HomeMy WebLinkAboutAd Hoc School Transportation and Safety Study Committee Final Report 2014-07-14-STAS-rptAd hoc School Transportation & Safety Study CommitteeFinal ReportMarch 31, 20141
MembersDecember 16, 2011– April 2014• Judy Crocker, Safe Routes To School Coordinator• Elaine Celi, LPS Transportation Coordinator• Elaine Dratch, TAC • Mary Ellen Dunn, Asst Superintendent of Business and Finance• Captain Manny Ferro, LPD• Sharon Kendall, PTA/PTO representative• Deb Mauger, Board of Selectman liaison• Jessie Steigerwald, School Committee liaison• Craig Weeks, community member2
Philosophy for Effecting Positive ChangeBest practicesDefine level of expectationShared objectives among stakeholders3
“The difficulty comes in not grasping new ideas, but rather in escaping from the old ones. John Maynard Keyes“If people are treated as special, sacred even, they behave that way. This creates a different kind of society.” David Byrne 4
Traffic Safety on School PropertySchool TransportationPublic SafetyCommunity Education5
School TransportationSchool TransportationCostRidershipPolicy6
Community EducationCommunity EducationResidentsStudentsParents & Staff7
Public SafetyPublic SafetyEnforcementEducationEngineering8
Charge #1: Identify proposal(s) to reduce the cost of school bus service. Successful Safe Routes To School sponsored Article 17 at 2012 annual Town Meeting requested one year of funding to lower parent bus fee by half to $300/student.Formed economic subgroup to study bus contracts as LPS entered into new contract cycle. Based on Article 17’s success, School Committee adopted a new transportation budgetary price point for FY13-present.9
Charge #2: Identify ways to increase school bus timeliness. # Students = # Buses # Bus Routes = shorter bus routesStudent ridership is directly proportional to the number of buses. The more buses, the shorter the routes, the fewer tardy buses, and the less time students spend on buses. LPS has added 7 buses since FY12 (39% increase) and 17 routes (39% increase).10
Charge #3: Propose initiatives to promote school bus ridership. Created Flexpass program: a partnership with Lexpress to provide a late bus for MS and HS students.Created Ride After program: a partnership with local afterschool elementary enrichment programs to provide direct school to program transportation. Conducted LPS student art and slogan contest on why it’s cool to ride the bus.Worked with LHS Marketing class to create Public Service Announcements.11
Charge #3: Propose initiatives to promote school bus ridership. Work with Lexington’s Bike Walk ‘n Bus Week to coordinate bus registration and conduct a school bus open house. Promote bus subsidy during identified bus registration period via Kindergarten Orientation, school posters, list serves and school newsletters, LexMedia, and Distance Eligible Housing locations. Bus Registration improvements including online registration, school site management, staff communication, bus pass, and the fee structure centered on renewals and subsidy.12
Charge #4:Propose approaches to address traffic and pedestrian safety concerns in and around our schools.Safe Routes To School and DPW-sponsored 2013 School Zone Evaluation grant. Created Safety Greeter Kits, which included OSHA vests. Introduced concept of School Committee being property owners and as such directly affect many stakeholders. 13
Charge #4:Propose approaches to address traffic and pedestrian safety concerns in and around our schools. WorldTech Preliminary LPS Traffic and Mitigation StudyWork with BoS and LPD to codify school and municipal signageClarke Bus Loop StudyDraft School Traffic and Mitigation Policy14
FY12 vs FY14 School Bus Ridership1501020304050607080Bowman Bridge Estabrook Fiske Harrington Hastings Clarke Diamond LHS% School Bus RidershipLexington Public SchoolsFY12FY14
FY12 vs FY14 School Ridership FY12 FY14 ChangeBowman 43% 53% +10%Bridge 37% 47% +10%Estabrook 29% 48% +19%Fiske 21% 33% +12%Harrington 32% 40% +8%Hastings 32% 40% +8%Clarke 58% 68% +10%Diamond 41% 48% +7%LHS 18% 30% +12%16
FY12 vs FY14 School Bus Ridership FY12 FY14 ChangeTotal Ridership 31% 43% +12% Ridership Range 18%-58% 30%-68% 10%-12%# Students 2065 2876 811# Buses 18 25 +7# Routes 44 61 +17MS & HS Flexpass 211 270 + 706ES Ride After NA 240 +41517
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Work In Progress• Draft School Traffic and Mitigation Policy (Spring 2014)• Coordinated safety communication between LPD & LPS (Spring 2014)• LPS Infrastructure improvements (2013-2016)• Appropriate placement of Safe Routes to School Coordinator (Fall 2014)19
Work In Progress• Continue to communicate uniform behavior expectations to staff, administration, parents, and students (ongoing)• Create GIS mapping of school property signage and pavement markings (2014-2016)• School zone improvements (Summer 2014)• ES Bus captains to improve site management of student arrival & dismissal (FY15)20
Recommendations to SC, Superintendent, BoS, DPF, DPW• Update School handbooks to communicate school hours, traffic individual school plans, and LPS policy• Communication – bi-annual parent reminders• Continue to embrace Safe Routes To School as a means to encourage student walkers, bikers, and bus riders21
Recommendations to SC, Superintendent, BoS, DPF, DPW• Continue to fund Sidewalk Committee and DPF as a means to improve town and school infrastructure• Propose quarterly meeting between DPF, DPW, SRTS, LPS, and LPD to continue a working collaborative for addressing shared responsibilities of short-term and long-term goals • Continue to support principals• Continue to create incentives for walkers, bikers, bus riders22
2013 LHS Marketing Class Public Service Announcements Credits: Bill Cole, teacherhttps://www.dropbox.com/s/9ose5kydwlg6vjy/Safe%20Routes%20Ad.mov23