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Resolution No. 3089 .. ~ .1 RESOLUTION NO. 3089 2 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF VERNON"ADOPTING , ESTABLISHING, AND PROMULGATING WARRANTS TO BE USED AS GUIDE. LINES 3 FOR THE PURPOSE OF PROTECTING STUDENTS GOING TO AND FROM SCHOOL, AND FOR THE PLACEMENT OF TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES NEAR SCHOOLS. 4 5 THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF VERNON RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS: 6 WHEREAS, there has been passed by the California Legis- 7 lature, Assembly Bill 1907 dealing with school pedestrian safety, a and 9 WHEREA&i '. in the opinion of the Ci ty Council ,of the City 10 of Vernon, the problem of school pedestrian safety is jointly the " I 11 responsibilitY' ot papents, school organizations, law enforcement 12 agenqi.,elS, anq.. local government, as well as the responsibility of f'-";. 13 drivers and pedestrians, and 14. WHEREAS, in the opinion of the City Council of the City 15 of Vernon the active and physical participation of all who are. 16 morally and legally responsible for pedestrians' safety should 17 be involved in the proposed solutions of the problem of.providing 18 safe passage tor school pedestrians. 19 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: 20 SECTION 1: The following policies, attached hereto and 21 incorporated attl;lis point by reference for all purposes as if :22 set forth in full, relative to but not limited to the.following 23 subjects are adopted as the official policies of the €~ty of 24 Vernon relating to school pedestrian safety: 25 26, 27 28 29 30 31 1. Safety Advisory Commi t.tees. 2. Signs and markings. 3. Flashing yellow school signal. 4. School area traffic signal controls. 5. School safety patrol. 6. Ad~lt crossing guards. 7.Pe~estrianseparation structures. 8. Pedestrian walkways. 9. School area parking and loading controls. 10. Student transportation. SECTION 2: That the City Clerk of the City of Vernon 32 shall certify to the passage of this resolution, and thereupon 1. 1 .1 and thereafter the same shall be in full force and effect. 2 ADOPTED and APPROVED this 7th day of April, 1970. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 ;'19 20. " 21 . 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 51 32 A~ -.- .-~1e~er, T y Clerk . 2. 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 11 :3 3 ~ I, F. A. ZIEMER, City Clerk of the City of Vernon, do STATE OF CALIFORNIA ) ) ss. COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES ) 5 hereby certify ~hatthe foregoing resolution, being Resolu~ion 6 No. 3089 , was duly adopted by the City Council of the City of 7 Vernon, and approved by the-Mayor of said City, at a regular 8 meeting of the City Council held on April 7, 1970 ~ty Clerk 3. , .1 CALIFORNIA TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES CQMKITTEE 2 SCHOOL SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEES AND APPEALS COMMITTEES 3 POLICY 4 There is need to provide in each school district an 5 rganization by means of which the school district can be responsi- 6 involved in and by means of which requests for safety controls 7 action may be coordinated within and between t.he public and 8 public agenc.ies concerned with the safety of children on their 9 to and from;;school. This measure is a supplemental technique 10 not a traffic control device as defined in the cali.fornia 11 Code. 12 In order to provide a responsible organizational structur 13 policy of the City Council of the City of vernon to en- 14 Qurage the school district within the geographic limits<of its 15 'urisdiction to: (1) assign traffic safety responsibilities for 16 chool' children to a competent staff member and/or, (2) organize a 17 chool safety advisory committee to appropriately and adequately 18 erve the needs of each public and/or private school. Each staff 19 ember and/or safety advisory committee may serve the needs of the 20 21 When the advisory committee structure is used the com- ~2 should be composed of governmental and school district 23 uthorities who have the responsilility and authority to initiate 24 provide programs and projects. 25 Representatives from the city and/or county Superintenden School's office should be the official members. Advisors should 26 28 29 30 .31 " 32 27 'ncluderepresentatives of the local or area safety Council, ppropri.tEt\cityand/or county traffic engineers, police,Highway '...f ,. trolalid local, council, or district Parent Teacher Association epresentatives. Other advisors should be added as the need arises. 1. GENERAL .'