CITY OF WARMAN TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN

CITY OF WARMAN

TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN

School Review

February 2016

Table of Contents i

City of Warman

TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN School Review February 2016

Table of Contents

1.0 SCHOOL ZONE REVIEW 1

1.1 Warman Elementary School 1

1.1.1 Consultation 1

1.1.2 Observations 3

1.1.3 Analysis 6

1.1.4 Recommendations 6

1.2 Warman Middle School 9



1.2.3 Analysis 12


1.3 Warman High School 12



1.3.3 Analysis 16


Figures

Figure 1: Existing Warman Elementary School Operations .........................................................................2 Figure 2: Recommended Warman Elementary School Operations ..............................................................8 Figure 3: Existing Warman Middle School Operations .............................................................................. 10 Figure 4: Existing Warman High School Operations .................................................................................. 14 Photos

Photo 1: 4th Street at Elementary School (facing west) ...............................................................................4 Photo 2: 4th Street at 2nd Avenue (facing west) ..........................................................................................4 Photo 3: 4th Street at Elementary School (facing east) ................................................................................5 Photo 4: Gravel Lot On North Side of 4th Street, East Of Fenced Angle Parking Lot ......................................5 Photo 5: Rolling School Zone Sign .............................................................................................................7 Photo 6: Centennial Road Southbound ................................................................................................... 11 Photo 7: View of Gowan Road Northbound............................................................................................. 11 Photo 8: Klassen Street (facing east) ....................................................................................................... 15 Photo 9: Warman High School Main Entrance ......................................................................................... 15 Photo 10: 7th Avenue North Access Out Of The School Parking Lot ........................................................... 16 Photo 11: Pedestrian Crossing, Burnaby, BC ............................................................................................ 17 Photo 12: Pedestrian Crossing, Winnipeg, MB ......................................................................................... 17

School Zone Review 1

City of Warman


1.0 School Zone Review

A review of the existing school operations in the City of Warman has been undertaken as part of the Transportation Master Plan. This review included consultation with the individual schools administration and field observations related to on-site student, bus and auto activity, as well as near school pedestrian activity. The following documents the findings of this review for each of the existing schools.

1.1 WARMAN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

The Warman Elementary School is currently servicing pre-kindergarten to Grade 3 students. The school currently has 750 students enrolled. Approximately 400 of those children take the bus regularly. School hours are from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm.

The operations at the school are expected to change once the new elementary school is built in the Traditions subdivision, scheduled to open in the 2017-2018 school year. With the introduction of the new school, student enrollment at the elementary school will likely be in the range of 450-550 students and service children between pre-kindergarten to Grade 5.

1.1.1 CONSULTATION

The school administration provided insight into the general operations of the school through a phone interview and in-person meeting. Characteristics of the existing operations are illustrated in Figure 1.

Currently school busses drop off and pick up from the bay provided on the south side of 4th Street. Parents drop off and pick up their children from multiple locations: the parking lot on the north side of 4th Street; laneway on the west side of the school; or the drop-off zone provided on the south side of 4th Street, west of the bus bay.

The Warman Elementary School has school guards monitoring the following crosswalk locations:

ON AT THE INTERSECTION OF GUARDING CROSSWALK

Centennial Boulevard Fourth Street South side

Fourth Street Second Avenue North East side

Fourth Street West Lane Access South side

The crossing guards are scheduled to patrol for 30 minutes in the AM and PM. Crossing guards deploy portable stop signs in the two unmanned crosswalks across 4th Street, north of the school (Photo 3). They also deploy “sandwich-style” school area signs (Photo 2) at the guarded 4th Street crossings at Second Avenue North and Centennial Boulevard.


City of Warman


Figure 1: Existing Warman Elementary School Operations


City of Warman


The school administration shared the following concerns regarding the school operations:

Children walk-to-school routes (Centennial Boulevard)

o Busy street;

o Young children; and

o Truck traffic.

Children walk-to-school routes (4th Street on the west side of the school)

o 4th Street / Second Avenue intersection is busy; and

o Children / vehicular conflict at laneway entrance on the west side of the school.

Event parking

o Insufficient spaces; and

o Illegal parking in laneway on the east side of the school, blocking neighbours’ access to garages.

