srts parent survey presentation published
TRANSCRIPT
C I T Y O F N E W T O N P L A N N I N G D E P A R T M E N T
S A F E R O U T E S T O S C H O O L
S P R I N G 2 0 1 4
Newton Student Transportation Survey
Survey Background
Purpose of Survey To determine how and why children get to and from school
How it was administered Survey Monkey link sent via PTO newsletters and Principal emails
Response rate High response rate, averaging just over 30% of families responded
While range of elementary school responses were 7% - 50% ,12 of the 15 elementary exceeding 20%
Middle school and high school responses were clustered near the 25% average response rate for secondary schools
Mostly positive follow up emails sent by many respondents
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Completed Surveys
Elementary 1394
Middle School 773
High School 913
3
Completed Surveys
Elementary 1394
Middle School 773
High School 913
School completed
Surveys % of
families
Mason-Rice 164 50%
Cabot 179 46%
Zervas 104 43%
Pierce 85 35%
Bowen 132 35%
Countryside 115 33%
Lincoln Eliot 89 32%
Underwood 80 32%
Burr 97 27%
Average 92.9 30.6%
Horace Mann 95 29%
Franklin 78 26%
Angier 77 24%
Williams 45 18%
Ward 31 16%
Memorial Spaulding 23 7%
Total 1,394 31%
School completed
surveys % of
families
Bigelow 104 23%
Brown 284 45%
Day 252 31%
Oak Hill 133 24%
Total 773 32%
School completed
surveys % of
families
Newton North 472 28%
Newton South 441 29%
Total 913 29%
4
Comments on Survey Data
Underrepresented populations Schools MBTA riders High school drivers High school bicycle riders
Winter effect Responses likely slightly over weighted to driving due to timing of
survey doesn’t include fair weather walkers/bikers
Distance to school data Obtained outside of survey process Limits ability to mine data using Survey Monkey tools
Captures a great deal of additional comments Highlight specific problems These deserve further review
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Transportation Mode
-
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
Re
po
rte
d D
ail
y T
rip
s
Survey Responses
To School
From School
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Estimating Daily Trips
GIS data used to determine walking distance for each family from home to school based on main intersections given
Developed transportation mode profile for distance segments based on average survey responses from families that live within that distance segment
Estimated number of trips by mode by applying mode profile to the estimated # of families within that distance segment
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How do students get to and from school?
- 500
1,000 1,500 2,000 2,500 3,000 3,500 4,000 4,500 5,000
Es
tim
ate
d D
ail
y T
rip
s
All Students *
To School
From School
* Excludes Memorial Spaulding due to low response rate and out-of-district students
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How do students get to and from school?
0
500
1000
1500
2000
2500
3000
Es
tim
ate
d D
ail
y T
rip
s Elementary Students*
To School
From School
The family vehicle is the primary way students get to and from school.
Average distance walked: 0.49 miles
Average distance biked: 0.66 miles
* Excludes Memorial Spaulding due to low response rate and out-of-district students
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45% of elementary parents responding drive every day
35% of elementary parents responding walk every day
What did we hear about why choices are made?
Elementary
• Why we walk?
• We want to walk not drive – 566 families
• We have no choice – 89 families
• Parents leave for work before school starts
• No driver available or no car available to drive
• Why we drive?
• 427 families responded snowy, icy sidewalks is the #1 reason they drive, another 270 listed it as key reason
• 300+ responded they are on their way to/from somewhere
• 250 responded unsafe crossings as #1 reason they drive
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How do students get to and from school?
-
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
Es
tim
ate
d D
ail
y T
rip
s Middle School Students
To School
From School
Average distance of car trip: 1.23 miles 35% of car trips under 1 mile
Average distance walked: 0.83 miles
Average distance biked: 1.0 mile
Nearly 50% of children driven in the morning walk or take the bus after school.
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How do students get to and from school?
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
Es
tim
ate
d D
ail
y T
rip
s High School Students
To School
From School
Trips by vehicle is again the primary way students get to and from school.
Average distance of car trip: 1.62 miles 18% of car trips under 1 mile
Average distance walked: 0.94 miles
Average distance biked: 1.49 miles
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What did we hear about why choices are made?
Middle School & High School Responses were similar at both levels • Why we don’t drive?
