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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWD-22-94~~ THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON X1tIEE~0191Ci ipFX~AiP(SFQItDfIQ1(~k~7~( - REPORT Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE File # rtGQ . G F. Date: APRIL 18, 1994 Res.#C~P~4-oz4(~-QY By-Law # Report#: T^1D-22-94 File#: Subject: 1. ADULT SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD POLICY 2. REQUEST FOR ADULT SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD, SANDRINGHAM DRIVE, COURTICE Reco~tner~tio~~:spectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Report WD-22-94 be received; 2. THAT all requests for Adult School Crossing Guards be forwarded to the Director of Public Works to determine their need based on findings from the approved School Crossing Guard Need Study and the Director of Public Works respond directly to the authority or person requesting the crossing guard; 3. THAT the request for an adult school crossing guard on Sandringham Drive be denied; and 4. THAT Mr. Wally Pitt, Principal, Dr. Emily Stowe Public School and Mr. Terry Wilt be advised of Council's decision. REPORT 1.0 A`m'ANTS No. 1: Key map No. 2: Correspondence dated February 8, 1994, from Wally Pitt, Principal, Dr. Emily Stowe Public School No. 3: Correspondence dated February 22, 1994, from Terry Wilt No. 4: Correspondence dated March 9, 1994, to Mr. Wally Pitt, Dr. Emily Stowe Public School No. 5: Report PD-47-91 Crossing Guard Need Policy ~~~2 o... °® w ~.~.E REPORT NO. WD-22-94 PAGB 2 2.0 BACKGROIIND 2.1 At a regular meeting held on March 14, 1994, Council passed the following resolution: "THAT the correspondence dated February 22, 1994 from. Terry Wilt regarding the crosswalk crossing Sandringham Drive, be received; THAT the correspondence be referred to the Director of Public Works for review and preparation of a report to the General Purpose and Administration Committee; and THAT Terry Wilt be advised of Council's decision. 3.0 REVIEW AND COMMENT 3.1 Crossing Guard Policy Council, at its. meeting on February 18, 1991, approved the recommendations in Report PD-47-91 which established policies for determining the need for adult school crossing guards. The Municipal Policy, which is based on criteria recommended by the Institute of Transportation Engineers, recommends a 70 per cent delay before introducing a supervised crossing. Clarington enhanced this criteria by using a 50 percent delay is place of the 70 percent delay. The Crossing Guard Need Policy provides for all requests to be referred to the Director of Planning and, since 1993, to the Director of Public Works for study and response directly to the appropriate school authority. The approved policy and study methods have enabled staff to address enquiries and concerns quickly and effectively reduced staff time previously required for writing separate reports for each request. 3.2 RecTUests for School Crossinc Guard at Sandringham Drive Two requests for an adult school crossing guard at the Dr. Emily Stowe Public. School were received: 1. Correspondence dated February 8, 1994, from Mr. Wally Pitt, Principal; 1013 REPORT NO. F1D-22-94 PAGE 3 2. Correspondence .dated February 22, 1994, from Terry Wilt, 13 Newport Avenue, Courtice. 3.3 Studv Results The posted crossing on Sandringham Drive at Dr. Emily Stowe Public School is watched by student patrollers. A study done on February 22, 1994, clearly indicated that the warrants were not met as .the delay was calculated at only 26.3 .percent. Mr. Wally Pitt, Principal and Mr. Terry Wilt, were advised of this information in correspondence dated March 9, 1994. 3.4 Visibility Concerns Visibility problems discussed with the principal and also mentioned in Mr. Wilt's letter have been improved with the installation of "No Stopping" signs near the crossing (Attachment No. 1) in accordance with the general provisions of the Traffic By-law No. 91-58. The student patrollers work as a team with one on each side of the street. If visibility of a patroller is momentarily blocked by a parked car on one side of the street, the other patroller assists. 