new school, same road

The Sir William Osler elementary school opened to students today. 640 of them.

No changes to the roadway environment as of yet.

No word on when, or for that matter even if, any changes to improve safety will occur.

Time to start digging...

Here's news from the daily:

A new chapter for students TheSpec.com - Local - A new chapter for students

Rob Faulkner, The Hamilton Spectator

Sir William Osler school offers escarpment views, latest technology

DUNDAS (Nov 13, 2007)

The location was debated for years. Labour spats delayed it for months. But today, Sir William Osler Elementary School will open for Dundas students.

The two-storey school on a steep site on Governor's Road was a buzz of activity yesterday, as staff unpacked boxes, families with jogger strollers took tours, and principal Maria Rowles played hostess in a long-awaited new home.

"We have 640 students. Not only did their moms and dad come, their grandparents came," said Rowles, estimating 1,000 visitors toured the school. The school is named for William Osler, a celebrated physician raised in Dundas.

Its opening was delayed by provincial labour disputes, which kept students in old schools to which they'd already bid farewell. It also created the challenge of moving a school during the year.

"It's a challenge because we're operating the same staff in two sites."

Osler is designed on a template, so it's similar to other new public schools Ray Lewis, Gatestone, Ancaster Meadow and new Lawfield elementary, which opens Monday on the Mountain.

Until now, kids planning to attend Lawfield were at Vern Ames (junior kindergarten to Grade 5) and Seneca (grades 6 to 8). Kids attending Osler were at Central Park (junior kindergarten to Grade 4) and Dundas District (grades 5 to 8), and Dundana students had been at either of the two feeders.

Parent Brian Peirce said his two kids would've liked to finish the school year at Central Park and Dundas District, rather than move to Osler mid-year. He adds the new school is "beautiful" on a site that had been a rolling, sparsely wooded area with soccer fields.

"It's been long, but it's here," said parent Eva Fisher, who thinks Osler's 9:10 a.m. start will create traffic chaos because it's too close to bell times at Highland secondary and St. Bernadette Catholic elementary, both on the same side of Governor's Road as Osler.

A parent survey narrowly chose the 9:10 a.m. start time at Osler. Rowles said parents were split: those with young kids worried an early start would be hard to accomplish, while parents of upper-year kids wanted an early start to leave time for after-school activities.

The school is a piece of work: extra-wide lockers to share; light streaming in from floor-to-ceiling windows; learning "pods" outside classrooms; a gym some colleges would dream of.

Richard Francki, senior manager of facilities, said the $10-million school lets the board close two others, so it saves on energy, transportation and staffing.

With room for 667 students, it doesn't yet have portables. New schools also avoid lead paint, asbestos, and hot summer days without air-conditioning, which make school less appealing.

And with stunning views of the Escarpment and rolling yards that made stormwater diversion crucial, it looks like tobogganing is a real possibly.

Dundas trustee Jessica Brennan said one argument in favour of using the proposed Veterans Park site was that it was flatter, so grading wouldn't add to the cost. Still, she said she was thrilled to finally open the doors.

Rowles, who is proud of the school's escarpment views, notes she has also been able to buy 21st century tools for the new building. It has nine SMART Boards and nine other screens that function like an interactive digital update on the classic chalkboard.

See a slide show presentation of the new Sir William Osler Elementary School.
For more go to thespec.com

From Councillor's Web Site

I found this on the ward councillor's web site:

"Governor's Road Concerns

Governor's Road from Main Street, westbound to Ogilvie Street:

1. Widen two bridges crossing Spencer Creek and intersection at Governors Road/Oglivie Street to accommodate one additional lane (use to be determined).
2. Add a 4 way, advanced left turn signal to the traffic lights at the Governors Road/Oglivie Street intersection.

Governor's Road from Ogilvie Street, westbound to Creighton Road:

1. Currently there are two westbound and one eastbound lanes on Governors Road...identify the middle lane as an additional eastbound lane during the morning rush hour and an additional westbound lane during the late afternoon/evening rush hour.
2. Investigate the possible need for traffic lights or a pedestrian-activated crosswalk at the Governors Road/Overfield Street intersection.


