292 84 140440TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PLAN
The purpose of the Traffic Management Plan (TMP) is to have established procedures for trafficflow and circulation around the elementary school related to student drop-off and pick-upoperations. Use of a TMP helps improve traffic / student safety and helps maximize theefficiency of drop-off and pick-up operations, reducing delays during those time periods. Theanalysis summarized in this report identifies critical elements of the TMP such as availablequeuing space that is both on and off site, circulation patterns for the school facilities, and theprojected trip generation (and estimated queuing) during the morning and afternoon peaks.
2.1 Operational Characteristics
Based on information from Richardson ISD, the elementary school currently has:
LI maximum of 705 studentsLI 68 staff membersLI 40% students that walk to/from the school *
* In this case, “walking” students also includes students whose parent parks on an adjacent /nearby street and walk with their child to / from the school building. The vehicles that thesestudents may be in do not pass through the front loop drive.
With the proposed addition, the elementary school will have:
LI maximum of 780 studentsLI 78 staff membersLI 40% students that walk to/from the school2.].] School HoursThe normal daily schedule for the school is:LI All grades start at 8:00 AMLI Pre-kindergarten is released at 2:50 PMLI Grades kindergarten through 6 are released at 3:00 PM
Although the operating times of the school are established, not all students enter / exit the site atthe same time. Other activities at the school (such as the breakfast program, after-school tutoring,student clubs, etc.) may cause students to arrive / leave at times outside the normal class times.Occasional special events at the school may generate traffic peaks that outside of the normaldrop-off and pick-up times. While these special events were not reviewed as part of the timeTMP, measures or recommendations discussed may be applicable.
2.2 Circulation
Halff observed traffic flow on and around the school campus during the AM peak (7:00 to 8:15AM) and school PM peak (2:15 — 3:30 PM) on Monday, November 11, 2013. Below is adiscussion of the current procedures that the school is utilizing during the morning drop off andafternoon pick up time periods.
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292 84 140440AMPeak Period
The school building opens to students at 7:15 am each morning. Students are only allowed toenter through the main entrance on the front (east) side of the school building. Parents enter thefront ioop drive from southbound Kirkhaven Drive, stop in front of the school building to dropoff their child, and then exit the ioop drive to southbound Kirkhaven Drive (left turns into theloop drive are prohibited during both peak periods). In the morning peak, parents are allowed todrop off from both the school side of the loop and from the Kirkhaven side of the loop — themiddle lane is kept clear for through traffic / circulation. (The front loop drive is approximately330 feet long and 23 feet wide.) Parents also dropped off students at the west curb of KirkhavenDrive adjacent to the school building (between the loop entrance and exit drives). Parents wereobserved parking along the east side of Kirkhaven Drive across from the school and along thewest side of Kirkhaven Drive north of the school. A few parents were observed parking alongEstate Lane on the south side of the school. The majority of the parents that parked on the streetadjacent to the school exited their vehicle with their child, and walked with the child to the frontof the school building. (The exception to this is the parents that dropped of their child on thewest curb of Kirkhaven Drive between the ioop entrance and exit drives. This section is currentlydesignated as a “Loading Zone” with a “No Parking” restriction during the school peak periods.Almost all of the parents that stopped in this area dropped off their students; they did not exit thevehicle and walk with their student to the front entrance.)
School staff sets out cones along the school side of the front loop to identify designatedunloading stations, begins to assist with the unloading operation in the front ioop, and monitorsthe loop drive crosswalk, beginning around 7:30 am. A student safety patrol group, comprised ofolder students, also assists in the morning by helping students in the front ioop exit their vehicles,holding up flags on either side of the crosswalk to warn drivers in the loop drive, and monitoringthe staff parking lot. (Student safety patrol members place cones across the south staff lotdriveway to prohibit access in the morning peak; the same patrol members are then stationed atthe north staff lot driveway to prohibit parents from entering the lot and dropping off students.Only school staff is allowed to enter / exit the staff lot, via the north driveway, in the morningpeak period.) School buses also drop off students (and currently pick up some overflowstudents) in the front loop drive. Haiff observed 7 full size buses and 1 special education busaccessing the school.
