Topic: Notes from 5/11/10 Rich Smith meeting
Topic type:
"Findings & Recommendations" regarding the top safety concerns immediately around UES.
Dian and Barry sat down with Rich Smith, outgoing Dean of students at UES, to capture his list of the top barriers to safe walking/biking immediately around UES. He listed these off, we discussed potential solutions, and after the meeting Dian and a did a walkabout to survey the scene.
Top concerns:
- The corner-of-Loomis/School St. crosswalk -- Many/most students approaching from School St. take this rather than the guarded crosswalk at the Loomis/Park sts intersection -- it's quicker; there's no guard to slow them down; they can bolt out as they please. These students are often rushing across it at the same time vehicles are moving quickly up School St. toward that corner with no visibility of the kids crossing. Rich sees close calls almost daily.
- Drivers flouting the "No Dropping Off" sign behind the parked buses -- corner School & Loomis. This exacerbates the dangers of the corner-of-Loomis/School St. crosswalk. It also adds to the general car pile-up around UES.
- Park/Hubbard St. corner -- lack of barriers stopping kids from running out into the street. Mostly a recess-time issue. To a lesser extent, the lack of a barrier to kids running uphill from the slide into the parking lot of the office building at Hubbard/E. State is a concern.
- Park St. / along front of UES -- Drivers leaving their vehicles for a time. This clogs Park St. & is a "fast and loose" interpretation of signage.
Recommendations
- Regarding the Loomis/School St. crosswalk:
- Rich sees the solution as removing this cross-walk, thus removing a choice for the kids (& adults)
- Dian raised a concern -- if we remove it, how to stop the kids from crossing anyway.
- removing the curb cut.
- placing a soft barrier such as a sawhorse on each side.
- Regarding the flouting the "No Dropping Off" sign @ School/Loomis:
- enforcement. Initially, with Montpelier police present (who would return periodically over the year); continuing with 1 SRTS parent.
- change "No Student Drop-off" to ""No Student Drop-off or Pickup".
- enlarge the sign
- Regarding the enforcement of parking rules along Park St. during the AM and PM restrictions.
- Initially, with Montpelier police present who would return periodically over the year; say in 3 cycles:
- Fall/start of school yr
- Winter
- Spring
- By parents, school employees, and extra signage throughout the year.
- Initially, with Montpelier police present who would return periodically over the year; say in 3 cycles:
- Regarding the Park/Hubbard St. corner
- adding a Stop sign at Park for drivers approaching from E. State.
- moving the "One Way" sign on Hubbard/Park corner, visible to cars approaching from Liberty, It's currently located off to the side a bit.
- Generally:
- A bike cop, or cruiser, standing by,
- 2 SRTS parents on duty (daily? 1x/wk?)
- Added signage: "No Stopping, Just Dropping"
- enforcement of current rules/signage:
To Do: Get the definition of "Loading/Unloading". Does this mean the driver cannot leave the vehicle? Can they turn off their engine and stay for several minutes?
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