Governor's Road from Creighton Road, westbound to Pirie/Wainwright Drive:

1. Add an advanced left turn signal to the traffic lights at the Governors Road/Creighton Road intersection for eastbound/westbound traffic along Governors Road.
2. Widen Governors Road to accommodate an identified left turn/holding lane from Creighton Road to at least Davidson Boulevard.
3. Install traffic lights or a roundabout (includes a pedestrian-activated crossing signal) at Davidson Boulevard.
4. Install a pedestrian-activated crossing signal at the corner of Governors Road/Huntingwood Drive.
5. Post school crossing guards at the Huntingwood, Castlewood/Bridlewood and Davidson pedestrian crossings.
6. Extend the sidewalk on the north side of Governors Road from Davidson Boulevard to Pirie Drive.
7. Install a flashing “Speed Reduced to 40 kph” for the area bounded by the east/west boundaries of the three schools. This is programmed to be activated during morning and late afternoon/evening rush hours.
8. Continue to lobby for a crossing guard at the Governors Road/Bridlewood /Castlewood Drive intersection.

General:

1. Conduct a comprehensive traffic audit to identify contributing factors.
2. Enhance public transit frequency along Governors Road during rush hours on weekdays.
3. Review signal synchronization for eastbound/westbound traffic at Main Street, Oglivie Street and Creighton Road.
4. Perhaps the school boards could review their starting/finishing times to reduce pedestrian traffic during rush hour (maybe stagger the starting/finishing times amongst the three schools to lessen the focused impact time slot).
5. Perhaps the School Boards should rationalize their individual busing services and possibly consider merging into a single provider…this may actually reduce the number of buses on the road with a corresponding reduction in operating costs.. "

[end of quoted text]

OK, some nifty ideas, but the overall thrust is dealing with automotive traffic efficiency, and very little to address pedestrians and cyclists concerns.

While most of the above ideas are acceptable, there are a couple of big bad ideas that stand out - like number 2 under" Governor's Road from Creighton Road, westbound to Pirie/Wainwright Drive:" widening Governor's Road?! Perhaps middle turn lanes at school entrances, but the entire length of Governor's? This type of engineering would induce traffic speeds and make the crossing wider for pedestrians.

Besides, there is no mention of bicycle lanes, although the city's transportation master plan has Governor's Road marked for them along the entire stretch. There's not a lot of room for widening, so the extra traffic lane would likely be at the expense of cycling lanes. Rather than traffic calming by lane narrowing and providing a buffer between cars and pedestrians by providing space for cyclists, road widening just makes it more dangerous for every user.

While this is about a kilometer west of the area we have been dealing with, the bridge widenings at Ogilvie and Governors fail to mention the need for wider sidewalks, the current sidewalks are horribly narrow on Governors, and only on one side of Ogilvie.

And why aren't we talking about traffic calming here? Think boldly: eliminate one bridge (on Ogilvie, north of Governors) and open Spencer creek to view (currently encumbered with bridges and sewer pipes): it would certainly make the intersection more beautiful, not to mention safer (drivers have alternative options a half block away at Main.)

As far as increased transit, there is a need for transit on weekends (there is currently no weekend service, meaning the nearest bus stop on weekends is at least one kilometer away, more like three for others on this route.)

So clearly there is room for improvement on this list of suggestions. I don't know how or when the list got made, but there it is. I certainly wasn't consulted, as the councillor suggested in a previous newspaper column, nor to my knowledge was Transportation for Liveable Communities (TLC) approached, though they sent a letter on the topic to the councillor December 2006.

Roundabout

Watch a live cam of the Ancaster Traffic Circle (in the city of Hamilton) - a similar roundabout is proposed for Governors Road at Huntingwood, which would be an effective way to calm traffic.

I'm fairly certain that the city has budgeted some money to bring this into reality.

It's "new" so it will likely frighten people at first, but it is actually safer in terms of lower collision rates, etc. than other intersection types.

Lay of the land

A view of Governors Road at the start of the eastern section that this web site is concerned with. Looking west from Creighton (the signalized intersection in the photo, above) the three schools are on the left (or south) side of the street in this order (starting at the crest of the hill): St. Bernadettes Elementary, Highland Secondary, and the new school, now named Sir William Osler elementary.

