2016 Oregon SRTS Conference

Walk Audit & School Action plan Training

Hannah Day-Kapell, Alta Planning + DesignLeeAnne Fergason, Bicycle Transportation Alliance

Liz Hormann, Tigard SRTSBrian Potwin, ODOT Commute Options

Today’s Agenda

How to host a walk auditHannah Day-Kapell, Alta

What is an Action Plan?LeeAnne Fergason, BTA

Action Plans in TigardLiz Hormann, Tigard SRTS

Oregon Action Plan ResourcesBrian Potwin, Commute

Options

A comprehensive program to make school communities safer by combining engineering tools and enforcement with education about safety and activities to enable and encourage students to walk and bicycle to school.

What is Safe Routes to School?

What is a Walk Audit?

A practical “on-the-ground” exercise to observe:

– Bike/ped circulation around the school– Safety issues– Motor vehicle interaction– Barriers– Opportunities

Focus Areas: Routes

How are students walking and biking to/from school?

Focus Areas: Circulation

How do families walking, biking, and driving interact on the school campus and in the neighborhood?

Focus Areas: Sidewalk Obstructions

Are sidewalks obstructed by vegetation, signs, poles, etc?

Focus Areas: Sidewalk Conditions

Are the sidewalks near the school even?

Focus Areas: Crossings

Do crosswalks have curb ramps? Are pavement markings fresh and visible?

Focus Areas: Signs

Are signs clear and visible? Are traffic warnings appropriately marked?

Products

Written summary & map of conditionsRecommendations:

– Infrastructure improvements– Marketing programs for

targeted audiences– Educational programs– Enforcement actions/programs

Action Plan 101!

Template Example

ODOT template available online

Template Highlights

School infoForming the school teamAssessing student travel

– Walk audits, student tally, survey parents

Summarize findingsIdentifying solutions, creating planSubmit the plan

Example: Linwood Elementary

• School team: Jessica, Ane, and Nicole from the PTA

• Gathered information through surveys and a walk audit with Mayor Gamba

• Presented on their findings at a City Council meeting

• No improvements yet, but city and county are seeking SRTS funding.

SRTS Action Plans – City of TigardLiz Hormann, SRTS Coordinator

Tigard SRTS Action Plan Process

MappingIdentify Barriers

Parent Survey Online tool Observation/ Walk Audit

Strategy Development Programmatic Engineering

Identify the barriers to walking and bikingCollect information via parent surveys. Developed an online survey and mapping tool:

Walk Audits/ Observations

• Walk Audits – walk routes in the surrounding area.

• Observations – observe on-site behavior during drop-off and pick-up.

• On-site surveys – talk to parents and kids on their walk to or from school.

Select Strategies for the Action Plan

Programmatic: Engineering:

Set Priorities and Implement!

Oregon Action Plan ResourcesBrian Potwin, ODOT Commute Options

Questions?

Hannah Day-Kapell, AltaLeeAnne Fergason, BTALiz Hormann, Tigard SRTSBrian Potwin, Commute Options