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TES-005 - Safer School Zones Program_2013SAINT 101 IN Subject: Safer School Zones Program I Category: Policy Policy No.: TES -005 M&C Report No.: 2013-180 Effective Date: 2013-09-03 Next Review Date: (3 years) Area(s) this policy applies to: Transportation and Office Responsible for review of this Policy: Environment I Transportation and Environment Related Instruments: Traffic Calming Policy Policy Sponsor: Revision History: Document Pages: This document consists of 9 pai;es. Common Clerk's Annotation for Official eRecord Date of Passage of Policy: September 3, 2013 I certify that this Policy was adopted by Common Council as indicated above. Date Created 2013-08-28 1� Common Clerk _May 18, 2017 Common Council Approval Date: 2013-09-03 Date Contact: Commissioner Transportation and Environment TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. COUNCIL RESOLUTION.................................................................................................................1 2. COUNCIL REPORT.........................................................................................................................2 POLICY — SAFER SCHOOL ZONES PROGRAM Common Council Meeting — September 3, 2013 RESOLVED that as recommended by the City Manager in the submitted report M &C 2013 -180: Safer School Zones Program, Common Council: 1. Approve a Safer School Zones Program to be given priority within the Traffic Calming Policy; 2. Direct the City Solicitor to prepare the appropriate Traffic By -Law Amendments described in this report; 3. Direct City staff to seek the Provincial Registrar of Motor Vehicles' approval of establishing a School Zone on Loch Lomond Road; and 4. Refer resource requirements to implement this Safer School Zone Program to the annual General Fund Operating Budget approval process for consideration. REPORT TO COMMON COUNCIL E3 August 28, 2013 M&C2013-180 His Worship Mayor Mel Norton The City of Saint John and Members of Common Council Your Worship and Members of Council: SUBJECT: Safer School Zones Program BACKGROUND Common Council adopted a City of Saint John Traffic Calming Policy in 2012. The goal of the Policy is to reduce the speed or volume of vehicles on a street to improve the safety of other road users such as cyclists and pedestrians. Criteria to establish which streets should receive traffic calming measures and in what order form part of this policy. Every street in the City is eligible to be screened for traffic calming when such measures are identified. The Traffic Calming Policy considers a number of evaluation parameters such as classification of streets, street width, posted speed, etc. and assigns points to each circumstance. This system is the basis for setting priorities for traffic calming measures. Although a weighting value is provided to streets within 500 metres walking distance of an elementary or middle school, absent from the policy is priority consideration for demographics, social circumstances or institutional special needs. The purpose of this report is for Council to consider the adoption of a companion document "Safer School Zones" to the Traffic Calming Policy. It can be demonstrated that areas around schools, particularly elementary and middle schools, include some of the City's most vulnerable pedestrians, children. Therefore, it is appropriate that these areas be given extra consideration pertaining to traffic calming. Although the current policy does provide for the assignment of points within 500 metres of the school, it does not by default guarantee that such a street becomes eligible for traffic calming nor becomes highest priority. The proposed Safer School Zones Program would operate to ensure that streets containing schools (elementary, middle schools) would receive consideration ahead of other streets. M&C2013-180 August 28, 2013 Page 2 Based on community feedback and understanding of the benefit of providing traffic calming focus for school children, staff believes that this is an appropriate adjustment to the Traffic Calming Policy. COMPANION/COMPLEMENTARY PROGRAM Staff proposes the development and implementation of a new initiative; the Safer School Zones Program. The scope of the Program would include all elementary and middle schools in the City. With 24 elementary and middle schools within city limits, the program is challenging without considering high schools, colleges or universities. It is also well documented, such as through Safe Kids Canada, that younger children have a higher risk of injury as pedestrians given their sight, hearing, cognitive and other skills are still developing. This Program would provide benefit to several schools within