Governors is a straight road in this section which does little to deter speeding, with pedestrian crossings aproximately one kilometer apart (here, at Creighton) and at the next signalized intersection at Castlewood (below, viewed facing the site of the new school):



Another view, this time looking east down Governors from Castlewood (photo taken from the crosswalk):



I include this photo (below) of an intersection in between the two signalized intersections to show the kind of engineering that is pro-car at the expense of pedestrians. The rounded corner makes it easy for high speed turns, whereas pedestrians have a wider span to cross (in the path of those fast cornering vehicles) - this kind of engineering should be altered to become more of a "corner" rather than an "off-ramp."



Check back for updates as we continue to monitor the situation.

LITTLE BIT, WEST

A little bit west of Dundas, in Westdale, there have been a few minor traffic calming elements installed. This is one of them, a little traffic island on Forsyth. This is the kind of thing (pretty much) we're looking for on Governor's. (Better if it were a raised median though). Well done Ward One! More from that ward later...

Paper Powers

It's not much information, but the following appeared in this week's Dundas Star News, in Councillor Russ Powers' monthly column:

Any users of Governor's Road are well aware of the sometime challenges of that route. This year, a detailed study of all aspects of this transportation link will be conducted. Your participation will be solicited and very much appreciated as the decisions reached will determine how things are improved.

Users of Governor's Road include cyclists, pedestrians, transit and drivers. The current city wide transportation master plan, and the city's Vision 2020 planning documents talk about supporting sustainable modes of transportation. How hard will it be to see that Governor's Road gets the "balanced" approach so desperately required to make it a safe road for all users?

Letter for Liveable Community

PO Box 19, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton ON L8S 1C0
tlchamilton.blogspot.com
g-tlc@mcmaster.ca
905-525-9140 ext. 26026

Monday, December 18, 2006

Dear Councillor Powers,

Transportation for Liveable Communities (TLC) is a working group of the Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG) McMaster. TLC works to achieve balanced sustainable transportation solutions in the city of Hamilton.

We are writing to draw attention to the traffic situation on Governor’s Road in Dundas.

With the new Dundas West elementary school under construction on Governors Road at Bridlewood, there will be three schools (including Highland Secondary School and St. Bernadette’s elementary school) on this short stretch of highway (less than 1km).

The statement of a problem can make all the difference when seeking solutions. TLC is concerned that a solution you offered on your web site during the recent election campaign begins with the assumption that “traffic flow” is the problem on Governor’s Road, and offers road widening as a solution.

TLC feels that this is the wrong assumption and a desperately wrong conclusion.

The problem, as we see it, is traffic flows all too well the majority of the time on Governor’s, and that the speed of that flow puts school children and other pedestrians, cyclists and drivers at risk.

As you are likely aware there is a direct correlation between traffic speed and pedestrian fatalities:

Fig. 1 U.K. Department of Transportation, 1987. Killing Speed and Saving Lives, London, UK DOT.

Generally the only time traffic slows down on Governors is during “rush” hours, when the presence of too many single occupancy vehicles all going in the same direction at the same time creates a situation that is, from a pedestrian and cycling point of view, actually safer in terms of collision impacts. We should be aiming for a 30km/h maximum speed limit in the school zone.

TLC would thus prefer to pose the question: “what measures can be employed to create a safe and healthy environment for children using active methods of getting to school (i.e. cycling, walking) and to engineer a safer roadside environment for area residents outside of school hours?”

The City of Hamilton’s Public Health department recognizes the need for safe routes to school:

“Concerns about health and pedestrian safety among our children and air quality issues are prompting us to rethink the way we choose to get around in our communities,” said Sue Connell, Public Health Nurse with the City of Hamilton. “Obesity and inactivity in young children are reaching unprecedented levels and are creating serious health problems in our children. Vehicle transportation contributes to air pollution and smog and our children are especially vulnerable to the impacts of poor air quality. Many of the school zones in the Hamilton area are unsafe because of traffic concerns because large numbers of children are being transported to and from school. By walking to school with their parents or caregivers, children have an excellent opportunity to learn and develop their pedestrian skills.”