.,",,, The duties of staff members and/or each cOmmittee ~ ,- ,\ 1. .1 2 3 4 ',' 5 6 , " 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 ~2 23 24 25 26- 27 28 29 30 32 32 ~ should be to guide and coordinate all activities connected with the school traffic safety program. These include the following: .a. Establish policies and procedures. ,'j b. Review and approve the various phases of the ,! school traffic safety program. c. Receive, review and hanc;lle complaints and requests. d. E~tabli,sh recommended priorities for proposed im:,rovement;projects. e. Promote good public relations. f. Take immediate action through appropriate responsi- ble agencies to correct emergency school traffic safety problems. g.. "The County Superintendent of Schools' office should coordinate w:tth all safety committees to establish uniform practices of school pedestrian safety throughout the County. 2. SCHOOL RESPONSIBILITY The school should develop a suggested "Safest Route to School" plan. The "Suggested Safest Route to School" is defined as a plan developed by the school and traffic salety officials responsible for school pedestrian safety. It consists of a simple map showing streets, the school, existing traffic controls and e~tablishedschool routes to be used by children enroute to and from school. a. The plan should be designed to provide a maximum of protection for the children. It should take advantage of existing traffic controls, and the children should be required to walk somewhat longer distances to avoid locations that may be a considered risk. b. School children should be instructed by the schools and parents on the suggested.use and purpose of the ttSafest Route to School'tplan. The "Safest Route to School tt plan need not be limi ted to. . strictly school use but should be encourages for all pedestrial travel. c. Frequent field checks should be made to determine whether the suggested ttSafestRoutes" are being properly used. Special-attention should be given to unsafe activities of schoolchildren, failure to use' the routes, need for speed limit enforcement, trimming of weeks, treesor,,pushes 2. .1 2 3 4 5 6 tha.t obscure Vl.Sl.on. Special arrangements should be made to keep pavement markings in good legible condition. Additionally, review and recommend improvements for the loading and unloading of students from buses and private vehicles, and parking problems should be made known to the school administration. d. Thettsafest route to school" plan should be reviewed by the school annually to determine the need for revision and updating. 7 Problems about pedestrian safety on the approaches to the 8 school raised by parents and others shall be referred to th.e local 9 principal for review and transmission to the appropriate staff 10 person or when appropriate to the school safety advisory committee 11 chairman. Public agencies who must be involved shall be contactE:)d 12 by the school administration or by the school district in tho~~ 13 cases where financial participation by the school district is 14 necessary in the solution. 15, 3. ROAD TRAFFIC AGENCY RESPONSIBILITY 16 During the development of the "safest route to schoolt 17 plan there will be circumstances which will require a route to 18 cross a major st;re~tor other traffic hazard. At these locations 19 the Road" Traf,;fic Agency will apply a miform procedureo,f st1.l(lyand 20 analy;sis so tl1at it,will be possible to make recommend~tions and 21 assign priorities~fbr the application of traffic cont~ol devices. ~2 The analysis of the need for some form of special protestion 23 school crossing depends upon the following two assumptions: 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 a. The maximum delay a child should be expected to accept should be no greater than thatwhie.lJ,,"wOlJ.ld be experienced if a traffic control signal; timed so as to provide an adequa,te crossing interval, were located at the crossing under study. b. Some form of device is essential when the number of adequate gaps in the traffic stream during thE) period the .children are using the crossw:a:J,kis, less than the number of minutes in that same " period of time. That is, gaps less frequent than one yer minute represent a situation that may require some form of warning' or control device or measure. Information developed from field studies and.measured against the various traffic control device warran.tswill"d.etermine 3. .1 the type of protective measure that will be physically installed 2 or established at the crossing. Generally, the policy for the 3 installation of these devices is as follows: 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 ~2 23 24 25 26 a. School pedestrian non-control measures 1., Type available Signs and markings Flashing Signals Pedestrian Walkways Variable SPeed Zones 2. The above devices will be installed at those school locations wherein the conditions of traffic, i. e., speed, volume, street width, and vehicle gap, having been reviewed by.an engineering survey, are found to: a. Produce frequent and adequate vehicle gaps such that pedestrians may safely cross the street without additional controls being present. b. The unobstructed sight distance to the crosswalk is more than that shown for speeds indicated: 25 mph 30 mph 35 mph 40 mph 170 feet. 200 feet 235 feet 275 feet b. School pedestrian traffic control measures and devic s (1) Types available: (2) Adult crossing guard Pedestrian grade separation School safety patrol Separated walkways stop intersection Traffic signal system Transportation The foregoing control measures and 4evices are to be considered when the conditions of traffic exceed those conditions listed under,warning devices (non-control measures). . 