• Primary reason is kids like to walk • Inconvenient to drive • Live very close • Bus is very convenient • 10% of students walk, bike or take the bus as parents leave for work
before kids leave for school • 20%+ must walk, bike or take the bus home because of parents’ work
schedule
• Why we drive? • 24% families stated that snowy, icy sidewalks is the #1 reason they drive
their kids TO school • 23% of families think the walk takes too long
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Transportation modes by distance – to school
-
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
< 1/4 mile 1/4 to 1/2mile
1/2 - 1 mile > 1 mile
Da
ily
Tr
ips
to
Sc
ho
ol
Distance from home to school
Elementary Students
Car Pool
Familyvehicle
Riding thebus
Biking/Scootering
Walking
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Transportation modes by distance – from school
-
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
< 1/4 mile 1/4 to 1/2mile
1/2 - 1 mile > 1 mile
Da
ily
Tr
ips
fr
om
Sc
ho
ol
Distance from to school to home
Elementary Students
Car Pool
Familyvehicle
Riding thebus
Biking/Scootering
Walking
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Transportation modes by distance – to school
-
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
< 1/4mile
1/4 to1/2 mile
1/2 - 1mile
1 -1 1/2miles
1 1/2 - 2miles
> 2miles
Da
ily
tr
ips
to
sc
ho
ol
Distance from home to school
Middle School Students Car Pool
Familyvehicle
MBTA
School Bus
Biking/Scootering
Walking
16
Transportation modes by distance – from school
-
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
< 1/4mile
1/4 to1/2 mile
1/2 - 1mile
1 -1 1/2miles
1 1/2 - 2miles
> 2miles
Da
ily
tr
ips
to
sc
ho
ol
Distance from to school to home
Middle School Students Car Pool
Familyvehicle
MBTA
School Bus
Biking/Scootering
Walking
Nearly 50% of children driven in the morning walk or take the bus after school.
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Transportation modes by distance – to school
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
< 1/4mile
1/4 to1/2 mile
1/2 - 1mile
1 -1 1/2miles
1 1/2 - 2miles
> 2miles
Da
ily
tr
ips
fr
om
sc
ho
ol
Distance from home to school
High School Students Car Pool
Drives withother student
Drivesthemselves
Family vehicle
MBTA
School Bus
Biking/Scootering
Walking
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Transportation modes by distance – from school
0
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
< 1/4mile
1/4 to1/2 mile
1/2 - 1mile
1 -1 1/2miles
1 1/2 - 2miles
> 2miles
Da
ily
tr
ips
fr
om
sc
ho
ol
Distance from school to home
High School Students Car Pool
Drives withother student
Drivesthemselves
Family vehicle
MBTA
School Bus
Biking/Scootering
Walking
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Impacts of current school transportation model
Increased stress on crowded streets and neighborhoods
Decreased air quality
Negative environmental impact
Missed opportunity for active transportation Exercise
Social time
Improved feeling of
well being
Time to think
Better prepared to
learn
Sense of
accomplishment
Independence
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Assessing sentiment for walkable schools
Parents were asked to rate their feelings on the following statements:
I want to live in a community where most kids walk or bike to school 67% AGREE
I think the City should quickly address structural issues (crosswalks, lights, crossing guards) to make it safer for children to walk to school 84% AGREE
I think the city should enforce the sidewalk snow removal ordinance 84% AGREE
I want the School Committee to make walking to school a priority in establishing school districts 58% AGREE
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What is the mode shift opportunity?
-
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
3,000
3,500
4,000
4,500
5,000
< 1/4 mile 1/4 to 1/2mile
1/2 - 1 mile > 1 mile
To
tal
Da
ily
Tr
ips
Distance from home to school
Elementary Students
Car Pool
Familyvehicle
Riding thebus
Biking/Scootering
Walking
22
Mode shift opportunity at the elementary schools
Make walking and biking for students living within ½ mile of school the primary mode of transportation increase from 55% to 70% 820 less daily car trips
Increase biking for students living between ½ mile and 1 mile and some increase in walking increase from 30% to 43% 525 less daily car trips
Increase bus ridership for students who qualify Increase from 40% to 50% 140 less daily car trips
Encourage carpooling and driving part way for those that do drive Increase carpools to 10% 360 less daily car trips
Encourage 20% of car trips drive part way 200 less daily car trips
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What is the mode shift opportunity?
-
200
400
600
800
1,000
1,200
1,400
1,600
< 1/4mile
1/4 to1/2 mile
1/2 - 1mile
1 -1 1/2miles
1 1/2 - 2miles
> 2miles
To
tal
Da
ily
Tr
ips
Distance from home to school
Middle School Students Car Pool
Familyvehicle
MBTA
School Bus
Biking/Scootering
Walking
24
Mode shift opportunity at the middle schools
Make walking and biking for students living within 1 mile of school the primary mode of transportation increase from 55% to 70% 200 less daily car trips
Increase biking for students living less than 2 miles from school increase from 2% to 8% 130 less daily car trips
Increase bus ridership for students who qualify Increase from 67% to 72% 120 less daily car trips
Encourage carpooling and driving part way for those that do drive Increase carpools to 6% 120 less daily car trips
Encourage 20% of car trips drive part way 115 less daily car trips
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What is the mode shift opportunity?