3.5 Liability The Municipality has an objective crossing guard policy in place which equitably places adult guards at locations based on traffic volumes and safe gap times for children to cross. The Municipal Policy is lenient by considering an adult guard at only 50 percent delay rather than 70 percent delay as recommended by the Institute of Transportation Engineers. The Municipality has taken reasonable efforts to establish a policy based on standard methodology developed by the Institute of Transportation Engineers and is necessary for the Municipality to fulfil its responsibility in an accountable manner. 1014 REPORT NO. WD-22-94 PAGE 4 4.0 CONCLIISIONS 4.1 From the above, it is concluded that the existing policy is effective as a method of determining the need for adult crossing guards and no changes are recommended at this time. Respectfully submitted, ~'V ""~i / Wa lter A. Evans, P. Eng. Director of Public Works. Reviewed by, `~ W.H. St kwell, C.A.O. Chief Administrative Officer,. RDB:WAE:jco March 25, 1994 pc: Mr. Terry Wilt 13 Newport Avenue Courtice, Ontario L1E 2B8 Mr. Wally Pitt, Principal Dr. Emily Stowe Public School 71 Sandringham Drive Courtice, Ontario L1E 1W8 5 w #62 #61 I L #64 — — #63 CROSSWALK #71 Dr. Emily Stowe Public School Q C? D Z NEW 'NO STOPPING' SIGNS NEAR CROSSWALK JL T � QJ o \ATTAGHS\DARL\EMILYST.DWG DRAWN BY: dM DATE: MAR. 1994 C C E ATTACHMENT N0. 1 KEY MAP REPORT NO. .-WD-22-94 Dr. Emily Stowe Public School 71 Sandringham Drive Courtice, Ontario L1E 1W8 905-433-8747 W. F. PITT, Principal, B.A., M.Ed. R. M. PALMER, Vicc Principal, B.A., B.Ed. 1994 02 OS Walter Evans, Director Public Works Department 40 Temperance Street Bowmanville, Ontario L1C 3A6 Dear Walter: I wish to request an adult crossing guard to be located at the student crossing at 71 Sandringham Drive, Courtice. This location is the direct access to Dr. Emily Stowe Public School and therefore serves as the only crossing point for many of our students daily. With a continued increase in vehicular traffic at our peak crossing times added to a "slow S curve" design of Sandringham Drive and the impact of exit traffic from the school, we feel the time has arrived to change from student crossing guards to one adult crossing guard. For the past three and half years we have had excellent support by the student crossing guards but only so much may be asked of 10, 11 and 12 year olds. I am writing this request on behalf of students, staff, the Parent Teacher Organization and a group of other interested parents. I trust you will be able to discuss this request with me and that a "Needs Study" may be done in the near future. Respectfully, W ~ _ L/AE Wally Pitt Principal WP/ds /5~..~... ~, (: Lc~e: 4 .__ -- __ _ ATTACHFfENT NO. 2 -_ j ~ REPORT NO.: WD-22-94 TH8 NORTHUMBF.RLANU ANll NEWCASTLE BOARD OF EDUCATfON ~- -s . ,. . COUNCIL DIRECTION Terry ~ Betty Wilt 13 Newpor-t Avenue Courtice, Ontario L1E 2DfI Phone No. (905) 433-4125 February 22, 1999 Mayor Diane Harare Municipality of Clarington 90 Temperance Street Powmanville, Ontario L1C 3A6 Dear Mayor Harare: D-7 } ~~ ,~ F'ED 1 4 1994 PiiUi'JICirLfTY OF CLTPJNGTON MA'iUR'S OFFICE= AGENDA I am .writing you to inform of a dangerous situation that is occurring at Dr-. Emily Stowe Public School on Sandringham Drive in Courtice. On Februar-y 17, 1994, my children were lined up at the crosswalk Lo go across Sandringham Drive. The Student Guard told the children to cross and at that time a car came by and were almost hit 6y the car. This is not the first time that this situation has happened to my children trying to cross Sandringham Drive. It is my feeling that adequate measures have not been taken to protect the children crossing Sandringham Drive, and feel an Adult Guard will suit the situation better L-han children standing on the curb. It is also my understanding that vehicles are parking on the street to pick up children and are somewhat obstructing the view of the crosswalk. If the situation is not rectified and my children are injured in any way, I will hold the Town of Clarington and Northumberland/ Clarington Doard of Education wholly responsible and will, seek legal action. _.__ _ _ -- I trust this situation will be rectified very soo Ui3 S r~ '_~`) (i:71+~ CLLR H -L-f/J `----°.-.