4. CITY OR COUNTY PEDESTRIAN SAFETY APPEALS CODITTEE 27 A special school pedestrian safety committee may be 28 organized as 'an appeals ,committee to review and recommend a COU2'lSe 29 of action for special school problems that canno't be resolved 30 through established procedures. This committee would be per- 51 manently constituted by the City Councilor Board of Supervisors 32 and sha.l.1:.:.meeton call .bf its chairman. This committee would. be 4. .1 2 t ,4' 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 ~2 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 51 32 separate and distinct from the school 'safety advisory committees. Its,:eunetion;will be to act as an "appeals committee" to review problems that cannot be solved through established proceduJ'esand to recommend>l!lct.1on:~lp the Ci tyCouncil or BOard of Supervisors. . " 'j " ) : .,.' f....,. , , / }.'" ~':, ':. '." ,if. . ..;, ",.., " ';, I , Membershfp 'shOtlId be. "compose<1 of a representative from: a. 91 ty o,r oGounty safety Advisory Committee b.' City; or County Superintendent's of Schools office c. Police Agency (Traffic) d. District or council PTA (appropriate parent group) ,e. C().pn~y'School Administrators As.sociation f. Traffic Engineering Agency g. Automobile Club h. Safety Council i. County Sheriff J. Others as necessary 5. .1 2 3 4 CALIFORNIA TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES COMMITTEE SIGNS AND MARKINGS POLICY .1. SIGNS - GENERAL 5 All traffic ,signs used at schools, school crossing,. 6 crossings used by school children shall be of perm.an~nt type and 7in confirmance with the design specifications of the Department of 8 Public Works, state of California, as published in the state of 9 California Division of Highways' Planning Manual, Part 8 - Traffic 10 Non uniform signs are prohibited and shall not be installed. 11 Portabl$'}SignS are not permitted within the roadway at any time. .} , /! 12 ; .\;7 Whenever a divided highway has a center median of '13 · stul,ficient width, signs should be located in the median as well ,14 ~s on. the right. Use sign in advance of all schQ()l~ w'here . the school or theschQol groundsa:re contig\lous to the highway,. except where pedestrians ,are excluded frolll.,thehighway. 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 :a2 23 24 25 26' 27 28 2'9 30 31 32 'f:, ,2";'1 ~7:"~ARD s lGN~ a,... School Sign - W33 (TO establish a legal school . zone) {I) Policy (2) Location Erect in advance of the school property, boundary, crosswalk, or nearest polatof access to. the school ground. b. School Xing Sign - W66 (1) Policy May be installed at crosswalks which ,are used predominantly by school children going to and from school. (2) Loca tion Erect in advance of the crosswalk. ';>0.: 6. .1 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 :Z2 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 51 32 .tt PAVEMENT MARKINGS ... GENERAL ';i':~" . a. CrC)sswalks Crosswalks shall be established only where n.e<:essaryto safely 'channelize pedestrians and shall consist.of two parallel l2-inch wide stripes completely across the roadway. Normally, these stripes should bea minimum of ten feet apart. Crosswalks should be marked at all intersections on established safe routes to school where there is material conflict between vehicles and crossing by kindergarten and elementary students or where students are permitted at mid-block locations; or where they could not otherwise recognize the proper place to croSs; (1) Crosswalks Near Schools The color of school crosswalks shall be yellow when contiguous to school grounds and1may be yellow if within 1400 feet of the. .1 school grounds, as provided by the cal1forniavehicle Code. I (2) oth,r Crosswalks Thelcolor of other marked pedestrian cro~' swalks shall be white. . Pedestrian cro swalks can be established near sch ols for student training purposes. (3) sChtol Crosswalks with safety Patrols Theistandard school pavement markings sha~l be established at..every location whe*e an official school patrol is in ope~ation and shall in.clude a limit line in ~dvance of the school crosswalk. I b. Limit Li,es I Limit liIiles shall be paintedwhi te a.nd shall be not b~ss than 12 inches wide. Certain jurisdic~ions may elect to use the same color as the cfosswalk. c. Legends i (1) ttSLOW SCHOOL XING" Legend The pavement marking legend "SLOW SCHOOL XING" is required in advance of all SCb()c:>l crosswalks, except in advance of a stop sign, yield sign, or traffic signal. The legend shall be in each approach laneo~ lanes, and the word "X1NGtt shall be at least 100 feet from the crosswalk. 