On the day of Halff’s observation, parents began dropping off students a few minutes before 7:15am. Most of the buses arrived and departed by 7:30 am. The majority of the drop off activity,both in the loop drive and along the adjacent streets, occurred between 7:40 am and 8:00 am.Vehicles queued out of the front ioop drive on a couple of occasions, with the maximumobserved queue extending 4 — 5 vehicle out of the front ioop onto Kirkhaven Drive. By 8:05 am,virtually all school-related traffic activity had ceased.
PMPeak Period
In the school PM peak period, parents are allowed to pick up students in the front loop drive, onthe school side of the loop drive only. The remaining area is kept open for through traffic /circulation. Seven loading stations are set up along the school side of the ioop drive. Students
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being picked up in the ioop drive are led out of the building and arranged by grade level on theeast side of the building. Parents entering the loop drive display a hang tag with their child’sname and grade level. A school staff member, stationed near the loop entrance drive, watches thevehicles entering the loop drive, and calls the name(s) displayed on the vehicle’s hang tag. Otherstaff members monitoring each grade level assist in identifying the student(s) whose names havebeen called, and direct them to a loading station, where they are then picked up by their parent.Parents waiting to enter the front loop drive were observed queuing along southbound KirkhavenDrive, and a couple of vehicles were observed queuing along westbound Robindale Drive atKirkhaven. School safety patrol members were also present in the afternoon, and school staffwere stationed in the loop drive crosswalk to assist students crossing the loop drive. Access tothe staff parking lot south driveway is also prohibited during the afternoon peak period.
Parents who do not pick up their student in the loop drive were observed parking along the eastside of Kirkhaven Drive and along both sides of Estate Lane (except for a section of the northside of Estate west of Kirkhaven, which is used for bus pick up). As in the morning peak, themajority of parents that parked on the street exited their vehicle and walked to the front of theschool to meet up with their student, and then walked together back to their vehicle. Schoolbuses queue along the north side of Estate Lane west of Kirkhaven Drive to pick up students;students riding the buses are dismissed from the south doors of the building at 2:55 pm, and areescorted by school staff to the buses. Halff observed 6 full sized buses and 1 special educationbus picking up students. Most of the buses loaded and departed the site by 3:00 pm. Day carevans (Halff observed 6 picking up students) queue along southbound Kirkhaven Drive betweenthe front loop entrance and exit drives. School staff marks this area with cones placed along thecurb, to identify it as the day care van loading area and to prohibit parents from parking orstopping in this area.
On the day of Haiffs observation, parents began queuing in the front loop drive before 2:15 pm.By 2:40 pm, the front loop drive was full (13 vehicles). Cars continued queuing alongsouthbound Kirkhaven Drive until students were released at 3:00 pm. The maximum queueobserved along Kirkhaven Drive was approximately 28 vehicles, which included 1 vehiclequeued on eastbound Church Road. Including vehicles queued in the front ioop, the maximumobserved queue in the afternoon peak period was approximately 40 vehicles. The front ioop andmost of the adjacent streets were clear by 3:15 pm.
2.5 Projected Trip Generation, Queuing, and Parking Demand
Halff used a straight-line projection to estimate the projected increase in trip generation due tothe enrollment increase of 75 students. The projected trip generation for the school with anenrollment of 780 students is shown in Table 2.
Table 2 — Site Generated Trips (Projected)Elementary School780 studentsAM-Peak Hour PM-Peak HourIn Out Total In Out TotalTotal Trips (projected) 352 302 654 174 166 340
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292 81+ 140 44 0Haiff also estimated the queuing demand in the afternoon peak period, once the school reachesits projected maximum enrollment of 780 students. The projected queue demand at maximumenrollment is approximately 45 passenger cars in the PM peak period, an increase of 5 cars overthe maximum observed queue of 40 vehicles.