-- ..,_. Your: truly, ~~j Terry Wilt RCIt. UY_-_ ~I?I;];il~t ' ~l'i J N'' c.c. Richard Malowney, Director of Education Northumber--land/Clarington Board of Educatio ---- ff}} REPORT NO i ,, MUNICIPALITY OF _~~arington ONTAFi10 March 9, 1994 Dr. Emily Stowe Public School 71 Sandringham Drive Courtice, Ontario LIE 1W8 Attention: Mr. Wally Pitt. Principal Dear Mr. Pitt RE: ADULT SCHOOL CROSSING GUARD REQUEST AT 71 SANDRINGHAM DRIVE, COURTICE ---------------------------------------- Please be advised that staff completed it•s investigation of your request (correspondence dated February 8, 1994) for an adult school crossing guard at the above noted location. On Tuesday February 22, 1994 field studies were carried out for both the morning and the afternoon periods. Data was collected including number of children, roadway width, frequency of children crossing as groups, tivne gap between vehicles, sight distances and vehicle volumes. This data was analyzed using the standard methodology developed by the Institute of Transportation Engineers to determine the percent of tiuae within the study periods that children crossing would not be advisable. Our findings indicated the following: am period 25.5 delay pm period 26.3 delay The crossing guard need study as developed and recommended by the Institute of Transportation Engineers suggests that a minimum of 70$ delay be used as a barometer for introducing an adult crossing. The Municipality recognizes the 70$ as a general guideline and Council have recommended that staff use 50~ as the cut off point to consider a guard in order to be more flexible in our approach. You will note that the study results fall well below the suggested 70~ and also below the 50~ range for consideration of a guard. You can appreciate that there are hundreds of intersections in the Municipality that involve some degree of school children crossing activity, and we receive numerous requests every year. The crossing guard need study is a useful and objective tool to determine the need and is necessary for the municipality to fulfil its responsibility in an accountable manner. Staff also reviewed a suggestion from Enet Withers, #66 Sandringham Drive, that the school reverse the exclusive in and out driveways. As discussed this reversal would create a problem for children f `~ + t-~ ATTACHMENT N0. Q REPORT NO.: WD-22-94 CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON C TFa PERP n~CF STaFF~~3pWMANVIILE•O NTAR'O~L~C 3/.6l905~6?_3-33lo~FAX 623-a~69 nr_.cu u~aiEr •, _ -z- using the bus as the door would now be facing away from the school building forcing children to walk in front of the bus and across a traffic lane. The other problem a reversal would create is that northbound traffic would be within 10 meters of the cross walk before turning into the school. It is easier for Student patrollers to watch a stopped vehicle in a driveway than a moving motorist who may or may not properly signal their intention to turn. During the study it was noted that a number of parents stop their vehicles too close to the cross walk. This inconsiderate action may momentarily restrict the visibility of one or both student patrollers. In an effort to improve the sightlines "no stopping" signs will be erected near the cross walk in accordance with the Consolidated Traffic By-law 91-58 as soon as underground cable locates can be arranged. If you, or the bus operators feel "no stopping" restrictions should be extended to one or both sides of Sandringham Drive in front of the entire length of the school please contact me. I would also like to note that on the day of the study the student patrollers appeared to be performing their duties admirably waiting for safe gaps between vehicles. This location will be studied again in September to determine if an adult crossing guard is warranted and you will be advised of the results. I have provided this detailed information to assist you in understanding our decision. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call. Sincerely .~ D ~ Ronald D. Baker Traffic Co ordinator pc ~T~"`"'Evans, Director of Public Works Paul Brace, Northumberland-Clarington Board of Education Dianne Fernlund, Planning Terry & Betty Wilt 13 Newport Avenue Courtice, Ontario L1E 2B8 Mrs. Enet Withers 66 Sandringham Drive Courtice, Ontario L1E 1W8 RDB/rb lulu ~~, '' ~+ THE CORPOflATION OF THE TOWN OF NEWCASTLE DN:CROSS-GU.GPA - ' REPORT ! Meeting: General Purpose and Administration Committee File tt Date: February 10, 1991 ftes. tt _ ey-Law a Fieporl fl: _-_QIL-42-9 ]_ File it ___6i3_.?.b-. 