Safe Routes to School TRAVEL PLAN 2010 Frenchtown Elementary ...
Safe Routes to School TRAVEL PLAN 2010
Frenchtown Elementary School
Frenchtown Elementary School 902 Harrison Street Frenchtown, NJ 08825 Grades: K-8
Introduction Frenchtown Elementary School is located on a county road within a residential area in the Borough of Frenchtown, NJ. Sidewalks are present, as are striped crosswalks. Speed is posted on Harrison Street/Route 619 at 25 mph. Frenchtown is a walking school district. Objectives of the Travel Plan 1. To make travel to and from Frenchtown Elementary School safer and more efficient. 2. To reduce traffic congestion around the school. 3. To encourage travel to school by means other than the car. 4. To encourage students to walk to school as a health option. 5. To incorporate travel safety, health and environmental information into the school day. 6. To educate students about safe walking and bicycling behaviors
Community Profile: Borough of Frenchtown POPULATION: 1,433 (2005 estimation) AREA: 1.2 square miles POLICE: Frenchtown Police Department
Members of the Working Group -
Mr. Dave Bailey, Chief School Administrator Ms. Kathy Petro, School Secretary Ms. Kate Nugent, School Board President Chief Al Kurylka, Frenchtown Police Chief Patrolman Paul Murphy, Frenchtown Police Tara Shepherd, HART Executive Director John Stevenson, HART Bicycle Pedestrian Coordinator
Current School Policy Frenchtown is a walking district. Students are permitted to bike to school, and a bike rack suitable for 18 bicycles is present by the main entrance. Student Tally A Student Travel Tally was conducted in March 2011. 167 students are enrolled at Frenchtown Elementary School, 122 in K-6. On the days when the Tally was conducted, the average attendance was 118 students (K-6). From the tally, 75% of the students are driven to school and 24% walk. The table below compares the walking numbers in 2011 with estimates from the HART 2003 Safe Routes to School Constraints and Opportunities Analysis. The discrepancy is likely due to inaccurate estimation by the administration, not a dramatic drop in the number of walkers. Rain on the second day of the tally reduced the number of walkers from 29% to 20%. About one quarter of the driven children carpool with another family. The details of the Student Travel Tally are attached.
Walked Driven Bicycled
2003 50% 45% 5%
2011 24% 75% 1% 1
The tally also allowed us to look at how many children in each grade walk. Comparing this information to the students who participate in the walking school bus shows a few trends. As expected, the younger children are more interested in the walking school bus. These numbers are from the 4th year of the program which may also explain the greater number of walkers and walking school bus participants in the younger grades and the drop off for 4 and 5. If kids joined it when they were in K or 1, they may be more likely to stick with it. The variation could also be created by how far from school the children live.
School Efforts to Date: Education and Encouragement Frenchtown Elementary School introduced a walking school bus program in 2007. One school bus with three chaperones travels down Harrison Street and picks up 20-25 students along the way. The school bus is active in the fall and spring of the year, on Fridays. Frequent walker cards are punched when the students enter the school and incentives such as high-visibility shoe laces and sling bags are distributed periodically. The walking school bus has been very well received by parents, teachers and students. Approximately 13% of the student population is participating in the walking school bus program. Older students, approximately a dozen, are walking to school regularly, but choose not to join the group.