A large percentage of the new students will be bused to / from the school, which couldnecessitate adding an additional school bus to the current fleet of 6 full size buses that serve theschool. It is important to note that the actual number of new trips generated by the additionalstudent enrollment, and thus the actual queuing demand for passenger cars and buses, will varybased on where in the school’s attendance zone the projected enrollment growth takes place. Thecurrent attendance zone includes several apartment complexes, and a number of the studentsliving in these complexes are bused to the school. If a large percentage of the new students aredrawn from this area and are bused to the school, the queuing demand for passenger cars will beless than what is projected in this report.
The RISD expects to add up to 10 new staff members to the campus to facilitate the projectedenrollment growth. If each of these new staff members drives their own vehicle, the totalprojected parking demand for the school will be approximately 74 (current day parking demandof 64 vehicles plus 10 new vehicles). This would exceed the planned parking spaces on the siteby 2. It should be noted, however, that the staffing estimate could include some “floating” staffmembers that would not be on the campus throughout the entire school day, and could thus parkon Kirkhaven Drive or in the short-term parking in the front loop. And the current day maximumobserved parking demand, 64 vehicles, is less than the current number of staff members, 68faculty / staff, that work at the school. It should also be noted that the proposed total parkingplanned for the site, 72 spaces, exceeds the City of Dallas’ parking requirement for the campus,68 spaces, with the proposed campus expansion considered.
The area designated for bus loading and unloading on the south side of the school building(along the north side of Estate Lane west of Kirkhaven Drive) provides more than 400 feet ofstacking space, which can accommodate approximately 8 full size school buses, assuming 50feet of stacking space per bus. The school is currently served by 6 full size buses and 1 mediumsized special education bus.
If would be desirable if all parent drop off / pick up activities associated with WallaceElementary School could be accommodated entirely on the school campus and out of any City ofDallas right-of-way (ROW). However, it is expected that queuing will continue to occur onKirkhaven Drive, primarily during the PM peak period, as drivers wait to enter the front loopdrive to pick up their student(s). The queuing that occurs on Kirkhaven Drive today does notappear to significantly impact the through traffic on the road. Background (non-school) traffic onthe road is very light.
The effective usable loading space in the front ioop drive provides approximately 260 feet ofstacking space, which can accommodate approximately 13 passenger cars (assuming 20 feet percar). The remaining 32 vehicles in the estimated maximum queue will require approximately 640feet of stacking space. The distance between the front ioop entrance drive and Church Road isapproximately 660 feet; therefore, there should be enough queuing space along southbound
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292 84 140 4 40Kirkhaven Drive to accommodate the projected maximum queue of 45 vehicles (including 13vehicles queued in the front loop), assuming drivers make good use of the available space bypulling up close to the vehicle in front of them.
Parents that do not pick up their student in the front ioop can park along the east side ofKirkhaven Drive between Estate Lane and the alley just south of Robindale Drive (Haiff isproposing a parking restriction on the east side of Kirkhaven Drive between the alley andRobindale, which will be discussed in the Recommendations section). Parents can also parkalong both sides of Estate Lane between Kirkhaven Drive and Ferndale Road (except in the 400-foot section on the north side of the street just west of Kirkhaven, which is designated for busqueuing), and along the south side of Estate Lane east of Kirkhaven (Haiff is proposing a parkingrestriction on the north side of Estate Lane between Kirkhaven Drive and Chippendale Drive,which will be discussed in the Recommendations section). These areas provide approximately1,400 feet of available parking space, which can accommodate approximately 70 parkedpassenger vehicles. Parking is also available along Robindale Drive. It is important to note thatparents were observed parking in all of these areas on the afternoon that Halff conductedobservations and traffic counts at the campus.
Exhibit 1 in the Appendix is a copy of the Traffic Management Plan exhibit for WallaceElementary School, which shows the proposed queuing area allocated in the front loop and alongsouthbound Kirkhaven Drive, for student pick up by passenger vehicles in the front loop, and theproposed designated bus queuing area on the north side of Estate Lane west of Kirkhaven Drive,as discussed in the report.