7. .1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 :a2 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 51 32 (2) "SCHOOL" Legend Yellow school legend may be used to augment the' standard school sign. 8. .1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 51 32 CALIFORNIA TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES COMMITTEE FLASHING YELLOW SCHOOL SIGNAL POLICY FLASHING SIGNALS 1. GENERAL The use of yellow flashing signals will be limited to functions of advance warning and will not be used to control traffic at school crossings. They maybe installed only at locations where school signing and marking is warranted. The governing board of any school district shall initiate the request for a flashin~signal installation in accordanGe with Section 21367 of the california Vehicle Code. 2. WARRANTS The installation of a flashing I yellow signal may be I warranted as an advance warning device for a! school c:ro~sing under the following conditions: a. That.the school crossi.ng is located on the suggested safest route and there are at least 40 school-age pedestrians~uring .each of anY two hours at an uncontrolled intersection or mid-block 10ca.tion at least: 600 feet from the near'est controlled crossin~. (The definition of,'a,c.ontrolled crossing is one at which stop "I. .'" ,', ....' s,i-gns~>traffic signals or adult guardS are :ruA~tioning.) , b. The vehicular volume at the crossing exceeds 200 vehicles perbour for urban conditions or 140 vehicles per hour :i:nrp.ral area. duringtbe times children are going'tp and froJll school for anY'purpos.e. A flasingyetllow signal sha,ll operate only when a school crossing problem exists (going to and from school ur during sp~eia.l events),iand <such signal shall be coritrolled bya time clock or actuated by a pusb....buttc)I). or key. . In additiol1, at. least one of the following"'willalways be required: (1) The'critical approach speed of traffie exceeds 35.miles per ,hour. (2) Approach visibility ~f the crossing is permanently restrict~d to less than the required safe stopping sight distance for the prevailing speed of tx:affic. I 9. .1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 ~2 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 51 32 Critical Approacp. speed 30 mph 40 mph 50 mph Requ!redSafeStopping Sight. Distance . 200 ft. 275 ft. 350 ft. .1 CALIFOIlN',;J:A .TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES COMMITTEE ,,,. '" 2 SCHOOL AREA TRAFFIC SIGNAL CONTROLS 3 POLICY 4 TRAFFIC SIGNAL CONTROL- GENERAL 5 When correctly designed and ope:rated the traffic signal 6 is an effective device for alternately assigning the right of way 7 at an intersection. It can accomplish its purpose of promoting 8 the safe and orderly movement of traffic, both vehicular and 9 pedestrian. Contrary to common belief, however, signal control 10 does not automatically reduce delay and increase safety~ Their 11 indiscriminate application cannot be recommended since unjustified 12 ill-advised signal .controlS lead to intentional violation, in- 13 creased:hazard, unnecessary delay and diversion to less desirable 14 .alternate routes. 15 WARRANTS FOR SCHOOL AREA SIGNALS: 16 When it becomes necessary to extend or create adequate 17 gaps in the flow of traffic to permit pedestrian crossing oppor- 18 tunities and no other controlled crossing is available within 19 600 feet, signals shall be insta.lled when the following warrants 20 are met: 21 (a> Urban Conditions :a2 500 vehicles and 100 school-age pedestrians for each 23 of any two hours daily while children are crossing to or from 24 school; or 25 500 vehicles per hour for each of any two hours while 26 children are crossing to or from school, and a minimum total of 27 50.0 school-age pedestrians during the entire day. 28 (b) Rural Conditions (70% of Urban Warrants) 29 350 vehicle~ and 70 school-age pedestrians per hour 30 during each of any two 'hours daily while children ar.e going to 31 and from sc1l:,ooli"', 0:1:' , 32 350 vehicles per hour for each of any two hours while 11. .1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 chil.drenare crossing to or from school and a minimum total of 350 school-age" pedestrians during the entire day. When critical approach speed exceeds 40 mph or approach visibility is less than the required safe stopping sight di.stance for prevailing..critical sI,?eed, rural warrants should be applied. Additional.factors that must be considered when. traffic .f: . ",., signals aretil1;;ta).U:ld,~,at'school crossings: 1. A~'no't:i.me shall the traffic signal be dark. Pedestrian "walk ,- don't wa,lk" s.~,f!fnals shall be' ex- 2. . . hibited on all Crosswalks at traffic signals that are on the saf.est route to schooL. 3. Tra:ffic;.s:tgnals may be at mid-block locations when 13 justified by.unusua'-. circun16;ta.nces. 14 4. In the event an intersection is signalized under this 15 warrant for school pedestrians only, the entire intersection must 16 be signalized to accommodate vehicular movements. 17 5. Special exclusive pedestrian phases should be provided 18 when there is a material conflict of turning vehicles with 19 pedestriaBs. 20 6. Traffic signals placed under this warrant shall be 21 traffic actuated according to the design standards of the Uniform ~2 Manual on Traffic c.ontrol Devices. 