Parent drop-off / children crossing 4th Street

o Installed fencing on the north side of the street to prevent parents from dropping off children at any point along the street, opening in the fences are provided at the crosswalk locations; and

o Portable stop signs placed in the crosswalk; bylaw officer enforces compliance on a periodic basis.

1.1.2 OBSERVATIONS

Field observations were made during the morning peak hour of the school in October 2015. The school conditions and operations are documented in several photographs, included below:

Observing the operations provided additional insights, including:

Crossing guards were actively guarding for approximately 15 minutes;

Bus drop-off and pick-up works effectively, children unload onto sidewalk on school side and have access to the main school entrance (Photo 3);

Multiple parents drop their children off in the gravel lot to the east side of the angle parking lot (Photo 4), rather than pulling in to park. Children then walk along road edge or curb to access the crosswalks to cross 4th Street;

Many parents use the drop-off zone or laneway on the west side of the school; and

Drivers were observed and complied with portable stop signs.

As shown in Photo 1, parking is restricted on the south side of 4th Street. School zone is denoted by school area sign, reduced speed limit sign and relevant hours. Pedestrian crossing is also visible.


City of Warman


Photo 1: 4th

Street at Elementary School (facing west)

Crossing guard operations are shown in Photo 2 with the “sandwich” style sign board. The school zone is denoted by school area sign, reduced speed limit sign and relevant hours. It is posted on the east side of Second Avenue.

Photo 2: 4th

Street at 2nd

Avenue (facing west)


City of Warman


Photo 3 shows the non-standard crosswalk and signage used for pedestrian crossing of 4th Street at the elementary school. The fenced angle parking lot along the north side of 4th Street is also shown.

Photo 3: 4th

Street at Elementary School (facing east)

Parents often drop off their children in the gravel lot on the north side of 4th Street, east of the fenced angle parking lot, shown in Photo 4.

Photo 4: Gravel Lot On North Side of 4th

Street, East Of Fenced Angle Parking Lot


City of Warman


1.1.3 ANALYSIS

Many of the measures implemented in the vicinity of the Elementary School have been installed in an attempt to calm traffic through a corridor with vulnerable pedestrian users, such as:

School zones (reduced speed to 30 km/h) along walk-to-school routes;

Portable stop sign in pedestrian crossing; and

Chain link fencing to constrain pedestrian activity to the crossing locations.

The existing reduced speed zone extends beyond the school limits on both 4th Street and Centennial Boulevard. As discussed in the Transportation Policy and Legislative Framework (Dillon, December 2015), reduced speed zones are most effective where a school abuts a roadway. Applying these zones in areas where schools are not visible has the potential to increase non-compliant driver behaviour.

The Transportation Policy and Legislative Framework also states that improper / excessive use of regulatory and warning signs may result in complacency for signs in general. It is important that signage be well-chosen and properly located to assist drivers in the driving task. The portable stop sign, “sandwich” signs and “zebra striping” currently in use are non-standard (size, text, location, placement, etc.) and may require additional driver response time to interpret the message being conveyed. The portable stop sign is neither in an expected location nor of a standard size, and could give pedestrians a false sense of security when entering the crosswalk.

With multiple parents dropping off their children on the north side of 4th Street, children walk along the roadway due to a lack of sidewalk on the north side of 4th Street. This missing link of sidewalk also increases the number of children crossing 4th Street at the Second Avenue crossing location and then crossing the laneway entrance on the south side of 4th Street, west of the school.

1.1.4 RECOMMENDATIONS

As stated in the Transportation Policy and Legislative Framework, a school zone should only be implemented when the school abuts a road. A removal of the school zone along Centennial Boulevard is recommended and the length of the school zone along 4th Street should be reduced to the limits of the school property. This will meet with driver expectation and encourage compliance.

A sidewalk should be provided on the north side of 4th Street between Second Avenue and Centennial Boulevard to complete the pedestrian network and improve the safety of children being dropped off by their parents on the north side of the road.