2
Challenges and Opportunities Concerns continue about the speed of traffic, and the volume of regular truck traffic, near the school. There is also an ongoing concern about parental behavior with morning drop-offs by car. Parents are directed to drop off children on the curb side of the vehicle directly in front of the school. Compliance with the police directive has been good, some parents are still parking across the street and/or letting children exit the car into the street. The issue is brought to the parents’ attention periodically. A police officer is present on Harrison Street every morning, but his duties are often split between helping the students cross the street and stopping speeders. Most walking students approach the school from Harrison Street because no sidewalks extend to the school from Milford Road. Residential trash cans, which are often placed on the sidewalk, have been identified as obstacles to students’ walking path. Frenchtown’s garbage pickup occurs weekly on Fridays and the recycling occurs every other week on Fridays, the same day as the walking school bus. In Spring 2011, the speed limit on Milford Road, located behind the school, will increase from 15 mph to 25 mph. School administration has expressed concerns about this change and is investigating the potential for a change in the ordinance to allow for “15 mph When Children Are Present” signs to be installed. The police department will acquire 2 portable speed bumps as part of an active construction project. They plan on placing these near the school after that project is complete. The police department owns a small speed feedback sign and a trailermounted variable message sign. They plan on utilizing the feedback sign to monitor speeds on Milford Road after the speed limit change. Due to age and a recent pipeline project, the surface of Harrison Street, its sidewalks and crosswalks are in need of repair. Hunterdon County currently intends on significantly rebuilding the street during the summer of 2011. The project will include continental style crosswalks, speed tables at some intersections and several bulbouts which will reduce crossing distance. The school has expressed interest in exploring opportunities to formalize the use of an existing alley next to the school for student drop-off traffic. The existing dirt and gravel alley, located on the southern edge of the school property, connects Harrison Street and Milford Road. This alley could be improved (paved) and used in conjunction with a parallel street to create a one-way drop-off loop. The benefits and potential of this project will be discussed with the Borough and may be considered as a potential 3
project for a Safe Routes infrastructure grant application. Next Steps In order to maintain a clear walking path, information will be distributed to residents on Harrison Street explaining the walking school bus and asking that they place their trash cans on the edge of the sidewalk. Frenchtown Elementary School has expressed interest in hosting a Bicycle Safety Day on a weekend in Spring 2011. The event would involve a helmet-fitting, a brain-injury prevention demonstration, bike skills activities and a group bike ride on the D&R towpath. Parents will be invited to learn and bike with their children. The community held a similar annual event in the early 2000s. Frenchtown Elementary is considering expanding their frequent walker program beyond the walking school bus to all students. A field trip to a baseball game may be used as a reward for walking. Jack Cust’s Diamond Nation, an extensive amateur baseball and softball training facility in Flemington, NJ, has a few days each year where public schools are provided free admission to a game. Frenchtown Elementary is currently investigating the potential for this incentive. The Frenchtown Police Department will apply for funding to the NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety for a speed trailer, speed feedback sign and/or portable speed bumps to increase speed enforcement. The same equipment will be sought through Safe Routes to School funding after the State program is reorganized. The school would like to find sources of funding in order to continue providing promotional items, other encouragement and educational materials to build on the success of the program to date.
4
Proposed Actions Education Actions Printing of educational materials for students and chaperones Print and distribute fliers about garbage cans on walking route Bike Safety Day
Encouragement Actions Celebrate International Walk to School Day Continuation of Walking School Bus program Frequent Walker Program Baseball Game Field Trip for Frequent Walkers Enforcement Actions Speed enforcement Stop for Pedestrians at crosswalks Grant Application for Additional Equipment Enforcement of “unload on curb-side” rule Engineering Actions Reconstruction of Harrison Street Evaluation Actions Student Travel Tally
Responsibility School/HART TMA
Timeframe Spring 2011
Cost Low
School/HART TMA
Spring 2011
Low
School/HART TMA/Local Police
Spring 2011
Low
School
Annual
Low
School
2011
Low
School School
Spring 2011 Spring 2011
Low Medium
Local Police Local Police
Ongoing Ongoing
Low Low
Local Police/ HART TMA Local Police
2011
Low
Ongoing
Low
County
Summer 2011
High
School
Monthly
Low
5
Frenchtown School District Legend Sidewalks
K
Walking School Bus Route Police Officer
K
½ Mile Radius
This map was developed using Hunterdon County, New Jersey, Geographic Information System digital data, but this secondary product has not been verified by Hunterdon County and is not county-authorized.