SOURCE: http://www.myhamilton.ca/myhamilton/cityandgovernment/

newsandpublications/newsreleases/ 2005news/september/05-09-30.htm

Road widening would only allow for increased vehicle speeds and make crossings more dangerous than the current situation, and run counter to the goals of the Transportation Master Plan currently under consideration by the city, and the goals outlined in Vision 2020:

• To develop an integrated sustainable transportation system for people, goods and services which is environmentally friendly, affordable, efficient, convenient, safe and accessible.
• To encourage a shift in personal lifestyle and behaviour towards transportation choices that enhance personal health and fitness, save money, and have the lowest environmental cost.

It is imperative that we get the necessary improvements in place as opportunity presents itself. And it is important that proper engineering is applied to ensure safe outcomes.

When slowing or ‘calming’ traffic, the right design invites the right driver response. The guiding principle of traffic calming is to influence motorist speeds and behavior through good design whenever possible, rather than by traffic control measures such as traffic signals and STOP signs.

There are many design and engineering tools that can be used to slow down traffic and make it safer for children to walk and bicycle to school including;

• Narrow lanes
• Chokers and chicanes
• Speed humps
• Raised pedestrian crosswalks
• Neighborhood traffic circles
• Reduced corner radiiSpeed sensitive signals
  

Source: http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/guide/engineering/slowing_down_traffic.cfm

Proper consideration must be given to effective traffic calming design if we are to be supportive of active modes of transportation like walking and cycling. Lane narrowing, the addition of bicycle lanes, wider sidewalks, a traffic median, a pedestrian crossing are all potential treatments that could enhance the safety of the school zone.

Surely the concentration of schools on this dangerous roadway makes safety considerations a priority for the city to address in a timely fashion.

TLC is happy to assist by being part of a public process that effectively deals with the worthy goals of providing safe and active routes to school, and improved cycling and walking facilities for area residents.

TLC would appreciate your prompt response and an outline/timeline of the next steps you intend to take.

We look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

Randy Kay

For Transportation for Liveable Communities

1812 military road

One need not search long to find reference to August 8, 1812, "General Brock marched through the valley, and out the Governor’s Road with forty regulars and 260 militia men....After picking up sixty Indians at the Mohawk Village" they went on to capture Detroit a few days later, a key victory for the vastly outnumbered force. (Woodhouse, T. Roy. Dundas Historical Society, The History of the Town of Dundas, Part 1, p23)

"Following their defeat by the Americans at the Battle of Moraviantown near the Thames River, the British and allied warriors of 1813 under the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh (who died in this battle) travelled east to the Grand River by trail and onto Lake Ontario via the Dundas portage, ultimately camping at the ‘fine large sandy bay’ at Burlington Bay." (Henderson, Bob, Every Trail Has A Story, p84)

Distance Map

According to my mapquest data, (after finding the km button, rather than the miles) we can see that the stretch of road this blog is primarily concerned with is less than 1 kilometre in length. But an important .7km given the location of three schools (two primary and one secondary school) along this corridor.

PETITION

Hi - you can print off a legal size pdf version of the new Governor's Road Safety Petition by following the link. The text of the petition is copied below:

~

Whereas new elementary school construction on Governors Road will result in more children crossing or walking adjacent to Governors Road, and,

Whereas upon completion of the new school there will be two elementary schools and one high school on this short stretch of road, and,

Whereas children should have safe and active routes to school in order to gain emotional and physical benefits of a healthy lifestyle, and,

Whereas there is no pedestrian crossing point between Bridlewood and Creighton, and,

Whereas there is a direct relationship between vehicle speed and pedestrian fatality, and,

Whereas an engineered traffic calming solution is preferable and more effective than signs or flashing lights, and,

Whereas a city Transportation Master Plan study identifies Governors Road between Creighton and Bridlewood as a suitable location for bicycle lanes, and,

Whereas Governors Road is a historical roadway, being the first non aboriginal road constructed in Upper Canada,

We (the undersigned) request that the City of Hamilton take immediate steps to ensure safe driving, cycling and walking conditions on Governor’s Road, between Creighton and Bridlewood above and beyond posted crossing guards, flashing lights and signed school zone by,