As stated in the Transportation Policy and Legislative Framework, the Manual Uniform of Traffic Control Devices Canada (MUTCDC) is recommended for signage and pavement markings. To comply with the MUTCDC, the following revisions will be needed:

Zebra crosswalks across 4th Street should be widened to comply with standards;

Pedestrian crosswalk signs should be changed to School Crossing signs; and

Portable stop signs as used are not preferred and their use should be discouraged in favor of more typical/standard cross-walk signage.


City of Warman


The MUTCDC also states that school crosswalks should be installed only at locations where school or municipal authorities have agreed that a proposed school crosswalk will be supervised by either a police officer, school guard or school child safety patrol during locally-established time periods. As such, a crossing guard should be provided at both crosswalks crossing 4th Street in front of the school.

With the removal of the portable stop signs, it may become necessary to increase the visibility of the school zone to drivers. A rolling school speed zone sign (Photo 5), similar to those used by the schools in the City of Saskatoon, is recommended for 4th Street at both limits of the school’s property. The rolling school zone sign should be set out the entire school day.

Photo 5: Rolling School Zone Sign

The recommendations for the Warman Elementary School are summarized in Figure 2.


City of Warman


Figure 2: Recommended Warman Elementary School Operations


City of Warman


1.2 WARMAN MIDDLE SCHOOL

The Warman Middle School is currently servicing Grade 4 to Grade 7 students. The operations at the school will change once the new elementary school is built in the Traditions subdivision, scheduled to open in the 2017-2018 school year. The Warman Middle School will then service children between Grade 6 and Grade 8. School hours are from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm.

1.2.1 CONSULTATION

The school administration provided insight into the general operations of the school through a phone interview. Characteristics of the existing operations are illustrated in Figure 3.

School busses drop off and pick up from the Legends Centre parking lot on the southwest side of the intersection of Centennial Boulevard and Clubhouse Boulevard. Parents drop off and pick up their children from the Legends Centre parking lot or Gowan Road. Students are allowed to leave the school grounds during the lunch hour if they have signed permission from their parent.


Children walk-to-school routes (Centennial Boulevard)

o Busy street; and

o Intersection of Centennial Boulevard and Clubhouse Boulevard has high student demand.

1.2.2 OBSERVATIONS

Field observations were taken in October 2015. The school conditions and operations are documented in the photographs included below.


Students jaywalk across Centennial Boulevard at multiple locations between Clubhouse Boulevard and the pedestrian crossing at RJ Gidluck Park;

Bus drop-off and pick-up works effectively; and

Fencing on the north side of the school, along the south side of Clubhouse Boulevard is partially traversable.


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Figure 3: Existing Warman Middle School Operations


City of Warman


A formal pedestrian crossing opportunity is provided through an actuated pedestrian crosswalk at RJ Gidluck Park, as shown in Photo 6.

Photo 6: Centennial Road Southbound

Photo 7 shows the Warman Middle School entrance from the parking loop, as well as the school zone on Gowan Road which is denoted by school area sign, reduced speed limit sign and relevant hours.

Photo 7: View of Gowan Road Northbound


City of Warman


1.2.3 ANALYSIS

As stated in the Transportation Policy and Legislative Framework, a removal of the school zone along Clubhouse Boulevard and Centennial Boulevard is recommended. This will meet with driver expectation and encourage compliance. School Area signs should be provided in accordance with MUTCDC standards.

The pedestrian movements across Centennial Boulevard will be impeded once the development on the east side of the corridor is constructed. Students will then have to cross at the intersection with Clubhouse or the actuated pedestrian crossing.

The median along Centennial Boulevard provides a refuge to jaywalking pedestrians.

Accommodation of pedestrian crossing across Clubhouse Boulevard should be properly planned and constructed prior to the development of the Traditions subdivision.


To improve the compliance of student crossings at crosswalk locations, an education program should be undertaken to instruct students about proper pedestrian crossing behavior.

Fencing of the school grounds along Clubhouse Boulevard should be fully enclosed. Access to the school yard should be provided off of minor streets. If an access to the school yard is desirable along Clubhouse Boulevard; it should coincide with pedestrian crossing control locations.

Signalization of the Clubhouse/Centennial intersection will also provide a formal opportunity for pedestrians to cross Centennial.