23 24 25 26. 27 28 29 30 51 32 12. .1 2 3 4 CALIFORNIA TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES COMMITTEE SCHOOL SAFETY PATROL POLICY 1. SCHOOL SAFETY PATROL... GENERAL 5 The school safety patrol has a definitepla~e asa 6 method to aid school-age pedestrian in crossing streets near 7 schools. This.measure is a supplemental technique and not a 8 traffic control device as defined in the California Vehicle COde. 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 :a2 23 24 25 26 27 28 2'9 30 5.1 32 a. california AdJllinistrative COde, Title 5, Article 17. Sec. 155. ESTABLISHMENT. The governing board of any school district may, subject to these rules and regulations, establish and maintain a <school safety patrol in any of the schools of tbe district for the purpose ~f assisting pupils of such school in safely crossing streets and highways adjacent toior near suCh school. a. The school. safety patrol shall be composed of only pupils who are attending such school. b. The members of the school safety patrol shall beunp.er the supervision and control.of a quali~i.,e<:lemployee of the school district. ,.~,j!., ';",::," The;p.rincip~l of the scbool shall designate the m.embersoftbe safety patrol, but no pupil shall be designated to serve on any such patrol unless the pup;i.land the ,person having legal custody of such. pupil cons.ant in 'fir.! ting. . . d. Upon the revocation in writing of the consent of either such pupilior. the person having legal control of> such pupil, the pupil shall cease to be a Ulember>of the school safety patrol. e. No.. pupil in. aJ;1y gradeb~low the fifth shall be~ome .. mellb,er o;fam}i school safety patrol. f. The governing boards of schQol districts may request the cooperation of the chief of police in ..cities and the chief o.f the California Highway patrol in unincorporated territories in the establishment, supervision, and control of a school safety patrol. g. The governing board of a school district which authorizes the establishment of a school safety patrol may provide for adequate hospital and medical' attention to care for any injury or disability that may be suffered by any pupil 13. .1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 while performing any act within and arJ.sJ.ng out of his duties as a member of a sCllool safety patrOl." NO. pqpil ~hall be compelled to accept such services if his parent or guardian objects. Sec. 156. GENERA).:, DUTIES. The duties of each school safety patrol are: a. To assist the principal in instructing school children in safe practices in their use of the streets at all times. b. To assist children of the school to cross the streets safely at . specific time and place. c. To emploY devices an.d signing authorized by state law for control of pedestrians and warning of traffic. d. To operate within the law of the state as it assigns right of way 'to pedestrians. Sec. 157. WHERE SCHOOL SAFETY PATROLS MAY BE USED. a. SChool safety patrols may be used only at those locations where the nature of traffic will permit their safe operation. The locations where school safety patrols are used should be determined by joint agreement between the local school district and the local police agency. Sec. 161. INSIGNIA AND UNIFORMS. All insignia and uniforms purchased, donated, or lent for the use of school safety patrols on or after the effective date of this section must comply with the specifications the~efore pre- scribed by this subdivision. 2. WARRANTS ~2 A school safety patrol may be established at locations 23 where an existing traffic control device, police or adult crossing 24 is in operation or when there are vehicle gaps a.t an uncontrolled 25 crossing within the limits as defined below, and it is desirable 26 to use school safety patrols to guide the pedestrians. School 27 28 29 30 31 32 safety patrols will not be established at any location without the authorization of the governing board of the appropriate school district. The establishment of a school safety patrol operation at those lqeatiQns .tIi.t.cross maintained roads shall be warranted ! . .~'.,.' -,1., ; under the.follbwing conditions; J 14. 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 ~2 23 24 25 26. 27 29 30 31 32 .1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 a. Tha,tthe school crossing locations in question accommodates at least 20 school-age pedestrians per hour, for one hour each morning and one hour each afternoon, traveling to or from school; that the 85 percentile ,vehicular speed is less than 35 m,ilesperhour; and that there are no more than two traveled lanes in each direction. In addition, the crossing, bas at least one vehicle time g.ap equal to or exceeding the required pedestrian crossin.g t,iIll.e each minute during an average five... minute peri,od during the peak school. pedestrian hour (average period to be determined from six five-1\i:-nutesamples). .- ',' - " 3. SPECIAL. CONSIDERATIONS: , ." 9 Where warrants for flashing y(~ll(ilw) school signals are 10 met school safetypa-~;rol shall. not b~ope;r8'ted unless the flashing 11 signal is installed. 