15 Subject: POI,ICIP..S RELATED TO SCUOOL CROSSING GUARD NEF,D Recomrnendatlons: It ].s respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. `1'11AT Report PD-47-91 be received; 2. 9.'UAT Council approve the policies for determining the need for School Crossing Guard as contained in Report PD-47-91. 3. THA'P Report: Pll-47-91 be forwarded to the Northumberland and Newcastle Public School Board and the Peterborough, Victoria, Northumberland and Newcastle Separate School Hoard for their information. 1. I]ACRGROUND 1.1 The Town of Newcastle has been responsible for the provision of School Crossing Guards including personnel recruitment, providing remuneration and equipment. The cost of this service comes from general tax revenue and the 1990 total operating budge L- for operating t}re crossing guard program is $95,000. 7..2 '1'he Town currently has a total of ]7 crossing guards on payroll and t}ieir patrol locations are distributed as follows: Bowmanville 9 Courtice 3 Newcastle Vlg. 2_ tt 1 l~ L I "j ~' ..r;.:a ~,.~-?..... t~TTgCH~1,ENT N0. 5 13EPORT N0.6 wP,22-94 .. REPORT NU.: PD-47-91 PAGE 2 r Newtonvill.e 1 Rovers 2 1.3 From time to time, Council and staff receive requests from the School Soard or from local residents for crossing guard services. In the past-, these requests were sometimes addressed by Council and sometimes addressed by staff. 1.4 Issues related to request for school crossing guards is often sensitive and rightfully so as i.t pertains to the saLet.y of the school children. It should be noted that every time a crossing guard is introduced, it places financial burden on the tax base for such service. Given the hundreds of intersections in the municipality that involve some degrees of school children crossing activities it is prudent that crossing guard service be provided where L-here is a need of it. As a result, policies must be developed to ensure the Town is consistent in its approach and more importanL-ly, the tax dollar is spent in a responsible manner. 2. DETERMINATION OF Tf}E NEED OF CROSSING GUARD 2.1 The Transportation Engineers Association has developed a methodology to determine the need for crossing guard service by carrying out a crossing guard need study. This need study approach is used in many municipalities including the City of Oshawa. Staff have now acquired the training and are capable to carry out this type of study. -a ?..2 Briefly, the Crossing Guard Need Stud}' requires d_ield survey to cci_lect key data. 3"tr- ;e .i.ta~ i ,..r;y ate atiy paa:ticular cs o=-; i,:ca and rrt a }~~~~:i, its t s~ s}>an (eg. f1:15 a.m. - 9:04 a.r<t. ~ ~ ,,.oi - t5.ea on tl:r? nurid;er of sciro~~,l children crossing f.d~<> road:aay, tale sire oL the c~.ou}r:irty of children, the width 102G ),~~ i •~ REPOI2'1' NO.: PU-47-91 PAGE 3 oL the roadway, volume of vehicles, as well as various time gaps bet:veen vehicles passing through. This data is fed into prescribed formula to arrive at t}re percentage of time within the study period where crossing by school children is deemed to be undesirable. 2.3 The Crossing Guard Need Study recommends that a crossing guard be placed where the percentage L-o time for unsafe crossing reaches approximately 70~. It is noted that the 70~ i.s a suyyested gu.ideli.ne and the muni.ci.pality can set its own sCandard. 3. RIiCOMMENUED POLICIES 3.1 That it is the policy of guard upon request where need study indicates a m school children crossing crossing location. the Town to provide school crossing the result of the crossing guard inimum 50~ of the study time where is deemed to be unsafe at any 3.2 That any crossing guard request be referred to the Director of Planning and Development to determine its need based on findings from a sctrool crossing guard need study. 4. CONCLUSION It is the role of the staff to administer the school crossing guard program and in so doing, the staff must be guided by Council's direction or policies and it is prudent that Council approve the policies contained herein. Respectfully submitted, Recommended for presentation to the Committee Frankli n Wu, M.C.I.P. La r nce E. Kotseff Director of Planning Chief A~in~nist.rative and Development Officer l FW+F~ f *At tach ~ , ar„~.T~ ~~a ~~Z~