Case Study No. 33

Safe School Route Mapping

Rochester, NYÂ

Prepared by Jeff Olson, R.A., Trailblazer. Information provided by Andy Wheatcraft, Rochester City School District.

Problem

The City of Rochester School District needed a systematic and cost effective method to confirm and upgrade maps of children’s walking routes to school each year as part of its pedestrian safety program for school children.

Background

Rochester, New York is the third largest city in the State. The City’s diverse urban public school district serves more than 35,000 students in addition to the over 5,000 students in private and parochial schools. Rochester has established a highly successful long-term partnership for improving pedestrian transportation safety for children. A School Traffic Safety Committee with representatives from the school district, law enforcement, transportation, and safety organizations, coordinates a multi-faceted safety program. Unlike many new “Safe Routes to Schools” programs, Rochester has been managing this program continuously since 1984, and its roots were established in the 1960s.

Solution

Sample School Safety Map. Provided by Rochester School Safety Committee.

Through cost-effective use of existing resources and planning, the routes that children walk to school are systematically confirmed and upgraded each year, providing the necessary infrastructure for a safe community. It is not the mapping technology that makes this a “Best Practice,” but the integrated process that has created long-term success.

In 1965, the City of Rochester Traffic Engineering Division, the Rochester Police Department, and the Rochester City School District developed a program to plan safe walking routes to schools, to identify appropriate locations for crossing guards and control signs, and to provide traffic safety education in school classrooms. The program was reorganized in 1984 and expanded the partnership to include the Rochester City School District, Monroe County Department of Transportation, Rochester Police Department, Automobile Club of Rochester/AAA, and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester. The program played an important role in planning and training for safe student pedestrian activities and continues to provide leadership in educational programming.

The School Traffic Safety Committee was established to perform traffic, facility, and educational functions supporting the safe passage of school students between their homes and schools. An analysis and study of children’s routes to school are performed in preparation for the monthly Committee meetings. The Committee is charged with the following tasks:

Safe Walking Route Maps

Safe walking routes for children have been mapped for each of the 49 elementary schools and five middle schools in the City. The maps are updated annually and distributed to the schools in the fall of each year along with a cover letter outlining safe walking habits, safe driving by parents, and encouraging parent participation in the review of safe routes with their children. The letters are provided in both English and Spanish. The maps include the locations of all traffic signals and crossing guards. Students mark their routes on hand-drawn maps, which the County translates into color-coded AutoCAD files.

Rochester develops its maps based on the actual “feeder pattern” of children walking to each school, not based on specified radii for the area surrounding each school. The feeder method reduces the number of locations that need to be reviewed each year, while the radius method would require all streets within a certain distance from the school to be evaluated. Recent improvements based on the Committee’s ongoing process include installation of approximately 8 new flashing beacon school zone warning signs each year, installation of strong yellow-green warning signs at school crossings, the annual placement of 160 school crossing guards, and creating high-visibility crosswalks at certain locations.

Educational Literature and Programs

The Rochester Automobile Club/AAA administers local programs at the schools and distributes safety literature to all elementary schools for their use. The delivery of this service supports the Walk Safely to School Program.

Crossing Guard Locations

The Committee analyzes and recommends crossing guards for the City of Rochester. Recommendations are forwarded to the Police Department who coordinates the placement of the guards. Locations are noted, and safe walking routes are adjusted to reflect changes in the crossing guard locations.

Street Sign and Improvement Recommendations

The Committee recommends traffic improvements affecting schools and safe walking routes. The Committee reviews street parking regulations, street construction projects, and other signals and signage. Changes are reflected on the safe walking route maps.

Results

After more than 15 years of effort, the City of Rochester has not had a student traffic fatality or serious injury among children who walk to school. This is impressive, because it is estimated that approximately 90% of elementary school children walk or take the bus to school in Rochester. Detailed mode share data is not available, but anecdotal evidence indicates the high mode share and safety record are a combination of neighborhood-based school locations and the Safe Routes to Schools program. Rochester’s Walk Safe to School Program was nominated by NYSDOT for the 1996 U.S. Secretary of Transportation Community Partnership Award, and receives continued recognition as a model program.

Contact

Andy Wheatcraft, Facilities Planner
Rochester City School District
131 West Broad Street
Rochester, New York 14614
Phone: (716) 262-8384
Fax: (716) 262-8394