• instituting physical traffic calming measures to effectively reduce the incidence of speeding vehicles i.e traffic medians, narrow lanes, roundabouts, as deemed appropriate to calm traffic
• initiate an Environmental Assessment process if required to make changes to the roadway in keeping with traffic calming goals
• install proper bicycle lane facilities and wide sidewalks to encourage active and safe routes to school
• create a pedestrian crossing at or near Governors and Huntingwood
• plant native vegetation on both sides of Governors Road where feasible to help create a comfortable pedestrian environment
• install an attractive gateway feature that pays homage to the historical significance of the road and alerts drivers to the school zone
  

The Hollingsworth Thread

Sorry to take so long to get back to you on this. The following is the most up to date information I could get for your questions:

1.We understand that as a condition of development approval, the School Board will be required to construct a westbound left turn lane on Governors Road for the access into the School site.

2. We understand that the City included the Class EA Study for the feasibility of constructing a roundabout at Governors and Davidson into the 2007 Work Plan.

3. The implementation of the bicycle lanes on Governors Road, as proposed in the City Wide Transportation Master Plan (TMP), will be considered in all future work. However, since the TMP has not been approved yet by Council, bike lanes cannot be installed as part of the current work.

Hopefully this answers your questions. If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to call or e-mail.

Brian Hollingworth
Associate Director
IBI Group
230 Richmond Street W, 5th Fl.
Toronto, Ontario, M5V 1V6
Tel: 416-596-1930 ext. 414
Fax: 416-596-0644

-----Original Message-----
From: randy opirg [mailto:randy@opirg.org]
Sent: November 2, 2006 4:02 PM
To: bholling@ibigroup.com
Subject: Re: Governors Road

I appreciate the note Brian - I was about to give up hope! The particular section of Governors Road I am referring to is essentially west from Creighton. The PIC/GRIDS maps showed a blue line which indicated bicycle improvements.

Thanks for your time on this,

Randy

----- Original Message -----

From: Brian Hollingworth

To: randy opirg

Sent: Thursday, November 02, 2006 2:48 PM

Subject: RE: Governors Road

Just to let you know we have not forgotten your question. I am trying to get more information on the current proposal you are referring to.

Thanks you for your inquiry.

Brian Hollingworth
Associate Director
IBI Group
230 Richmond Street W, 5th Fl.
Toronto, Ontario, M5V 1V6
Tel: 416-596-1930 ext. 414
Fax: 416-596-0644

-----Original Message-----
From: randy opirg [mailto:randy@opirg.org]
Sent: October 13, 2006 1:39 PM
To: bhollingworth@ibigroup.com; htanguay@hamilton.ca
Subject: Governors Road

Hello Hélène and Brian - I attended to PIC for the transportation plan and like the general direction it is going.

When it comes to specifics I have a question in relation to Governor's Road in Dundas - the material I saw showed that there was to be improvements to cycling - either bike lanes, paved shoulder or something. My question is: will these improvements be integrated with the very current work that is being proposed for this stretch of road: I am referring to the Dundas West School and the proposed roundabout (and other traffic calming measures).

This would seem to offer an opportunity to make changes that would enhance the safety of students using the schools, while advancing the TMP goals.

Your thoughts would be appreciated,

Randy Kay

249 Governor's Road,

Dundas ON

Contact Catch Up

I spoke with both Kathryn Starodub, Principal of Highland Secondary and Sherri Michell of the Highland Parents Association on Monday October 23, 2006 about Governor's Road.

Kathryn informed me that

• they had the HSR bus stop across the road from the school moved to the nearby signalized intersection at Bridlewood. Before the move, the location of the stop encouraged students to cross with no infrastructure.
• She thought flashing lights indicating school zone would be helpful.
• She indicated that a turning lane at Highland would help relieve traffic tie-ups
• she felt the timing of the stoplights at Bridlewood/Castlewood and Governors needed to increase the turning times for cars coming onto Governors.
• The student hit by a car on Governors is back at school and making a great recovery

Sherri emphasised education for drivers, including parents and residents, to remind them to slow down in the vicinity of the school. She questioned the utility of the roundabout, thinking it was too far from the school zone.

