Title
PEDESTRIAN AND VEHICULAR TRAFFIC INTERACTION AT SCHOOL SITES
The Committee met with representatives of the Simcoe County District School Board (Janet Porter and Kayla Kalalain), representatives of the Simcoe Muskoka District School Board (Jennifer Sharpe, Kristin Pechkovsky and Glenn Clarke) and City staff to review opportunities to address pedestrian/vehicular traffic interaction and the associated safety and traffic concerns related to the lack of bus/kiss and ride locations on school board property for students being dropped off for school.
The following topics of concern were discussed:
· The different approaches to managing student pick up and drop offs at individual schools and whether the approach is at the discretion of the School Principal;
· Vehicular traffic at school zones overflowing onto streets while students are being dropped off or picked up at school;
· The School Boards' Policies for dropping off and picking up students;
· Educational awareness for parents dropping off and picking up students;
· Promoting walking to school;
· Partnership agreements with churches and/or the City parks to utilize parking lots surrounding school sites;
· The need for a better plan to address pedestrian and vehicular traffic conflicts at school sites;
· Educational awareness for school principals on the challenges and neighbourhood impacts with moving pick up/drop off zones into the streets; and
· The work being undertaken at the planning stage to address traffic when new school sites are developed.
Members of the Committee and Council members in attendance asked a number of questions of the School Board Representatives and of staff and received responses. (14-A-141) (File: T08)