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City-County-School Partnerships to Create Safe Routes to SchoolsCSBA Annual Conference San Francisco November 29, 2012EducationEncouragementEnforcementEngineering1City-County-School PartnershipHow did a City-County-School Partnership lead to the creation and successful implementation of the Solano Safe Routes to School Program?2

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City-County-School PartnershipDo what you can, with what you have, where you are. Theodore Roosevelt334

City of Dixon

City of Dixon:18,000 peopleRural community has growing bio-tech and agricultural production activity.

45 Dixon Unified School DistrictDixon Unified School District:6 schools -3 Elementary Schools-1 Middle School-2 High SchoolsThere are a total of 3,507 students in the district.

5Solano County6

Solano County:425,000 people countywideHeart of the Northern California Mega-Region between San Francisco Bay Area and the Sacramento Metropolitan Region, and east of Napa and Sonoma wine regions6Solano Transportation AuthorityCongestion Management Agency for Solano County, 7 cities including DixonPlan, Fund, and Deliver transportation projects and programsResponsible for coordination and funding of Solano Safe Routes to School Program7

7Solano Countys Call to ActionIn 2007 a high percentage of childhood obesity was reported in Solano CountyA call to action was issued by Solano County Board of SupervisorsA summit was held to draw attention to the issue8In Solano County, 60% of adults are overweight or obese. The rate of overweight children is among the highest in the Bay Area. The average 10-year old boy is 11 pounds heavier than a generation ago according to Dr. Ronald Chapman, Solano County Health Officer.

8Solano Countys Call to Action9

Roadways congested with traffic, and environments damaged by vehicle emissions present safety concerns for:PedestriansBicyclists

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Solano Countys Call to ActionWe cannot always build the future of our youth, but we can build our youth for the future.Franklin Delano Roosevelt1010Dixon11 Dixon Unified School District

Changed the location of the High SchoolChanged district boundaries for elementary schoolsClosed one schoolEliminated school bus program

Resulted in more students crossing the railroad tracks to/from school because the Union Pacific tracks literally bisect the community

Call to ActionSTA proposed, Solano County and all 7 cities agreed to develop a countywide SR2S study to address issuePublic Health Department got involved with STA as facilitatorHired consultant to develop a countywide SR2S study.

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12Starting Safe Routes to School13

STA proposed to involve school districts, cities, County law enforcement, engineers and advocatesRecruited members for a Countywide Steering Committee for the study:Two Public Works DirectorsTwo Police ChiefsTwo School District SuperintendentsTwo Bicycle & Pedestrian AdvocatesOne Air Quality District RepresentativeOne County Public Health Department Representative13Starting Safe Routes to School14

Developed planning process that would work best for Solano County.Early buy-in from all school Superintendents, County Sheriff and Police Chiefs, School Board members, City Council members and Board of Supervisors14STA SR2S Program Goals15

STA Board adopted three SR2S goals:Increase healthy and safe alternatives to driving alone/chauffeured trips to school.Reduce number of driving alone/chauffeured trips and the number of student vs. vehicle accidents along routes to schools.Maximize interagency cooperation in all SR2S efforts.15

Starting Safe Routes to SchoolIts the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.John Wooden1616Dixon Unified School District17Dixon SR2S Community Task Force:

November 2011Introduction Meeting to re-engage Dixons Community Task Force.January 2012Discussion of local SR2S Issues/Dixon priorities. School Site Selection for walk audits.February 2012CA Jacobs Middle School Walk AuditApril 2012Tremont Elementary School Walk AuditMay 2012Meeting to review draft maps and school improvement plans from walk audits findings and data collection.September 2012Approved Community Task Force suggested priorities to be included in Final SR2S Plan update.November/December 2012City Council and School Board Adoption of local plan.17Phase 2: Created Community SR2S Plans18

Built a Team (Community Task Force)City Council RepresentativeSchool District RepresentativePublic Safety Representative(Police Departments)Public Works RepresentativeBicycle Advisory RepresentativePedestrian Advisory Representative

Set an ExampleEach Community Task Force selected a pilot school for a walking audit & planning eventOther schools held planning events afterwards

Made the Plans OfficialCommunity Task Forces reviewed publicly recommended projects and programs to add into the community SR2S PlanCommunity SR2S Plans were recommended to the city council and school board for adoptionRequired community boards and schools to adopt same

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Starting Safe Routes to SchoolIf you want to make enemies, try to change something.Woodrow Wilson19

19Dixon SR2S Community Task Force20Built a Team (Dixon Community Task Force)

The Committee actively involved school principals with walk audits and school improvement plans. Firsthand information provided from school staff gave additional information to the plan that wasnt captured during walk audits.There was a request for traffic congestion/circulation information from school communities, but were unsuccessful in receiving feedback.Discussion of issues and priorities were flexible during meetings. Committee members conducted additional school site visits after receiving draft plans to confirm the accuracy of the priorities agreed through the committee.