Frenchtown Elementary School
Tally Report Program Name:
Hunterdon County SRTS Coalition -Frenchtown
Month and Year Collected:
March 2011
School Name:
Frenchtown Elementary School
Set ID:
6240
School Enrollment:
167
Date Report Generated:
04/01/2011
Enrollment within Grades Targeted by SRTS Program:
135
Number of Classrooms Included in Report:
10
Number of Classrooms in School:
10
Morning and Afternoon Travel Mode Comparison
Morning and Afternoon Travel Mode Comparison Number of Trips
Walk
Bike
School Bus
Family Vehicle
Carpool
Transit
Other
Morning
314
20%
0.6%
0%
67%
12%
0%
0%
Afternoon
313
28%
0.6%
0%
55%
17%
0%
0%
Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.
Page 1 of 3
Morning and Afternoon Travel Mode Comparison by Day
Morning and Afternoon Travel Mode Comparison by Day Number of Trips
Walk
Bike
School Bus
Family Vehicle
Carpool
Transit
Other
Tuesday AM
154
25%
0.6%
0%
60%
14%
0%
0%
Tuesday PM
156
32%
0.6%
0%
49%
18%
0%
0%
Wednesday AM
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
Wednesday PM
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
Thursday AM
160
16%
0.6%
0%
73%
11%
0%
0%
Thursday PM
157
24%
0.6%
0%
60%
15%
0%
0%
Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.
Page 2 of 3
Travel Mode by Weather Conditions
Travel Mode by Weather Condition Weather Condition
Number of Trips
Walk
Bike
School Bus
Family Vehicle
Carpool
Transit
Other
Sunny
310
29%
0.6%
0%
55%
16%
0%
0%
Rainy
317
20%
0.6%
0%
67%
13%
0%
0%
Overcast
0
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
Snow
0
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.
Page 3 of 3
Tally Report Program Name:
Hunterdon County SRTS Coalition -Frenchtown
Month and Year Collected:
March 2011
School Name:
Frenchtown Elementary School
Set ID:
6240
School Enrollment:
167
Date Report Generated:
04/01/2011
Enrollment within Grades Targeted by SRTS Program:
135
Number of Classrooms Included in Report:
10
Number of Classrooms in School:
10
Morning and Afternoon Travel Mode Comparison
Morning and Afternoon Travel Mode Comparison Number of Trips
Walk
Bike
School Bus
Family Vehicle
Carpool
Transit
Other
Morning
314
20%
0.6%
0%
67%
12%
0%
0%
Afternoon
313
28%
0.6%
0%
55%
17%
0%
0%
Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.
Page 1 of 3
Morning and Afternoon Travel Mode Comparison by Day
Morning and Afternoon Travel Mode Comparison by Day Number of Trips
Walk
Bike
School Bus
Family Vehicle
Carpool
Transit
Other
Tuesday AM
154
25%
0.6%
0%
60%
14%
0%
0%
Tuesday PM
156
32%
0.6%
0%
49%
18%
0%
0%
Wednesday AM
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
Wednesday PM
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
Thursday AM
160
16%
0.6%
0%
73%
11%
0%
0%
Thursday PM
157
24%
0.6%
0%
60%
15%
0%
0%
Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.
Page 2 of 3
Travel Mode by Weather Conditions
Travel Mode by Weather Condition Weather Condition
Number of Trips
Walk
Bike
School Bus
Family Vehicle
Carpool
Transit
Other
Sunny
310
29%
0.6%
0%
55%
16%
0%
0%
Rainy
317
20%
0.6%
0%
67%
13%
0%
0%
Overcast
0
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
Snow
0
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.
