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Home My WebLink AboutWD-55-95 l THE CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON xxxkftkkkff ff YC xTXT Rf RARkLXXX REPORT Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE File # _C� Date: DECEMBER 4, 1995 Res. # Ry-Law## Report##: WD- 5-95 File #: C.,Q .29 . 01 Subject: REQUEST FOR ADULT CROSSING GUARD, MAIN STREET, ORONO Recommendations: It is respectfully recommended that the General Purpose and Administration Committee recommend to Council the following: 1. THAT Report WD-55-95 be received; 2 . THAT the request for an adult crossing guard on Main Street, Orono, be denied; 3. THAT staff complete crossing guard studies at the requested crossing location on a bi-monthly basis for the remainder of the 1995/1996 school year; i 4 . THAT staff continue to review other methods of providing crossing guard services, through a volunteer approach, at locations with warrants of between 30 - 49%; and 5 . THAT Cathy Montreuil, Principal of Orono Public School, be advised of Council's decision and provided with a copy of Report WD-55-95. REPORT 1.0 BACKGROUND 1. 1 At a regular meeting held on April 18, 1995, Council passed the following Resolution #GPA-290-95: i cF 1009 11 I56VR--4YQEO PAPER REPORT NO. : WD-55-95 PAGE 2 "THAT Report WD-62-94 be lifted from the table and received; THAT the request for a crossing guard on Main Street in Orono be referred back to staff to investigate alternatives to solve the situation; and THAT the Principal of Orono Public School be advised of Council's decision. " 2.0 REVIEW AND COMMENT 2 . 1 Additional Study A crossing guard study was repeated on Thursday, November 9, 1995, with a peak crossing warrant of only 40 .5%, where the policy has been not to consider placement of an adult crossing guard unless the warrant of 50% has been reached. The number of students crossing Main Street is still less than ten ( 10) and no significant increase in that figure is anticipated during the next few years. The volume and speed of traffic in this urban area does not warrant an adult crossing guard and no corrective action is required at this time. 2 .2 Alternatives Traffic Control Measures During 1995, the Region of Durham Works Department reviewed and rejected requests for stop signs, traffic signals, and a pedestrian cross-over as unwarranted and undesirable on Main Street, Orono (Regional Road 17) , based on low traffic and pedestrian volumes, accident history, and operating speeds. X010 REPORT NO. : WD-55-95 PAGE 3 Use of Safe Gaps Created by School Buses During the study, it was noted that four (4) school buses stopped traffic by activating the flashing lights to discharge passengers from various schools on Main Street. These stoppages created safe gaps and could be used by students from Orono Public School if traffic volumes increase and no other safe gaps were available. "Afternoon Only" Adult Crossing Guards At this requested school crossing location, the vehicular traffic is light in the morning, with a warrant figure of only 20% . The warrant figure for the afternoon period is 40% . Council could consider lowering the warrant for adult guards to 40% to have more guards in place during the heavier afternoon period, but not have crossing guards work in the morning if the warrants are less than 30% . It is unknown if this reduced workload and pay scale would discourage people from applying for the positions of "afternoon only" crossing guards . Staff is not aware of any other municipality using this part-time crossing guard approach. Volunteers Where an adult crossing guard is not warranted, but there is still concern, the parents could solicit a number of other parents or shopkeepers to provide the children extra guidance on a rotating basis. Concerned parents, who do not work away from home, could help their neighbours ' children and alleviate the safety concern, which only lasts for a period of ten ( 10) minutes each afternoon. This volunteer approach may prosper in a small town atmosphere. i i i 1011 REPORT NO. : WD-55-95 PAGE 4 Use of Adult Co-op Students Staff had discussions with the Board of Education regarding the possibility of using adult co-op students as crossing guards at unwarranted locations. This proposal would require no wages, only crossing guard equipment of $100 and training. This program could be difficult to administer, with adult courses running anywhere from nine (9) weeks to a year. It may require two (2) students, one ( 1) for the morning period and another for the afternoon period. If one ( 1) co-op student was sick, another student would be required on standby. If the Municipality endorsed co-op students at locations with less than 50% of the warrant being met, it is possible that parents at other unwarranted locations would also request them. This could result in too many co-op students being required by the Municipality, making it difficult for staff to find them meaningful training and work experience in the Municipal offices . Warranted locations should still be controlled by adult crossing guards hired by the Municipality. There is more risk to crossing guards, who must actually create safe gaps by stopping traffic, at warranted locations. At unwarranted locations, the guards can usually wait for a safe gap and cross the children with no interruption to traffic . Alternate Transportation If children are not being transported by the school boards, and crossing guards are not warranted, concerned parents could look at providing alternate transportation to school. The parents could group five (5) children together and hire a taxi or have a parent car pool. 1012 REPORT NO. : WD-55-95 PAGE 5 Traffic Calming Measures Traffic calming, which is intended to slow traffic and make streets more pedestrian friendly, is still in its early stages in Ontario. Several municipalities are experimenting with pavement narrowing and raised intersections, but the Region of Durham is not interested in implementing these on Regional Roads . 3.0 CONCLUSIONS 3 . 1 From the above, it is concluded that a consistent policy be maintained and adult crossing guards not be hired when the percentage delay of crossings is less than the approved warrant of 50%, which has been reduced from the normal warrant of 70% used to determine the need for an adult school crossing guard. Respectfully submitted, Reviewed by, Stephbn A. Vokes, P.Eng. W. H. Stockwell Director of Public Works Chief Administrative Officer RDB*SAV*ph November 29, 1995 Ms Cathy Montreuil, Principal Orono Public School P.O. Box 30 Orono, Ontario LOB 1M0 Mr. Paul Brace, Manager Transportation & Planning The Northumberland-Clarington Board of Education 834 D'Arcy Street North P.O. Box 470 Cobourg, Ontario K9A 4L2 I 1013