OUTSTANDING:

My October 6/06 e-mail and follow up e-mail October 20 still awaits replies from City Staff including: Ed Switenky eswitenk@hamilton.ca, Acting Manager, Traffic Engineering and Operations; Hart Solomon hsolomon@hamilton.ca; Ron Gallo rgallo@hamilton.ca, Supervisor of Signals and Systems, Public Works; and, Rodney Aitchison raitchis@hamilton.ca

Brian Hollingsworth e-mailed to say he was going to provide some info regarding the GRIDS plan for bicycle infrastructure on Governors west of Creighton.

coasting

Still waiting for return calls/e-mails from city staff.

I have some updates on converstations with folks from Highland Secondary School, which I will post soon, as well as some new photos of the roadway.

I think rather than try and make all the suggestions about what needs to happen, I will coast a bit (like these local cyclists on Governors) while waiting to hear from city staff about what they think will make things safer for kids on this stretch of road.

Shouldn't that be their job? (and why we need to make sure it happens?)

one minute map

The key stretch of road linking three schools is, according to mapquest, less than a one minute drive.
When we think in terms of slowing traffic through this school zone, we should keep in mind the trade off between speed and safety.
Slowing things a little can mean a lot for children and others crossing this road.

contact 3

Phone tag finally concluded today between St. Bernadette's principal and I: point form notes:

• large percentage "about 90%" of children are bussed to the school
• only a few students walk
• they use the crossing guard at Creighton/Governors
• it would be useful to have a pedestrian activated signal/crossing between Highland School and St. Bernadettes (there is a long stretch with no crossings between Bridlewood and Creighton)
• she hasn't spoken to the city about traffic - her concern "is in our driveway, not a lot of our kids go beyond the driveway.")

Other contact - I left another voice mail for the principal at Highland seeking info about their plans, and for a contact number for the Parent's Council.

Councillor Samson's office replied to my prompt for a response from city staff about my earlier questions, so I expect something in the near future.

front page

School safety, closures will top new councillor agenda: Samson
Craig Campbell, Dundas Star News (Oct 20, 2006)

Two key issues that will face Dundas' new city councillor after the Nov. 13 municipal election are safety on Governor's Road and the role of community councils.

....

This week, outgoing councillor Art Samson suggested to the Dundas Star News that dealing with Governor's Road traffic and safety, doing a better job getting public input on two upcoming school closures and the ongoing Dundas Driving Park master plan are three key issues that will affect the community over the next few years.

Mr. Samson said he has started the ball rolling for a review of crossing guards near a new school planned for Governor's Road, an environmental assessment for a possible roundabout at Davidson Boulevard or Pirie Drive and a study for a possible school speed zone. But if any of those things actually succeed, it will have to happen during the next councillor's term.

And all four candidates say they've heard about it from residents.

Peggy Chapman believes badly planned housing development around Governor's Road is to blame.

And Davidson Boulevard as the only way out of a large neighbourhood causes traffic problems.

"If we're going to build, let's grow smart. I'm big on smart development," Ms. Chapman said. "Maybe there could be another artery or road out of there." [um, roads are the problem, not the solution here]

Ms. Chapman said local residents aren't getting much help from city hall, but she thinks bad development in the area can still be stopped.

"Let's not make mistakes if we don't have to. Let's build it smart," she said.

Keith Sharp said a pedestrian-controlled stoplight has been suggested for a Governor's Road crossing, but he thinks that would just cause more problems.

"There's no easy solution," Mr. Sharp said. "The traffic specialists need to look at it." [yes, and talk to the community about it so we don't get left out of the decision-making process]

Russ Powers said while he was on city council prior to his federal stint, he submitted a plan for improvements to Governor's Road.

"It's my intention to continue to press for that," Mr. Powers said. [Are we supposed to know his plans? I just sent an e-mail to his campaign asking to see what he is proposing ]

Julia Kollek said she asked city staff about building a covered pedestrian bridge that would carry students across Governor's Road and into the new elementary school.

She was told that would cost about $300,000, but Ms. Kollek thinks a cost-benefit analysis - comparing the bridge to the cost to bus hundreds of students for years - should be done before discounting the idea. [human nature - people won't use it, they'll find the shortest most direct route - slow traffic first with some proper engineering moves]

Ms. Kollek also suggested shuttle buses could be used to carry students from specific drop-off points, eliminating some parent's cars from the busy thoroughfare. [how about improved transit routing and bus passes for students?]