RepresentativeTitleCity AppointmentJack BatchelorMayorCity Public SafetySteve BirdCaptain, Dixon PDDixon Unified School DistrictCecile NunleyChief Business OfficialSTA Bicycle Advisory CommitteeJames FiskResidentSTA Ped. Advisory Committee Bil Paul Resident

20Phase 3: Community Adoption21

City Councils and School Boards:Recommended projects and programs found in the community SR2S plan to the STA for incorporation into the Countywide STA SR2S PlanAppointed community SR2S task force to continue to plan and implement SR2S projects and programsAdopted community SR2S Plan as the community task forces guiding document.

21Dixon Priority ProjectsSchool Name/LocationProject DescriptionCA JacobsReplace atgrade bike/ped railroad crossing with plannedrailroad undercrossingCA Jacobs Construct curb extension along east side of N Lincoln Street Replace transverse yellow crosswalks with highvisibilityyellow ladder crosswalks Restripe bike lanes on Rehrmann Drive for CA MUTCDComplianceCA JacobsConsider construction of sidewalks where gaps currentlyexist on West B Street and on West C StreetRehrmann Drive atNorth Lincoln Street Construct curb extension along east side of N LincolnStreet. Replace transverse yellow crosswalks with high-visibilityyellow ladder crosswalks.Restripe bike lanes on Rehrmann Drive for CA MUTCDcompliance.West B Street & WestC StreetConsider construction of sidewalks where gapscurrently exist on West B Street and on West C Street.22

Dixon Priority ProjectsSchool Name/LocationProject DescriptionWest B Street RailroadUndercrossingReplace at-grade bike/ped railroad crossing withplanned railroad undercrossing.Tremont ElementaryConduct Traffic Safety Assemblies and Bicycle Rodeos atTremont Elementary23

Draft Countywide PrioritiesMostly Education and Encouragement activities.Schools requested uniform educational materials and incentives/prizesCountywide media campaignsSuggested safe routes to schoolmaps and classroom activitiesthat teach to standardsIncreased coordination efforts between schools, cities, law enforcement and engineering24

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Walking Audit and Planning Events25

Two-part eventAfternoon walking audit during school releaseAvailable task force members observe safety issuesPhotographs of identified issues provided for evening presentation

Evening planning eventPresentation of SR2S project and program basicsPublic reviews photographs from auditPublic plans projects and programs with large aerial maps and SR2S Toolkits.

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Events: What we learned26

Two-part eventAfternoon walking audit during school releaseDiscussed hotspots withcrossing guards/duties to take good photosCarried event flyers for curious parentsEvening planning eventOUTREACH!Students love mapsParents read flyers at Back to School nights and OpenHouses, not take-home flyers

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Presentation OverviewOpportunity is missed by most people, because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work. Thomas Edison27

Opportunity27Dixon2 of 6 Dixon Unified School District schools selected by Dixon SR2S Advisory Committee to be part of 2008 STA SR2S PlanImprovements for Anderson ElementaryWidened sidewalk and adjusted crosswalks in front of school.Funded by City of Dixon without grant funds.28

Dixon

DixonSR-113 Flashing Crosswalk$90,000 through STA from ECMAQ/MTCWest B. St Undercrossing at train tracks priority SR2S project.Spring 2010 events, 1 school, 2 eventsFY 2010-11, 1 school, 4 events

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Dixon

Community Plan Example30 Dixon Unified School District

FY 2011-12Anderson Elementary School Held 2 events (1) Safety Assembly reaching 55 students (1) Walk and Roll Event reaching 128 students

FY 2012-13A priority project is to hold safety assemblies, bike rodeos and walk and roll events at Tremont Elementary School.