1.3 WARMAN HIGH SCHOOL

The Warman High School is currently servicing Grade 8 to Grade 12 students. The school currently has 750 students enrolled. Approximately half of the students take the bus regularly (may be higher in the winter months). School hours are from 8:45 am to 3:00 pm. The school has an open campus so students can leave the campus over the lunch hour.

The operations at the school may change once the new elementary school is built in the Traditions subdivision, scheduled to open in the 2017-2018 school year. It is possible that the school will then service children between Grade 9 and Grade 12, dependent on the registration numbers at the Middle School.

The Warman High School is adjacent to the Great Plains College Warman’s Campus. The main doors for the High School face the parking lot (towards 6th Avenue). Secondary doors face Klassen Street.

1.3.1 CONSULTATION

The school administration provided insight into the general operations of the school through a phone interview. Characteristics of the existing operations are illustrated in Figure 4.


City of Warman


Busses load and unload students on school grounds. Approximately half of the school busses drop off and pick up from the school parking lot and the other half drop off and pick up from Klassen Street. Parents often drop off and pick up their children from the school parking lot. School staff tends to direct vehicles on-site until the busses have pulled out.


Student walk-to-school routes (Central Street)

o Busy street; and

o Central Street / 6th Avenue intersection is a main activity hub.

Busses accessing Central Street

o Difficulty making the northbound left turn due to traffic volumes.

Student drivers

o Inexperienced drivers may have difficulty judging gaps in traffic and vehicle speed on Central Avenue.

The school has provided some education to the students on proper behavior in crosswalks. The administration also requests additional Royal Canadian Mounted Police presence in the fall months to observe and enforce the new student drivers.

1.3.2 OBSERVATIONS

The school conditions and operations are documented in the photographs included below.


Students walk along the railway corridor, south of the school.

The school has added bus loading on Klassen Street to reduce the number of busses making the northbound left turn onto Central Street.


City of Warman


Figure 4: Existing Warman High School Operations


City of Warman


The bus loading areas are shown in Photo 8 for Klassen Street and Photo 9 for 7th Avenue; parking restrictions are denoted through curb painting and signage.

Photo 8: Klassen Street (facing east)

Photo 9: Warman High School Main Entrance


City of Warman


Photo 10 shows the 7th Avenue North intersection with Central Street.

Photo 10: 7th

Avenue North Access Out Of The School Parking Lot

1.3.3 ANALYSIS

As stated in the Transportation Policy and Legislative Framework, a removal of the school zone along Central Street and Klassen Street is recommended. School Area signs should be provided in accordance with MUTCDC standards. This will meet with driver expectation and encourage compliance.

Based on the pedestrian crossing warrant outlined in the Transportation Policy and Legislative Framework, the crossing of Central Street in the vicinity of the school is a candidate for a ground-mounted pedestrian crossing control (GM2: Crosswalk with overhead-mounted signs). The optimal location for this formalized crossing would be on the west leg of the intersection with 8th Avenue North.

Traffic signal control at 6th Avenue and Central Street would provide a formal opportunity for crossing Central Street. The current 4-way stop control is problematic because of the amount of activity in the area (vehicular, pedestrian, cyclist). Drivers, pedestrians and cyclists have difficulty judging who has the right-of-way. Traffic signals would also improve the gaps in traffic for vehicles accessing Central Street from 7th Avenue North.


A pedestrian crossing with overhead-mounted signs is recommended for the west leg of the intersection of 8th Avenue North and Central Street. The elements recommended for this crossing include:

Overhead-mounted signs on both sides of the road; and

Zebra Crosswalk markings.

Implementation should comply with the TAC Pedestrian Crossing Control Guide.


City of Warman


Examples of pedestrian crossings with overhead signage are shown in Photo 11 and Photo 12. Photo 11 shows night time illumination and Photo 12 includes push button activated beacon flashers.

Photo 11: Pedestrian Crossing, Burnaby, BC

Photo 12: Pedestrian Crossing, Winnipeg, MB

Traffic signals at the intersection of 6th Avenue and Central Street are recommended to provide formalized pedestrian crossings at the intersection. The traffic signals will increase the gaps in traffic, which should improve the ability of buses making the northbound left turn movement onto Central Street.

CITY OF WARMAN TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN

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