-
500
1,000
1,500
2,000
2,500
< 1/4mile
1/4 to1/2
mile
1/2 - 1mile
1 -1 1/2miles
1 1/2 - 2miles
> 2miles
To
tal
Da
ily
Tr
ips
Distance from home to school
High School Students Car Pool
Drives withother studentDrivesthemselvesFamily vehicle
MBTA
School Bus
Biking/ScooteringWalking
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Mode shift opportunity at the high schools
Make walking and biking for students living within 1 mile of school the primary mode of transportation increase from 54% to 78% 360 less daily car trips
Increase biking for students living less than 2 miles from school increase from 3% to 12% 300 less daily car trips
Increase bus ridership for students who qualify Increase from 39% to 44% 200 less daily car trips
Encourage carpooling and driving part-way for those that do drive Increase carpools to 7% 230 less daily car trips
Encourage 20% of car trips drive part way 150 less daily car trips
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Summarizing Mode Shift
-
5,000
10,000
15,000
20,000
25,000
Current After Mode Shift
Car Pool
Drives with otherstudentDrives themselves
Family vehicle
MBTA
School Bus
Biking/Scootering
Walking1,500
1,200
450
3,800
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Mode shift goals by school
School goals
Walking Biking School Bus Vehicle
Elementary Schools
35 families at each school
15 families 5 families 10 families to carpool, 20 families to drive part way
Middle Schools
25 families 30 families 15 families 15 families to carpool, 20 families to drive part way
High Schools 75 families 100 families 50 families 25 families to carpool, 65 families to drive part way
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Estimated Annual Reduction in car trips
Almost 2,000 less car trips per day
Estimated 3,700+ miles per day
180 school days
670,000 miles per year
Achieving this type of mode shift will require motivation for change and the removal of barriers to walking, biking & the bus
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Are parents encouraged to walk & bike?
% that feel their child’s school encourages or strongly encourages walking and biking to school
64% Elementary school
15% Middle School
10% High School
Elementary schools with highest results
Burr, Peirce, Angier, Mason-Rice at 80%
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What did we hear about conditions along routes to school from families that walk/bike/bus?
Top 5 issues from elementary families whose children walk least some of the time 59% observe unsafe driver behavior
40% have issues with broken or cracked sidewalks
40% observe cars that fail to yield to crossing pedestrians
27% have missing sidewalk sections along the route
25% have faded crosswalks
Issues for middle school and high school families are similar 72% of middle school parents observe unsafe driver behavior
Ranking for other issues is very similar
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Impact of weather on walking and biking
Elementary
25% of the regular walkers will still walk in the rain, snow or very cold temperatures
Cold temperatures have the biggest impact driving 55% of regular walkers to likely be driven
Middle School+ High School
Only 15% of the regular walkers will still walk in the rain, snow or very cold temperatures
Again cold temperatures have the biggest impact causing over 60% of regular walkers to likely be driven; snow is a close second at 58% likely to be driven
33
What did we hear specifically about snow?
Elementary
89% indicated uncleared sidewalks are an issue
50% of parents responded that uncleared sidewalks along the route cause them to drive to school
Another 39% noted that uncleared sidewalks were an issue but still preferred to walk to school
70% of walking families had issues with snow piles on corners and crosswalks
Middle School & High School
Similiar
34
Bus Ridership
Elementary School
1394 respondents
240 eligible, 125 yes take the bus, 115 do not take the bus
283 do not know if student is eligible
Middle School
398 eligible, 342 yes take the bus, 57 do not take the bus
83 do not know if student is eligible
High School
406 eligible, 273 yes take the bus, 133 do not take the bus
108 do not know if student is eligible
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Why elementary school students don’t take bus
Before-school or
after school activities,
34%
Bus fee too high, 34%
Do not want children on the
bus, 31%
Concerns about the safety of walk to bus stop, 13%
Bus ride is too long, 13%
Bus stop is too far, 11%
Bus comes too early, 8%
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Why middle school students don’t take bus
Bus fee too high, 41%
Bus comes too early, 30%
Do not want children on the
bus, 27%
Bus ride is too long, 25%
Bus stop is too far, 20%
Before-school or after school activities, 11%
Concerns about the safety of walk to bus stop, 11%
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Why high school students don’t take the bus
My children do not want to be on the
bus, 40%
Before-school or after school
activities, 33%
Bus fee too high, 32%
Bus comes too early, 28%
Bus ride is too long, 18%
Bus stop is too far,
17%
Student parking fee more
reasonable than bus fee, 13%
Do not want children on the bus, 6%
Bus leaves school too late, 6% Concerns about the
safety of walk to bus stop, 2%
%
38
Evaluation of MBTA usage
Repeat estimated daily ridership numbers Middle School
94 have access to MBTA route 513 no access 168 do not know 52 bus (Parker/Centre St.) is 83% of ridership 59 bus (Walnut St.) is 15%
High School 161 have access to MBTA route 557 no access 133 do not know 59 bus (Walnut St.) is 60% 52 bus (Parker/Centre St.) is 30% of ridership Green line is 13%
Look at key issues faced and any praise
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Summary
High vehicle usage has impact on everyone Quality of life
Environmental
Cost to city of additional vehicle traffic?
Significant opportunity for mode shift
Next steps? Encouragement and information on benefits of more walking
and biking
Infrastructure improvements and better snow clearing necessary to help aid mode shift
Review of bus policies and schedule
Engage key stakeholders in adopting mode shift goals
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