Why is it OK for parents picking up their children from school to double park and block the streets around Tracy?
North School on Kavanaugh Avenue, and Jacobson School, are extremely dangerous. At North School, there is the dog park, people trying to pass the people stopped in the middle of the street and kids trying to cross the street and not being able to see the crossing guards.
It is crazy! Someone is going to get hurt. How annoying it is for the rest of us just trying to get home or get down the street.
Isn’t there a better way?
Did Caltrans account for traffic from MH, etc? I understand, they need to go to school too. I suppose that's whey Kimball is out there on a county road. Anyway, I really think the school should put together a committee and address these issues.
Currently, I'm not aware that they have such a committee. So the issues would go exactly nowhere. In other words I'm not aware that these issues get reported to anyone. Even though there is existing state and federal legislation.
Thanx for the State links.
Did some research and found the City is totally out of the loop when it comes to schools. The local school district makes site selections and works directly with State agencies like Caltrans to review the environmental impacts of a proposed new school. That includes the impact on local traffic and pedestrian and vehicle flow to and from the school.
This seems wrong! Local oversight is lost in this process, and the result is the problem at Kimball and other Tracy schools.
And can someone get Jerri/Nanci on the conference call (Phoney Townhall) to debate these issues?
Well ya got my attention.
Like th way ya think, use th system they hide behind ta not do anythin except give themselves raises an lay off th workers that really keep th place runnin and turn it around ta use against em.
But without th support of a Congressman that we don't have really supportin th issue, we probably won't get to fer.
;)
;)
http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/LocalPrograms/saferoutes/saferoutes.htm
State and Federal Safe Routes to School Programs
There are two separate and distinct Safe Routes to School programs.
One is the State-legislated Program referred to as SR2S and the other is the Federal Program referred to as SRTS. While both programs are intended to achieve the same basic goal of increasing the number of children walking and bicycling to school by making it safer for them to do so, they differ in several respects.
Program Features State-Legislated Program - SR2S Federal Program - SRTS
Legislative Authority Streets & Highways Code Section 2330-2334 Section 1404 in SAFETEA-LU
Expires AB 57 extends program indefinitely SAFETEA-LU expires in September 30, 2009
Eligible Applicants Cities and counties State, local, and regional agencies experienced in meeting federal transportation requirements. Non-profit organizations, school districts, public health departments, and Native American Tribes must partner with a city, county, MPO, or RTPA to serve as the responsible agency for their project.
Eligible Projects Infrastructure projects Stand-alone infrastructure or non-infrastructure projects
Local Match 10% required None
Project Completion Deadline Within 4 state FYs after project funds are allocated Within 4 federal FYs after funds are obligated
Restriction on Infrastructure Projects Must be located in the vicinity of a school Infrastructure projects must be within 2 miles of a grade school or middle school
Targeted Beneficiaries Children in grades K-12 Children in grades K-8
Cycles Completed 8 cycles 2 cycles
Current Status Cycle 8 project list released on August 10, 2009 Cycle 2 projects list approved in October, 2008
Funding $48.5M worth of projects selected in Cycle 8 $46M was available in Cycle 2
How to get startedWhile every community is unique, the basic steps to consider prior to submitting an application for Safe Routes to School funds are:
Identify community stakeholders and form a multidisciplinary team of partners committed to working together in developing a community vision, developing project applications, and implementing those projects if selected for funding.
Inventory and identify safety needs/hazards around schools; get information and seek out resources; and propose alternatives that would correct those needs/hazards.
Prioritize alternatives and adopt the best alternative that proposes short-term and long-term safety solutions in the form of projects.
Develop a plan.
Submit an application to secure funding for project within that plan.
Helpful Safe Routes to School Program ResourcesFor any program or policy-related questions, contact Joyce Parks, the Safe Routes to School Coordinator at Caltrans Headquarters by calling: (916) 653-6920, or by e-mailing her at: joyce_parks@dot.ca.gov. The first point of contact on project implementation questions should be directed to the Caltrans Safe Routes to School District Coordinator in your region. If he/she is unable to be of assistance, contact the Caltrans District Local Assistance Engineer in your region.