2.6 Staff Assistance and Drop Off! Pick Up Procedures
For elementary schools, assistance from staff is necessary to optimize traffic flow, especiallyduring the afternoon pick up period, when vehicles waiting to pick up students may queue ontoCity ROW. Presented below are steps that should be taken by school staff to facilitate safe andefficient student loading operations in the afternoon peak period.
Afternoon Pick-Up Procedures
LI Parents can pick up in the front loop drive in the lane nearest the school building only; themiddle and outside lanes should be kept open for traffic flowLI Buses pick up in the designated bus loading zone on the north side of Estate west of KirkhavenDrive; students riding a bus should be escorted out the south doors to the bus loading zoneLI Day care vans pick up on the west side of Kirkhaven Drive between the loop entrance and exitdrivesLI 8 loading stations should be set up along the school side of the loop driveLI Students being picked up in the front loop should be staged by grade level near the loadingareaLI School staff and / or safety patrol should be stationed at each loading station to actively assiststudents entering their vehicleLI Drivers picking up students in the front ioop should display a number assigned to the family;staff should identify the number in advance of the car entering the front ioop, call
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292 84 1404 40the number to the students waiting to be picked up, assign the student to a designated loadingstation, and assist the student in getting to the loading station quickly. The driver should also bedirected to the appropriate loading stationLi Staff should be stationed at the crosswalk in order to assist students crossing the front loopdriveLI During the afternoon loading time period, staff should focus on matching students to theappropriate vehicle at a designated loading station and assisting the student into the vehiclequickly, so that the overall loading time period can be minimized. Staff assistance is alsonecessary in the morning drop off period, to ensure students are able to access the schoolbuilding safely. Presented below are steps that should be taken by school staff to facilitate safeand efficient student unloading operations in the morning peak period.
Morning Drop Off
Li Parents, buses, and day care vans can drop off in the front loop driveLi Drop off can occur in the lane nearest the school building and in the lane nearest KirkhavenDrive; the middle lane should be kept open for traffic flowLi Students should exit their vehicle from the passenger side if they are dropped off on the schoolside of the loop drive; they should exit their vehicle on the driver’s side if they are dropped offon the Kirkhaven Drive side of the loop driveLi 8 unloading stations should be set up along the school side of the loop drive, and 3 unloadingstations should be set up along the Kirkhaven Drive side; the 3 unloading stations on theKirkhaven side should be placed in the section between the exit drive and the crosswalkLi School staff should be stationed at each of the 3 unloading stations on the Kirkhaven Driveside and should actively assist students exiting their vehicleLi School staff and / or student safety patrol should be stationed at each of the 8 unloadingstations on the school side and should actively assist students exiting their vehicleLi Parents should be instructed to pull forward to the furthest open unloading station, and shouldonly unload their student at a designated unloading stationLi School staff should be stationed at / in the crosswalk to assist students crossing from themedian or Kirkhaven Drive to the school building; at least 1 staff member needs to be in place by7:15 amLi Parents should be instructed to not drop off their student in the street (in the travel lanes).Students should be dropped off in the front loop drive, or parents should park on KirkhavenDrive or Estate Lane and allow their student to exit the vehicle on the curb Side
III. RECOMMENDATIONS
Based upon information provided by Richardson ISD regarding Wallace Elementary School, theproposed improvements planned for the site and the existing conditions of the streets adjacent tothe site; Halff recommends the following measures to help facilitate the safe, efficient movementof traffic into and out of the school campus:
Li Implement the morning drop off and afternoon pick up procedures described in Section 2.6Li Designate a 400-foot long “Bus Loading Zone” along the north side of Estate Lane west ofKirkhaven Drive, to be utilized in the afternoon peak period for bus pick up
