Memo - School Zones Safety ReviewPublic Works Department
Memorandum
To: Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
Copy: Jim Genellie, City Manager
From: Steven J. Stadler, Public Works Director
Date: April 7, 2011
Subject: School Zones Safety Review
Staff has conducted a safety review of the conditions around two elementary schools -
this review included Alice Smith and St. John elementary schools. Specifically, we
reviewed the travel routes used by children, parking, traffic, traffic control and crosswalk
conditions. Staff also discussed school zone safety with representatives of both
schools. An overview of the evaluation results from each school follow.
Alice Smith Elementary
• Defined routes to school with abundant sidewalks
• School crossings are at all -way, stop -controlled intersections
• An excellent school crossing guard program
• A majority of drop-off traffic is off-street
• Bus drop-off area is off-street
• Children use the two crossing guard attended crosswalks along Minnetonka
Mills Road at 8th and 9th Avenues
• There is heavy on -street parking along both sides of Minnetonka Mills Rd within
the school zone
• No accident history
St. John's Elementary
• Routes to school are varied with no sidewalks leading to school property
• School crossings are at all -way, stop -controlled intersections
• Drop-off traffic is both on -street and off-street
• Bus drop-off area is on -street
• There is some on-street parking along the south side of Boyce St within school
zone — parking on the north side is drop-off related parking only
• Very little non -school related traffic in the school zone
• No accident history
Based upon the above information and discussions with the school representatives staff
is proposing to add school zone reduced speed limit signs as shown (outlined in heavy
black) on the attached plans. It is doubtful that the signs will actually decrease vehicle
speed through the areas but they will help inform motorists that they are entering a
school zone.
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