Page 3 of 3
Frenchtown Elementary School Comparison of Daily Walkers from Student Travel Tally and Walking School Bus Participants Grade K 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Total
2010-2011 Walkers from % of Class in Fall Walking % of Attended Enrolled who walked Attended Travel Tally Walking School Bus School Bus 25 25 4 6 24% 16% 14 14 1.5 4 29% 11% 18 18 6 5 28% 33% 18 16 6 2 11% 38% 15 15 4 2 13% 27% 13 13 2 2 15% 15% 17 16 5.5 2 12% 34% 22 20 7 1 5% 35% 10 10 1 0 0% 10% 152 147 37 24
Walkers by Grade, 2011 40%
35% 30% 25% 20%
15% 10% 5% 0% K
1
2
3
% of Attended who walked
4
5
6
% of Class in Fall Walking School Bus
7
8
Frenchtown Elementary School
Frenchtown Elementary School 902 Harrison Street Frenchtown, NJ 08825 Grades: K-8
Introduction Frenchtown Elementary School is located on a county road within a residential area in the Borough of Frenchtown, NJ. Sidewalks are present, as are striped crosswalks. Speed is posted on Harrison Street/Route 619 at 25 mph. Frenchtown is a walking school district. Objectives of the Travel Plan 1. To make travel to and from Frenchtown Elementary School safer and more efficient. 2. To reduce traffic congestion around the school. 3. To encourage travel to school by means other than the car. 4. To encourage students to walk to school as a health option. 5. To incorporate travel safety, health and environmental information into the school day. 6. To educate students about safe walking and bicycling behaviors
Community Profile: Borough of Frenchtown POPULATION: 1,433 (2005 estimation) AREA: 1.2 square miles POLICE: Frenchtown Police Department
Members of the Working Group -
Mr. Dave Bailey, Chief School Administrator Ms. Kathy Petro, School Secretary Ms. Kate Nugent, School Board President Chief Al Kurylka, Frenchtown Police Chief Patrolman Paul Murphy, Frenchtown Police Tara Shepherd, HART Executive Director John Stevenson, HART Bicycle Pedestrian Coordinator
Current School Policy Frenchtown is a walking district. Students are permitted to bike to school, and a bike rack suitable for 18 bicycles is present by the main entrance. Student Tally A Student Travel Tally was conducted in March 2011. 167 students are enrolled at Frenchtown Elementary School, 122 in K-6. On the days when the Tally was conducted, the average attendance was 118 students (K-6). From the tally, 75% of the students are driven to school and 24% walk. The table below compares the walking numbers in 2011 with estimates from the HART 2003 Safe Routes to School Constraints and Opportunities Analysis. The discrepancy is likely due to inaccurate estimation by the administration, not a dramatic drop in the number of walkers. Rain on the second day of the tally reduced the number of walkers from 29% to 20%. About one quarter of the driven children carpool with another family. The details of the Student Travel Tally are attached.
Walked Driven Bicycled
2003 50% 45% 5%
2011 24% 75% 1% 1
The tally also allowed us to look at how many children in each grade walk. Comparing this information to the students who participate in the walking school bus shows a few trends. As expected, the younger children are more interested in the walking school bus. These numbers are from the 4th year of the program which may also explain the greater number of walkers and walking school bus participants in the younger grades and the drop off for 4 and 5. If kids joined it when they were in K or 1, they may be more likely to stick with it. The variation could also be created by how far from school the children live.
School Efforts to Date: Education and Encouragement Frenchtown Elementary School introduced a walking school bus program in 2007. One school bus with three chaperones travels down Harrison Street and picks up 20-25 students along the way. The school bus is active in the fall and spring of the year, on Fridays. Frequent walker cards are punched when the students enter the school and incentives such as high-visibility shoe laces and sling bags are distributed periodically. The walking school bus has been very well received by parents, teachers and students. Approximately 13% of the student population is participating in the walking school bus program. Older students, approximately a dozen, are walking to school regularly, but choose not to join the group.