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Z134-137(WE) 29284 140440LI Restrict parking along the north side of Estate Lane between Kirkhaven Drive andChippendale Drive from 7:15 — 8:15 am and from 2:00 — 3:30 pm.LI Restrict parking along the east side of Kirkhaven Drive between Robindale Road and the alleydirectly south of Robindale from 7:15 — 8:15 am and from 2:00 — 3:30 pm.LI Restrict parking along the west side of Kirkhaven Drive between the staff parking lot drivesfrom 7:15 — 8:15 am and from 2:00—3:30 pm.LI Restrict parking and standing along the west side of Kirkhaven Drive for a distance of 30 feetnorth of the front loop exit drive, in order to improve visibility for drivers exiting the loop driveto KirkhavenLI Remove the vegetation at the northwest corner of the Kirkhaven Drive intersection with thealley running along the north side of the school property (10 feet back from the sidewalk), inorder to improve visibility for vehicles exiting the alley to KirkhavenLI Remove the “Do Not Enter” signs located on the school fence at the staff parking lot northdrivewayLI Install a hard surface in the median separating the ioop drive and Kirkhaven Drive, from thesouth end to the front loop crosswalk, in order to provide a pedestrian route for students beingdropped off in the outside lane of the loop driveLI Reset the “No Left Turn” sign located on the west side of Kirkhaven Drive / south side of thefront loop entrance drive that is facing south for northbound drivers (the sign is leaning). Add asupplementary panel below the sign identifying the hours of the restriction as 7:15 — 8:15 am and2:00 — 3:30 pm.LI Add a supplementary panel below the “No Left Turn” sign located on the east side ofKirkhaven Drive at the front loop entrance drive, identifying the hours of the restriction as 7:15 —
8:15 amand2:00—3:3Opm.LI Reorient the existing “No Left Turn” signs on the west side of Kirkhaven Drive at the frontloop exit drive so that they face west, for traffic exiting the front loop drive to Kirkhaven
LI At the Ferndale Road / Estate Lane intersection:o Repaint the crosswalk on the east leg of the intersectiono Repaint the stop bar for the westbound Estate Lane approach to the intersectionLI At the Kirkhaven Drive / Estate Lane intersection:o Repaint the crosswalks on the north and west legs of the intersectiono Repaint the stop bar on the southbound Kirkhaven Drive approach to the intersectiono Upgrade the crosswalk sign to the current version for schools (Si-i) and add thesupplementary down arrow plaque (SW16-7P) on the south side of Estate Lane at the crosswalkon the west side of Kirkhaven Drive, facing west for eastbound traffico Upgrade the crosswalk sign to the current version for schools (Si-i) and add thesupplementary down arrow plaque (SWi 6-7P), and relocate the sign assembly to the northwestcorner of the intersection, facing east for westbound trafficLI At the Kirkhaven Drive / Robindale Road intersection:o Repaint the crosswalks on the east and south legs of the intersectiono Install a school crosswalk sign (Si-i) and a down arrow plaque (SW16-7P) on the southeastcorner at the crosswalk across the south leg of the intersection, facing south for northboundtraffic
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292 84 140440o Upgrade the existing school crosswalk sign on the west side of Kirkhaven to the currentversion for schools (Si -1), add the supplementary down arrow plaque(SW1 6-7P), and relocate the sign assembly to the south so that it is adjacent to the crosswalkacross the south leg of the intersectionLI At the Kirkhaven Drive / Church Road intersection:o Repaint the crosswalks on the east and west legs of the intersectiono Upgrade the existing school crosswalk sign on the northeast corner of the intersection to thecurrent version for schools (Si-i), and add the supplementary down arrow plaque (SW16-7P),with the signs facing east for westbound traffico Install a new school crosswalk sign (Si-i) on the northwest corner of the intersection, with asupplementary down arrow plaque (SWi6-7P), facing east for westbound traffico Upgrade the existing school crosswalk sign on the southwest corner of the intersection to thecurrent version for schools (Si-i), and add the supplementary down arrow plaque (SWi6-7P),with the signs facing west for eastbound traffico Install a new school crosswalk sign (Si-i) on the southeast corner of the intersection, with asupplementary down arrow plaque (SWi 6-7P), facing west for westbound trafficLI Consideration should be given to widening the two driveways accessing the staff parking lot to22 - 24 feet wide (the drives are currently -19 feet wide)
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