12 4. ACCEPTABLE GAPS DEFINED 1. Pedes~ri~n Crossing Time (T) T = Street width (curb to curb) 3.5 ,feet per second 2. Average Number' of Gaps Per 5-Minute Period ((1) G - Total usable gap time in seconds (per 30 min.) Pedestrian crossing time (T) x 6 periods The above criterion is based ona 30 minute field survey consisting of six 5-minute samples. The usable gap time is computed as follows: The gap is defined as the number of seconds it takes one or more children to observe the traffic situation while standing at a safe location on one side of a roadway and then to cross the roadway to a point of safety on the opposite side. The actual walking time (computed by dividing the crossing width by 3.5, the walking speed of the pedestrian in. feet per second) must number of rows of pedestrians, N. The safe gap can then be expressed as follows: G · W+ 3 + (N-l) 2 .'3'75' 15. .1 In the clearance time interval" the expression 2 (N-l) 2, 1 represents the first row of pedestrians and ,~. the time 3 interval between rows. ''4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 . ~2 23 24 25 26 27 28 2-9 30 31 32 16. .1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 CALIFORNIA TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES COMMITTEE ADULT CROSSING GOARDS POLICY 1. GENERAL a. It is the practice of many local jurisdictions through.~their local enforcement agency, to provide adult crossing guards at designated school crossings which meet certain qualifications during the hours when school children are required to cross the street. The recommended policy for the assignme:p.tof adult crossing guards as herein specified applies only to school crossings serving elementary school childr.en. This measure is a supplemental technique and not a traffic control device as defined in the California Vehicle Code. b. An adult crossing guard should be considered as an appropriate traffic co.ntrol measure at a school crossing.when: 1. Special problems exist wherebY it is deemed necessary to assist.. the children across a street, such as at an unusually complicated interse.ction or.t a controlled intersection where there are heavy vehicular turning movements and high vehicular speed. 2. A clja~einthe sChool crossing is imminent but pre'~ellt.Yconditionsirequire school crossing sJ.1pervision for a limited time and.it is. not f:easible to install another form of control for this temporary period. 3.. The ,warr~nts;t;()r..the installation of a traffic s~gnalare'not. mt't:. . WARRANTS FOR ASSIGNING ADULT CROSSING GUARDS ~2 Adult. crossin,g .... guar.ds~o-jmally are assigned where offi- 23 cial supervision of elementary school children is desirable<while 24 they cross a publici .street.O;rhighway, and at least 40 elementary 25 school age pedestrians per hour for each of two hours utilize 26- the crossing on the way to or from school. Adult crossing guard 27 protection shall be warranted under the following conditions: 28 WARRANTS: 2-9 30 31 32 A. UNCONTROLLED CROSSINGS ON THE SUGGESTED SAFEST ROUTE TO SCHOOL: 1. Where there is no controlled intersectionwith~n 600 feet of the location where a request for an adult crossinggoard is made. For the purpose of this warrant, a controlled inte.rsection is defined as: 17. .1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 ~2 23 24 25 26. 27 28 29 30 5.1 :52 <a) An intersection controlled by either 'traffic signals or stop signs on the street across whi.ch adult crossing guards will be used. (b) An .intersection where a pedestrian tunnel, bridge or other adequate protection exis~. 2. (a.) Under urban conditions where the vehicular traffic vQlume exceeds 350 during each of.. any .two hours dur.ing whicl1 40 or more school children normally cross while traveling to or from school. (b) Under. rural conditions where the vehicular traffic volume exceeds 300 during ." each of any two hours during,which30.or more,school children normally crosswh:iJ.etraveling to or from school. Whenever the critical approach speed exceeds 40 miles per hour, tbe warrants for rural conditions should be applied. B. STOP SIGN CONTROLLED CROSSINGS:' Where the vehicular traffic volume on undi~ided roadways of four or more lanes exceeds 500 per hour during any period when the children are normally going. to or from school. G.. SIGNAL-CONTROLLED . CROSSINGS: 1. Where the number of vehicular turning movements through the crosswalk where childr.enmust cross exceeds 300 per hour while children .are going to or from school. 2. Where there are extenuating circumstances not normally experienced at a signalized inter- section such as crosswalks more than 80 feet long with no median refuge area, or an ab- normally high percentage .of commercial vehicles with operating characteristics substantially different from those of the passenger vehicle. 