2
Challenges and Opportunities Concerns continue about the speed of traffic, and the volume of regular truck traffic, near the school. There is also an ongoing concern about parental behavior with morning drop-offs by car. Parents are directed to drop off children on the curb side of the vehicle directly in front of the school. Compliance with the police directive has been good, some parents are still parking across the street and/or letting children exit the car into the street. The issue is brought to the parents’ attention periodically. A police officer is present on Harrison Street every morning, but his duties are often split between helping the students cross the street and stopping speeders. Most walking students approach the school from Harrison Street because no sidewalks extend to the school from Milford Road. Residential trash cans, which are often placed on the sidewalk, have been identified as obstacles to students’ walking path. Frenchtown’s garbage pickup occurs weekly on Fridays and the recycling occurs every other week on Fridays, the same day as the walking school bus. In Spring 2011, the speed limit on Milford Road, located behind the school, will increase from 15 mph to 25 mph. School administration has expressed concerns about this change and is investigating the potential for a change in the ordinance to allow for “15 mph When Children Are Present” signs to be installed. The police department will acquire 2 portable speed bumps as part of an active construction project. They plan on placing these near the school after that project is complete. The police department owns a small speed feedback sign and a trailermounted variable message sign. They plan on utilizing the feedback sign to monitor speeds on Milford Road after the speed limit change. Due to age and a recent pipeline project, the surface of Harrison Street, its sidewalks and crosswalks are in need of repair. Hunterdon County currently intends on significantly rebuilding the street during the summer of 2011. The project will include continental style crosswalks, speed tables at some intersections and several bulbouts which will reduce crossing distance. The school has expressed interest in exploring opportunities to formalize the use of an existing alley next to the school for student drop-off traffic. The existing dirt and gravel alley, located on the southern edge of the school property, connects Harrison Street and Milford Road. This alley could be improved (paved) and used in conjunction with a parallel street to create a one-way drop-off loop. The benefits and potential of this project will be discussed with the Borough and may be considered as a potential 3
project for a Safe Routes infrastructure grant application. Next Steps In order to maintain a clear walking path, information will be distributed to residents on Harrison Street explaining the walking school bus and asking that they place their trash cans on the edge of the sidewalk. Frenchtown Elementary School has expressed interest in hosting a Bicycle Safety Day on a weekend in Spring 2011. The event would involve a helmet-fitting, a brain-injury prevention demonstration, bike skills activities and a group bike ride on the D&R towpath. Parents will be invited to learn and bike with their children. The community held a similar annual event in the early 2000s. Frenchtown Elementary is considering expanding their frequent walker program beyond the walking school bus to all students. A field trip to a baseball game may be used as a reward for walking. Jack Cust’s Diamond Nation, an extensive amateur baseball and softball training facility in Flemington, NJ, has a few days each year where public schools are provided free admission to a game. Frenchtown Elementary is currently investigating the potential for this incentive. The Frenchtown Police Department will apply for funding to the NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety for a speed trailer, speed feedback sign and/or portable speed bumps to increase speed enforcement. The same equipment will be sought through Safe Routes to School funding after the State program is reorganized. The school would like to find sources of funding in order to continue providing promotional items, other encouragement and educational materials to build on the success of the program to date.
4
Proposed Actions Education Actions Printing of educational materials for students and chaperones Print and distribute fliers about garbage cans on walking route Bike Safety Day
Encouragement Actions Celebrate International Walk to School Day Continuation of Walking School Bus program Frequent Walker Program Baseball Game Field Trip for Frequent Walkers Enforcement Actions Speed enforcement Stop for Pedestrians at crosswalks Grant Application for Additional Equipment Enforcement of “unload on curb-side” rule Engineering Actions Reconstruction of Harrison Street Evaluation Actions Student Travel Tally
Responsibility School/HART TMA
Timeframe Spring 2011
Cost Low
School/HART TMA
Spring 2011
Low
School/HART TMA/Local Police
Spring 2011
Low
School
Annual
Low
School
2011
Low
School School
Spring 2011 Spring 2011
Low Medium
Local Police Local Police
Ongoing Ongoing
Low Low
Local Police/ HART TMA Local Police
2011
Low
Ongoing
Low
County
Summer 2011
High
School
Monthly
Low
5
Frenchtown School District Legend Sidewalks
K
Walking School Bus Route Police Officer
K
½ Mile Radius
This map was developed using Hunterdon County, New Jersey, Geographic Information System digital data, but this secondary product has not been verified by Hunterdon County and is not county-authorized.
Frenchtown Elementary School
Tally Report Program Name:
Hunterdon County SRTS Coalition -Frenchtown
Month and Year Collected:
March 2011
School Name:
Frenchtown Elementary School
Set ID:
6240
School Enrollment:
167
Date Report Generated:
04/01/2011
Enrollment within Grades Targeted by SRTS Program:
135
Number of Classrooms Included in Report:
10
Number of Classrooms in School:
10
Morning and Afternoon Travel Mode Comparison
Morning and Afternoon Travel Mode Comparison Number of Trips
Walk
Bike
School Bus
Family Vehicle
Carpool
Transit
Other
Morning
314
20%
0.6%
0%
67%
12%
0%
0%
Afternoon
313
28%
0.6%
0%
55%
17%
0%
0%
Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.