....

Contact 2

Had a phone chat with Public School Trustee Jessica Brennan - she explained the process regarding transportation i.e.

• the board had to submit a transportation study to the city for approval - the city has that now. [I will try and get info about this]
• according to the board project manager for the Dundas West School, the person at the city they are working with is Ken D'Andre, Business Facilitator. After speaking with him today on the phone, it seems most of the planning is focused on the intersection of Governors and Bridlewood, and not likely to include traffic calming elsewhere on the road. More on that later. I've got a call in to Tanya McKenna to find out more. Ken also told me that city staff in the Urban Design Section would be the ones working on safe pedestrian routes, so that should be interesting to find out about)
• So far the board and the local councillor have agreed on flashing lights (see earlier post on concerns about effectiveness) for the school zone.
• As far as information about the new school, there is currently nothing on the web about it, they are behind schedule to have a web site due to turn-around in staff at the board.

Thanks Jessica for the prompt replies!

No truck is a (traffic) island?

An experiment? Traffic flow was slowed by the presence of this work vehicle parked on the centre line of Governors Road (just west of Creighton) for several hours - the physical presence of the truck (and the warning signage) forced vehicles to proceed carefully. This same result could be achieved with a traffic median/island at this location as part of traffic calming measures to create safer pedestrian/cycling environments east of the school zone.

All flash, no action?

Because of this:

National Survey Reveals Nearly Two-Thirds of Drivers Speed in School Zones, Suggesting Neglect of Child Pedestrians Community Wide
(October 4, 2000) — According to a national survey released today by the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, the majority of motor vehicles in school zones exceed the speed limit. The prevalence of speeding around schools, where safety measures exist, suggests that drivers are even more neglectful in residential areas.
(Source: USA Safe Kids)

We need to consider this:

When slowing or ‘calming’ traffic, the right design invites the right driver response. The guiding principle of traffic calming is to influence motorist speeds and behavior through good design whenever possible, rather than by traffic control measures such as traffic signals and STOP signs.

There are many design and engineering tools that can be used to slow down traffic and make it safer for children to walk and bicycle to school including:

Narrow lanes
Chokers and chicanes
Speed humps
Raised pedestrian crosswalks
Neighborhood traffic circles
Reduced corner radii
Speed sensitive signals

(Source: SRTS)

because of this:

Let's not be distracted by flashing lights as a full response to safety for people walking and cycling to school. A further consideration: safety should transcend school hours to create full time security for residents of the area.

Contact

Trying to get the lay of the land I've contacted representatives of several institutions who should/do have an interest in safety along Governor's Road.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13 I left messages for

• The prinicipal at St. Bernadettes
• Highland Secondary (looking for the Highland Parents Council)
• City Traffic's Ron Gallo (Director of signals)
• Jessica Brennan (Public School Trustee)
• Helene Tanguay and Brian Hollingsworth who are staff/consultants on the city's Transportation master plan.

RESPONSE:

• Jessica Brennan e-mailed back and left her phone number to discuss this issue (playing phone tag right now)
• The principal at St. Bernadettes called back Friday when I was out. I called Monday morning and left another message.

I actually began searching for information from the city on Governor's Road traffic issues back in February 2006. The lines of communication have not been easy to follow, and I'm still waiting for many questions to be answered by city staff, including the following questions from an October 6, 2006 e-mail:

• Who are the city staff working on design?
• Is there going to be an EA process?
• Is traffic calming being considered (beyond the flashing lights)?
• How is the public to be involved in the process?
• The GRIDS drawings for this area showed bicycle lanes or some such treatment - is this being done now for the new school?

CITY STAFF

Ed Switenky eswitenk@hamilton.ca

Acting Manager, Traffic Engineering and Operations
Hart Solomon hsolomon@hamilton.ca

Ron Gallo rgallo@hamilton.ca

Supervisor of Signals and Systems, Public Works

Rodney Aitchison raitchis@hamilton.ca

Stay tuned...L.S.