18. .1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 CALIFORNIA TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES. COMMITTEE PEDESTRIAN SEPARATION STRUCTURES POLICY GENERAL: .f' . .....:., . , ,,' ,~-.., Tke..relatt.ve permanence and capital expense of a pedestrian separati.on structure effectively limits its application to se,lected locations' of special pedestrian hazard where the benefits to be derived from the structure clearly balance the costs in- 9 volved. This measure isa'supplemental technique and not a 10 traffic control device as defined 'by .tbe California Vehicle Code. 11 WARRANTS: 12 1. The general conditions that require a pedestrian crossing 13 must be sufficiently permanent to justify the separation structure 14 and 15 2. The locati.on must be on the suggested safest route t.o 16 school at an uncontrolled intersection or a midblockloCation 17 along a Freeway, Expressway, or major arterial street where the 18 width, traffic speed and volume make it undesirable for p.,des- 19 trians to crossjand 20 3. Replanning of the school routes or attendance boundaries 21 to eliminate the need for a crossing is not feasible; and ~2 4. Physical conditions make a separation structure feasible 23 from an engineering standpoint, including pedestrian channeliza- 24 tion to insure usage of the structurej and 25 5. Adjacent. crossings are at least 600 feet from the pro- 26 posed structure and would add a total walking distance of at least 27 1200 feet; and 28 6. Traffic signals, adult crossing gu.rds or other devices 2-9 are not practicable. 30 31 32 19. .1 CALIFORNIA TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES COMMITTEE 2 PEDESTRIAN WALKWAYS 3 POLICY 4 GENERAL 5 Pedestrian safety problems are not limited to crossing 6 locations, since significant hazards also prevail where physical 7 conditions require children to walk in or adjacent to the roadway 8 in rural or ,suburban areas where the speed and volume of traffic, 9 sight distance and roadway width leave little margin for human 10 error. 11 Construction of a pedestrian walkway at least four and. 12 half feet wide and physically separated by berm, rail, fence, 13 etc. from the ,vehicular roadway may be justified when the follow- 14 ing conditions are fulfilled: 15 WARRANTS 16 17 18 19 20 21 1) The roadw,jilY lies on the suggested safest route to school. 2) Rt)'ad' Sh9ulders outside the travelled way acre less than a feet wide. '",.".;..Ij' More th~n.20school children use the route while walking to and from school and vehicular traffic e;xce.ed 100 cars per hour. <3) 4) The school <iiEkt:i:Icthasofficially requested pedestrian walkway 'impJ.'ovements. ~2 Where the peqestI'fans walk on 1;he ,.shoulder of the roadway, 23 a<iequateshoulders >(sixfeet or more in width) must be available 24 alongboth$ides so that pedestrians may always walk facing 25 onooming traffic. Where a separate walkway is ,provided, 26 facilities may be limited to one side of the roadway. 27 This measure is a supplemental technique and not a traffic 28 control device as defined in the California Vehicle Code. 29 30 3.1 32 20. .1 CALIFORNIA TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES COMMITTEE 2 SCHOOL AREA PARKING AND LOADING CONTROLS 3 POLICY 4 GENERAL 5 The school site shall have appropriate traffic signs and 6 burb zone markings installed so as to provide adequate control 7 for vehicle parking aI1d loading. Requests for traffic investiga- 8 tion.or for change in traffic control shall be referred directly 9 to the deSignated school sta.ff. 10 The school site shall be provided with the following types 11 of signs and curb zone markings as needed. 12 WARRANTS 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 ~2 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 3.1 32 1. Time Limit Parking Signs - of two hours or ,less on School days. 2. Prohibited Parking signs - effecti.ve on school days. Policy - Prohibition of parking along school frontage or school approaches may. be recommended to assure unrestricted sight distancefQr pedestrian walkways, gates, unfenced school grounds and school entrances; to provide space for passenger loading and freight loading; and to provide an unrestricted walkway on a school approach. A . "NoStoppingtt , or "No Parkingtt ,or "NO Stopping - J3Uses Excepted", 7 a.m. .. 5 p.m. B. Temporary Parking Prohibitions' Temporary Parking Restrictions Policy - Temporary parking restructions at schools may 'be.recommended in accordance with general policies and, in addition, may be recommended to provide for the movement of .traffic during a school event gen~ra.ting an unusually' heavy traffic volume where serious delay, congestion, and accident hazard woul:d: resul t if parking were permitted; provided that the temporary restriction is recom- menqed'by the school official designated and by the 'Police> or Traffic Department. ; , 3. Stl!eet Closuref? .Iir Policy - Streets which cross ,or divide school grounds maybe closed to through traffic when necessary for the protection of personS a tte.nding the school. Closure may be recoInlJlended when reqpested by school authorities. (VC 21102) 21. .1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 ~2 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 Posting - When closure is authorized, the closure will be affected by the school upon authorization. The local traffic authority shlilll furnish signs "STREET CLOSED, 7:.30 AM. to 4:30 PM,SCHOOLDAysn to the school for mount<-i,ng upon portable barricades. Barricades shall iDe'.furnished by the school district. 