11/17/2021
Item 6A
(INFORMATION)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
All children should be safe traveling to school, whether they walk, use a wheelchair, bike, scoot, ride in a car, or drive. With over 20 K-12 schools in Alameda, a number of them are on or near the High Injury Corridors that the City prioritizes for safety investments. Alameda crash data from 2009-2018 found that 63% of crashes involving younger victims (ages 18 or younger) occurred within a quarter mile of a school, while only 38% of Alameda’s roadways are within a quarter mile of a school. In addition, young people ages 10-24 were disproportionately vulnerable to fatal and severe injury crashes.
The City of Alameda (City) improves street safety around schools as part of its broader street improvement efforts. In addition, the Safe Routes to School Infrastructure project is utilizing $368,000 of 2021-2023 Capital Budget funds to implement improvements around schools.
The Street Safety Improvements at Alameda Schools report (Exhibit 1) outlines the infrastructure improvements the City has completed, planned, or proposed near 22 individual K-12 schools in Alameda. It also reviews the school street safety programming the City supports and leads, as well as eight actions in the proposed Vision Zero Action Plan that aim to improve school street safety.
BACKGROUND
On October 27, 2021, City and Alameda Unified School District (AUSD) staff gave presentations about school street safety to the City Council/School Board Subcommittee. The AUSD presentation included discussion of using the old Lum School drop-off zone for Wood Middle School students in order to reduce crowding at the Grand Street entrance. Public comment included requests for the following: more traffic and parking enforcement at schools; crossing guards at middle schools; and street design changes at school sites. The City Council/School Board Subcommittee members spoke about having AUSD conduct targeted communications about safe behaviors at school drop-off and pick-up times, as well as the City implementing striping improvements near schools.
DISCUSSION
Please see the Street Safety Improvements at Alameda Schools report (Exhibit 1) for information about the City’s efforts to increase traffic safety near schools. The document outlines the following:
• Completed, planned, and proposed street safety improvements near 22 individual K-12 schools in Alameda.
• Over ten programs the City supports or leads to protect children crossing streets, provide traffic safety education, and encourage students to walk and bike to school.
• Eight actions in the proposed Vision Zero Action Plan that aim to increase traffic safety around schools.
The table below contains lists of schools benefiting from recent major projects. See Exhibit 1 for targeted improvements related to School Safety Assessments, pavement resurfacing programs, child-involved collisions in 2019, and more.
Major Projects Near Schools
|
Project* |
Status |
Nearby Schools |
|
Cross Alameda Trail - Main St to Constitution Way |
Complete |
ACLC, Academy of Alameda, Alameda Science and Technology Institute (ASTI), Island High, Nea Community Learning Center, Ruby Bridges Elementary |
|
Otis Drive Safety Project |
Complete |
Wood Middle |
|
Grand Street Resurfacing & Safety Improvements |
Construction 2022 |
Franklin Elementary, Wood Middle |
|
Encinal Ave Safety Improvement Project (Caltrans) |
Construction 2022 |
Alameda High, Franklin Elementary, Phillips Academy, St Joseph’s Elementary, St Joseph Notre Dame High School |
|
Central Ave Safety Improvement Project |
Construction 2023 |
Child Unique Montessori, Encinal Junior & Senior High School, Maya Lin School, Paden Elementary |
|
Lincoln/Marshall/Pacific Safety Improvement Project |
Design/public engagement 2022 |
ACLC, Academy of Alameda, Edison Elementary, Child Unique Montessori, Encinal Junior & Senior High School, Love Elementary, Nea Community Learning Center, Phillips Academy |
|
High Injury Corridor Daylighting Project |
In progress |
Edison Elementary, Love Elementary, Phillips Academy, Rising Star Montessori School, Saint Phillip Neri Catholic School, Wood Middle School |
|
Slow Streets |
In place |
Child Unique Montessori, Edison Elementary, Franklin Elementary, Love Elementary, Otis Elementary, Paden Elementary, Encinal Junior & Senior High School, St Joseph’s Elementary, St Joseph Notre Dame High School |
*For links to project information, see www.AlamedaCA.gov/SaferStreets#section-4 <http://www.AlamedaCA.gov/SaferStreets>
FINANCIAL IMPACT
This is an informational item, and as such has no financial impact.
MUNICIPAL CODE/POLICY DOCUMENT CROSS REFERENCE
The following policies and goals directly or indirectly call for Vision Zero and traffic safety in Alameda:
• A September 3, 2019 Council referral included a call for a Vision Zero policy.
• The 2018 Transportation Choices Plan’s Projects 2, 9, and 30 all include creating a Vision Zero Safety Policy/Plan, marked high priority in all cases.
• The 2017 Safety and Noise Element of the General Plan, Policy SN-5, states: “Ensure that the City prioritize public safety through the implementation of a Vision Zero policy to reduce annual pedestrian and bicyclist fatalities and serious injuries resulting from collisions with faster moving vehicles and unsafe street design.”
• The 2013 Complete Streets Policy called for a “transportation network with infrastructure and design that allows safe and convenient travel along and across streets for all users.”
• The 2010 Transportation Element of the General Plan Objective 4.1.1 calls for “safe and efficient movement for people, goods, and services” by improving safety of pedestrian crossings; enhancing general pedestrian safety; providing bike facilities throughout the City; ensuring that people with disabilities can use transportation facilities; and improving safety for all modes.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
This is an informational item.
RECOMMENDATION
Review and Comment on School Street Safety
Respectfully submitted by,
Lisa Foster, Senior Transportation Coordinator
Exhibit(s)
1. Street Safety Improvements at Alameda K-12 Schools
2. Attachment A: School Safety Assessment Exhibits with City Notes