Page 1 of 3
Morning and Afternoon Travel Mode Comparison by Day
Morning and Afternoon Travel Mode Comparison by Day Number of Trips
Walk
Bike
School Bus
Family Vehicle
Carpool
Transit
Other
Tuesday AM
154
25%
0.6%
0%
60%
14%
0%
0%
Tuesday PM
156
32%
0.6%
0%
49%
18%
0%
0%
Wednesday AM
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
Wednesday PM
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
Thursday AM
160
16%
0.6%
0%
73%
11%
0%
0%
Thursday PM
157
24%
0.6%
0%
60%
15%
0%
0%
Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.
Page 2 of 3
Travel Mode by Weather Conditions
Travel Mode by Weather Condition Weather Condition
Number of Trips
Walk
Bike
School Bus
Family Vehicle
Carpool
Transit
Other
Sunny
310
29%
0.6%
0%
55%
16%
0%
0%
Rainy
317
20%
0.6%
0%
67%
13%
0%
0%
Overcast
0
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
Snow
0
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.
Page 3 of 3
Tally Report Program Name:
Hunterdon County SRTS Coalition -Frenchtown
Month and Year Collected:
March 2011
School Name:
Frenchtown Elementary School
Set ID:
6240
School Enrollment:
167
Date Report Generated:
04/01/2011
Enrollment within Grades Targeted by SRTS Program:
135
Number of Classrooms Included in Report:
10
Number of Classrooms in School:
10
Morning and Afternoon Travel Mode Comparison
Morning and Afternoon Travel Mode Comparison Number of Trips
Walk
Bike
School Bus
Family Vehicle
Carpool
Transit
Other
Morning
314
20%
0.6%
0%
67%
12%
0%
0%
Afternoon
313
28%
0.6%
0%
55%
17%
0%
0%
Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.
Page 1 of 3
Morning and Afternoon Travel Mode Comparison by Day
Morning and Afternoon Travel Mode Comparison by Day Number of Trips
Walk
Bike
School Bus
Family Vehicle
Carpool
Transit
Other
Tuesday AM
154
25%
0.6%
0%
60%
14%
0%
0%
Tuesday PM
156
32%
0.6%
0%
49%
18%
0%
0%
Wednesday AM
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
Wednesday PM
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
Thursday AM
160
16%
0.6%
0%
73%
11%
0%
0%
Thursday PM
157
24%
0.6%
0%
60%
15%
0%
0%
Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.
Page 2 of 3
Travel Mode by Weather Conditions
Travel Mode by Weather Condition Weather Condition
Number of Trips
Walk
Bike
School Bus
Family Vehicle
Carpool
Transit
Other
Sunny
310
29%
0.6%
0%
55%
16%
0%
0%
Rainy
317
20%
0.6%
0%
67%
13%
0%
0%
Overcast
0
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
Snow
0
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
0%
Percentages may not total 100% due to rounding.
Page 3 of 3
Frenchtown Elementary School Comparison of Daily Walkers from Student Travel Tally and Walking School Bus Participants Grade K 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Total
2010-2011 Walkers from % of Class in Fall Walking % of Attended Enrolled who walked Attended Travel Tally Walking School Bus School Bus 25 25 4 6 24% 16% 14 14 1.5 4 29% 11% 18 18 6 5 28% 33% 18 16 6 2 11% 38% 15 15 4 2 13% 27% 13 13 2 2 15% 15% 17 16 5.5 2 12% 34% 22 20 7 1 5% 35% 10 10 1 0 0% 10% 152 147 37 24
Walkers by Grade, 2011 40%
35% 30% 25% 20%
15% 10% 5% 0% K
1
2
3
% of Attended who walked
4
5
6
% of Class in Fall Walking School Bus
7
8