For anyone looking for detailed information about the Safe Routes to School programs, or guidance regarding best practices, training resources, program requirements, etc. the websites listed below should be helpful.
Safe Routes to School National Partnership:
http://www.saferoutespartnership.org/
California Safe Routes to School:
www.dot.ca.gov/hq/LocalPrograms/saferoutes/saferoutes.htm
National Center for Safe Routes to School
www.saferoutesinfo.org
Federal Safe Routes to School Program
safety.fhwa.dot.gov/saferoutes/
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
www.nhtsa.gov
Safe Routes to School Guide
www.saferoutesinfo.org/guide
US Walk to School Information
www.walktoschool.org
International Walk to School Information
www.walktoschool.org
Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center
www.pedbikeinfo.org
California Walks
www.californiawalks.org
Local Assistance Procedures Manual & Local Assistance Program Guidelines
www.dot.ca.gov/hq/LocalPrograms/public.htm
California Highway Design Manual
www.dot.ca.gov/hq/oppd/hdm/hdmtoc.htm
California Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
www.dot.ca.gov/hq/traffops/signtech/mutcdsupp/pdf/camuted/CAMUTCD-SCHOOL.pdf
Here's that number.
For more information about Safe Routes to School, contact Cecile Murphy at (916) 552-9895 or by e-mail: Cecile.Murphy@cdph.ca.gov
http://www.cdph.ca.gov/HealthInfo/injviosaf/Pages/SafeRoutestoSchool.aspx
Safe Routes to School
Thirty years ago, more than 66 percent of all children walked to school. Walking or biking to school gives children a sense of freedom and responsibility, allows them to enjoy the fresh air, and provides opportunities to get to know their neighborhood while arriving at school alert, refreshed, and ready to start their day. Yet most American children are denied this experience; in fact, only 13 percent of American children walk or bike to school.
Recent research indicates that 20 to 25 percent of morning traffic is due to parents driving their children to school. As a result, traffic congestion has increased around schools, prompting even more parents to drive their children to school. The health consequences to our children and to the well being of the community are extensive.
A successful Safe Routes to School (SR2S) program integrates health, fitness, traffic relief, environmental awareness, and safety under one program. It is an opportunity to work closely with your school, your community, and your local government to create a healthy lifestyle for children and a safer, cleaner environment for everyone.
International Walk to School Day is October 2nd every year. To maximize Walk to School Day participation, a centralized headquarters facilitates coordination of events and provides materials and resources to schools and communities wishing to participate.
For more information about Safe Routes to School, contact Cecile Murphy at (916) 552-9895 or by e-mail: Cecile.Murphy@cdph.ca.gov
I've been here over 20 years and in that time schools like West High, George Kelly, Art Freiler, etc., etc. have been added and not one of the City's highly paid Planners figured out there might be a problem with traffic flow with limited parking on site, non-school traffic, buses, and on and on. I've seen buses sitting in a row of cars waiting to get to a bus loading zone and then not being able to get out because traffic is stopped in both directions by parents. It is outrageous that this happens at almost every school and the City still approves the plans submitted by the School District.
I really feel sorry for folks who by no fault of their own end up living around this daily nightmare. What will it take for a "reality check" from our well paid government bureaucrats to stop these situations from happening? As my "gray haired old grandmother said"......Prior Planning Prevents P_SS Poor Performance!!!!!
An West High, Tracy High, Williams Middle School, Poet Christian Middle School, Montecello an on an on an on.
Know ya mean well dear but it ain't limited ta th schools ya listed.
Guess th city an school districts are waitin ta scrape some kids off th pavement before they do anythin about it.
An this ain't nothin new, it's been goin on fer well over ten years now an gettin worse not better.
But lets put th blame where it really is shall we? Well over 90% of these problems are not caused by th kids but th stupid parents that don't seem ta understand they are trainin their kids ta do th same thing when they get behind th wheel.
So City Counsel an two School Boards, whatcha gonna do about this problem before someone gets killed?
Saw th piece the feller Hardesty wrote today an I'm a thinkin we need ta start cleanin up th government startin with you folk.
Might take us four years ta do it but considerin it's been more than ten with ya folks doin nothin about it then four years don't seem so long.