30Implementation by STASTA submitted countywide Safe Routes to School grant applications to 2 programsSTA Safe Routes to School Program/Funding StrategyDeveloped after the STA Board adopted the Countywide STA SR2S Plan in February 2008Created SR2S website31

31Implementation by STA32

STA signed joint use agreements with all 7 cities and school districtsSTA developed funding for the Safe Routes to School ProgramSTA provides and manages resources and coordinates 8 advisory committees

Implementation by County33

Solano County Public Health implements education and encouragement part of program:Dedicated staff to coordinate with schools and communities

SR2S Program Funding34Funding of SR2S Program$3.96M total for non-infrastructure program since 2008MTC/STA grants: $2.90MFederal SRTS grant: $0.50MAir District Grants: $0.55MNo State or Local funding for STA non-infrastructure program$10M in completed or developing SR2S engineering projects in the last 4 yearsCompared to $1.1M for engineering in the 10 years prior to the 2008 plan$1.2M requested for engineering for next 4 years (OBAG)

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Implementation by Cities and Schools36

School districts and cities sponsor projectsMost engineering projects are minor changes that dont require large grant funds.School districts work with County Public HealthProvide education and encouragement eventsRevise site circulation patterns for parentsCountywide student travel tally data is compiled by school districts to aid grant applications.City Councils and School Districts adopt community plans and make task forces permanent.

36Implementation by Dixon37

Implementation by Dixon School DistrictDixon Unified School District provides education and encouragement

37Implementation by Dixon38

Implementation by Dixon

Dixon Police Department provides targeted enforcementDixon Public Works Department engineers projects 38Dixon39

Dixon Accomplishments

EDUCATION/ENCOURAGMENTFY 2011-12, 1 school (Anderson Elementary)2 events (Bike Rodeo, Walk & Roll)ENGINEERING2 of 6 schools part of STAs SR2S Plan Update (CA Jacobs/Tremont Elementary)Dixons SR2S planning process is conducted by its SR2S Community Task Force Members (Mayor, Law Enforcement, Civil Engineer, Chief Business Official, PAC member)PROJECTS IN PROGRESSWest B. St Undercrossing at train tracks priority project ($6.7M through STA)IMPROVEMENTS FOR CA JACOBS4-way stop installed on Pitt School RoadFlashing Beacons installed on North Almond and Adams/B. StreetDixon40

Dixon Accomplishments

2008 STA SR2S PLAN2 of 6 schools part of 2008 STA SR2S Plan (Anderson/Tremont Elementary)

IMPROVEMENTS FOR CA JACOBSWidened sidewalk and adjusted crosswalks in front of school (Funded by City of Dixon without grant funds).

SR-113 Flashing Crosswalk$90,000 funded through STA4-Way stop at Pitt School RoadInstalled large flashers at Almond/West A St.

Countywide Accomplishments41

EDUCATION/ENCOURAGEMENTFY 2011-12, 55 events were held reaching 12,811 students1 walking school bus was started at Markham Elementary School, which includes an ongoing parent training programENFORCEMENTThrough the $100,000 STA SR2S Enforcement grant:Maximum enforcement was provided to 7 schools in Fairfield-Suisun School District47 citations, 63 warnings were issued and 3 vehicles were towed as a result of enforcementSuisun City PD developed a countywide crossing guard manual and test/Bike Rodeo DVD

Countywide Accomplishments42

ENGINEERING22 Community Task Force meetings were held (between 7 Community Task Forces countywide) and 17 walk audits were conducted for the SR2S Plan Update.Interactive mapping tool was developed for the SR2S website.Expected completion date for the SR2S Plan Update: November 2012.COMPLETED PROJECTS30 Radar speed signs were installed countywide.Improvements were made at five schools.PROJECTS IN PROGRESS Two priority projects in process in Dixon and Suisun City.

Partnership = Success43

Everyone in SR2S partnership plays an important role in the programs success

43Partnership = Success44

SR2S Bike Rodeo equipment is loaned out:Travis Air Force Base leads safety events for their on-base communityNorthBay Medical Center leads safety events in the communities they serve

44Partnership = SuccessThe success of the SR2S Programs in Solano, Marin and Alameda counties have led to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission dedicating federal transportation funds to each of the 9 Bay Area counties for SR2S.

New walking school bus program to be rolled out Countywide with $500,000 in federal grants.

The Solano SR2S program during the Institute of Local Governments Winter Webinar on Tuesday, December 4, 2012 will share insights regarding funding , collaboration and implementation.

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45Partnership = Success46Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.Helen Keller

46More Information47

More information online: www.SolanoSR2S.ca.govwww.facebook.com/solanoSR2S

Jack Batchelor, Jr., STA Board Chair, Mayor, City of DixonBrian Dolan, Superintendent, Dixon Unified School DistrictDaryl K. Halls, Executive Director, Solano Transportation Authoritywww.sta.ca.gov707-424-607547