the first year of implementation. A phased plan to implement targeted and resource -intensive traffic calming measures is also proposed. Year One - Defining School Zones Defining the School Zones around all elementary and middle schools would be completed in the first year of implementation. Defining School Zones involves on -street signage and consideration within the City's Traffic By -Law. These defined zones, as detailed within the Traffic Bylaw, would allow Police to issue doubled fines for speeding in accordance with the Provincial Motor Vehicle Act. Transportation Association of Canada guidelines are used to establish the locations of the School Zones and Areas. Areas around Island View School, Bayside Middle School and Devine Mercy Catholic School would be exceptions, given their distance from streets. School Areas, as opposed to School Zones, would only be defined around these three schools given the distance of the school from the street. Signage would be installed on -street but their definition as an Area and not a Zone would prevent the ability to issue doubled fines for speeding. This Program would require a number of Traffic By -Law amendments. These amendments would be referred to the City Solicitor for Council's consideration for inclusion in the Traffic Bylaw. (See Appendix A.) Phased Five Year Plan In addition to defined school zones, staff would engage each school Principal, the Saint John Police Force (Traffic Unit) and other appropriate stakeholders to fully understand specific traffic concerns relative to each school. In consideration of the specific circumstances, measures outlined within the City's Traffic Calming Policy would be considered for implementation. 100 M&C2013-180 August 28, 2013 Page 3 Reducing vehicle speeds and enhancing crosswalks would be a common theme near most schools. Installing 30 KM/H or 40 KM/H speed limits, electronic speed message signs, durable crosswalk markings, brighter neon crosswalk signs, raised crosswalks via use of speed humps, or pedestrian -activated signals are examples of achieving these results. Prioritization of the 24 schools is required using consultation, street classification and relative traffic volumes as criteria. The initial application of these criteria has resulted in the following priorities: School Highest Classification of Street in School Zone or Area with Concerns Proposed Year of Implementation Bayside Arterial (Bayside Drive) 2014 Bayview Arterial (Loch Lomond Road) 2014 Prince Charles Arterial (Union Street) 2014 Centennial Collector (Millidge Avenue) 2015 Champlain Heights Collector (Champlain Drive) 2015 Forest Hills School Collector (Westmorland Road) 2015 Hazen White St. Francis Collector (Sandy Point Road) 2015 St. Rose and Barnhill* Collector (Manawagonish) 2015 Beaconsfield Collector (Fundy Drive) 2016 M. Gerald Teed Collector (Daniel Avenue) 2016 Princess Elizabeth Collector (Cranston Avenue) 2016 Samuel -de -Champlain Collector (Ragged Point Road) 2016 Havelock Local (Young/Havelock Streets) 2017 Lakewood Local (Lakeview Drive) 2017 St. John the Baptist Local (Wentworth/St. James) 2017 St. Patrick's Local (City Line) 2017 Devine Mercy Local (Clarendon Street) 2018 Loch Lomond Local (Evergreen) 2018 Lorne Local (Newman) 2018 * Schools grouped together in same project as they are beside each other This 5 -year plan may need to be modified year-to-year to align with Neighbourhood Plans resulting from P1anSJ, or other considerations not immediately apparent. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS Continued installation of signs for defining the School Zones and Areas in the first year of this program can be completed with available resources. The City Solicitor's Office may require resources to draft the required Traffic By -Law Amendment. The cost to complete each of the annual phases would vary and depend on the specific traffic calming measures to be implemented around each school. It is anticipated materials required for 101 M&C2013-180 August 28, 2013 Page 4 each traffic calming project around a school would cost in the range of $40,000, the majority of these costs being associated with components such as signalized crosswalks and electronic speed message signs. One of the three proposed 2014 projects could likely be funded within current Pedestrian & Traffic Management Service budget levels but the two additional projects would require additional funding. RESOURCE REQUIREMENTS The Traffic Division of the Transportation Department has been understaffed and underfunded for a number of years. The Division has been unable to meet Council's expectations and the expectations of the greater Saint John community. Council's adoption of this Safer School Zones