4.. i, . Cu:fb Zone Markings Whenever .localauthoriti:esf e-nact local parking regu.la- tions and indic,ate them by the use of paint upon curbs, the. following colors only shall be used, and the colors indicate as follows: A. GJ:'eenCUI.'bZones TimeliDI.~t par:ltillg spec~fied by local ordinance._ Regulltiol1S Lndicated a$ above provided .sh~ll be effective upon such days and during such hours or times as may be prescribed by local ordinances. B. yellow Curb Zones for loading vehicles. C. Red Curb Zones No stopping, standing, or parking whether the vehicle isa ttended or unattended, except tha t,a busma y stop in a red zone marked or, sign-posted as a bus loading zone. 22. .1 CALIFORNIA TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES COMMITTEE 2 STUDENT TRANSPORTATION 3 POLICY 4 GENERAL 5 There a.re circumstances where temporary or permanent 6 conditions made it advisable to provide pupil transportation 7 rather than allow children to walk along the,side of roads which 8 are on the suggested nSafestRoute to Schooltt designated by the, 9 School or the Safety Advisory Committee. 10 When such circumstances occur along the suggested "Safest 11 Route.toschoolu, it is recommended that pupil transporation be 12 considered on the basis of hazard regardless of the school 13 district nmileage.l~mitsttpolicy for providing pupil transporta- 14 tion. This,mea~re is a supplemental technique and not a traffic 15 control dev1.ce as,defi..,ned in "the >California Vehicle Code. 16 WARRANTS 17 18 19 20 21 ~2 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 3.1 32 a. Limited walking sp,ace combined with traffic volume (defined) .. TOtal traffic volume of at least 120 vehicles per hour during the hours while the children are enroute to or from school., and One or more of the following exists: 1. Roadway is not separated from walkway by curbs, berms, fences, guard rails, or dikes and walkway width off automobile travelled 'Way is less than 6'wide on one side. 2. Roadway.is separated from walkWay by curbs,berms, feno.es, guard rail, or dikes but total walkWay Widthoutside.of barrier is less than 3-1/2' wide on at-least one side of an undivided highway or on both sides of a divided highway. b. ObstructedWalkWays Walkways adjacent to roads where tra.ffic . volumes are 120 vehicles per hour during the hours while children areenroute to or from school and the walkways are continuously obstructed for 75' ..ormore or if the obstruction is less than 75' in length there ,are more than 120 vehicles per hour travelling on the near side of the road centerline. 23. ". , , .. .1 c. Winding mountainous roads with short driving sight distance 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 WJ;1en.th~ ori.vfrig sight distance on the suggested ttsafest~routett road is less than five seconds (critical ,sp~ed) at more than three locations and traffic exceeds 60dehicles per hour (both directions) during the hours c'hildren are going to or from school and the roadway is less than 30. wide. . d. Impaired sight distance The traffic volume.exceeds One hundred eighty (180) vehic- les per hour through the crosswalk at an uncontrolled intersection during the hours children are enroute to or from schoplwh~re,the safe driving sight distance is impaired and -theerossing exceeds forty (40) feet in width 10 e. Prolonged Obstructions 11 12 13 14. 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 ~2 When due to construction or'damage the safest route to school is made unusable or impassible and the road agency has notified the school that the condition will exist for longer than one week. Conditions of roadside hazard and terrain f. Slii.deare.as or where walkway is adjacent to and below a steep slope, provided the hazard consists of rocks or other sOlid debris which may be expected to become dislodged due to steepness of the grade. g. Uncontrolled Intersections with inadequate gaps When traffic volume through an uncontroll.ed intersection is such that there are inadequate space gaps in traffic for safe pedestrian crossingbysecond~ry school students and in the case of elementary school pupils when the assignment of a crossing guard is consideredunsa.fe by the traffic enforcem.~ntagency. This section may be applied only when alternate routes are also unsafe or when alternate routes would' require students to walk more than 1200 feet further to reach school. 23 h. Discontinuance of special transportation 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 In the event that transporation has been provided .because a warrant existed and the condition is improved so the warrant no longer remains, then the tZ"ansporation is no longer warranted and should pe discontinued after first giving students and parents two weeks notice of such discontinuance. 24.