Program will further exacerbate this situation. Consequently, City staff will be recommending an increased allotment of resources, both human and financial, to be included as part of the 2014 Operating Budget. RECOMMENDATIONS Your City Manager recommends that 1. Common Council approve a Safer School Zones Program to be given priority within the Traffic Calming Policy; 2. Direct the City Solicitor to prepare the appropriate Traffic By -Law Amendments described in this report; 3. Direct City staff to seek the Provincial Registrar of Motor Vehicles' approval of establishing a School Zone on Loch Lomond Road; and 4. Refer resource requirements to implement this Safer School Zone Program to the annual General Fund Operating Budget approval process for consideration. Respectfully submitted, Timothy D. O'Reilly, P.Eng., M.Sc.E. Traffic Engineer �V,11_0_� Wm. Edwards, P. Eng. Commissioner, Transportation and Environment Services 102 R. Kevin Rice, C.E.T. Deputy Commissioner, Transportation and Environment Services J. Patrick Woods, CGA City Manager M&C2013-180 August 28, 2013 Page 5 Appendix A • Rescind Article 23 • Replace Article 23 with the following: "School Zones shall be indicated by signs on sections of municipal streets as listed in Schedule T (School Zones)" and • Add the following municipal street sections to Schedule T (School Zones): Municipal Street Limits Bay Crescent Drive 121 metres north of Chalmers Drive to Dead End southerly Black Street Daniel Avenue to 172 metres southerly Bleury Street Sand Cove Road to 137 m northerly Centre Street Fundy Drive to Summer Street West Chalmers Drive Bay Crescent Drive to 227 metres easterly Champlain Drive 268 metres north of Creighton Avenue to 40 metres south of Sherwood Drive City Line Tower Street to Queen Street West Constance Street Valerie Street to Dead End Courtney Avenue Loch Lomond Road to 286 metres southerly Cranston Avenue Fourth Street to 223 metres north of Wellesley Avenue Daniel Avenue MacAuley Avenue to 117 metres east of Black Street Donaldson Street Black Street to 101 metres easterly Dufferin Row City Line to 82 metres southerly Durham Street 54 metres north of Newman Street to 51 metres south of Newman Street Elgin Street Newman Street to 48 metres southerly Evergreen Avenue Loch Lomond Road to Hemlock Street Fifth Street Cranston Avenue to Parks Street Fundy Drive Thomas Avenue to 40 metres west of Centre Street Glengarry Drive Westmorland Road to 341.7 metres south of Westmorland Road Havelock Street 68 metres north of Young Street to 192 metres south of Young Street Lakeview Drive Lakewood Avenue to 192 metres south of Lensdale Crescent Lensdale Crescent Lakeview Drive to Dead End Loch Lomond Road 227 metres west of Courtney Avenue to 200 metres east of Courtney Avenue Manawagonish Road 132 metres north of Catherwood Street to O'Brien Street Millidge Avenue 86 metres south of Valerie Street to 80 metres north of Valerie Street Newman Street 8 metres west of Elgin Street to 48 metres east of Durham Street Park Street Fourth Street to Dead End northerly Parks Street Extension Parks Street to 120 metres northerly Pitt Street 87 metres north of St. James Street to 57 metres south of St. James Street Princess Court Simpson Drive to Dead End Ragged Point Road Woodward Avenue to 355 metres northertly Sand Cove Road 88 metres west of Bleury Street to 174 metres east of Bleury Street 103 M&C2013-180 August 28, 2013 Page 6 Sandy Point Road MacLaren Boulevard to 478 metres northerly Simpson Drive 241.5 metres south of Todd Street to 87.7 metres north of Todd Street Sixth Street Cranston Avenue to Dead End Summer Street West Centre Street to 143 metres easterly St. James Street Pitt Street to 79 metres west of Wentworth Street St. John Street City Line to Lancaster Street Todd Street 127.5 metres west of Simpson Drive to 37.5 metres east of Simpson Drive Union Street Crown Street to 315 metres westerly Valerie Street Millidge Avenue to Constance Street Wellesley Avenue Somerset Street to Cranston Avenue Wentworth Street 100 metres north of St. James Street to 51 metres south of St. James Street Westmorland Road 123.8 metres south of Glengarry Drive to 272 metres north of Glengarry Drive Whipple Street Fundy Drive to 100 metres easterly Young Street 151 metres east of Havelock Street to 67 metres west of Havelock Street *Loch Lomond Road near Loch Lomond School is a Provincial Highway under the authority of the New Brunswick Department of Transportation & Infrastructure. Approval from the Provincial Registrar of Motor Vehicles is required to define a school zone given its provincial highway status. This School Zone would not be defined in the City's Traffic By -Law as it would not be on a City street. 104