SAN ANTONIO-BEXAR COUNTY PEDESTRIAN SAFETY ACTION PLAN

Arlington Public Schools Abingdon Elementary School Site Evaluation

Preliminary Transportation Findings

Arlington County Public Facilities Review Committee (PFRC) November 19, 2014

INTRODUCTION

Key Questions:

How does the transportation system currently operate on and surrounding the Abingdon ES site?

What is the Transportation Demand Management (TDM)

potential for Abingdon ES?

How might the transportation system operate when the expansion is completed?

Multimodal Transportation Study

• Existing Conditions – Walking, bicycling, carpooling, transit use, bus use – Crash data – Parking supply and demand – Stakeholder input on key transportation issues and opportunities – Existing infrastructure (focus on pedestrian and bicycle access) – Traffic Study (current trip distribution and intersection level of

service)

Multimodal Transportation Study • Existing Conditions

– Walking, bicycling, carpooling, transit use, bus use – Crash data – Parking supply and demand – Stakeholder input on key transportation issues and opportunities – Existing infrastructure (focus on pedestrian and bicycle access) – Traffic Study (current trip distribution and intersection level of

service)

• Future Analysis – Future Traffic Study (scenarios for future trip distribution and

intersection/congestion impacts) – Projected parking needs – Infrastructure needs (focus on pedestrian and bicycle access) – Site design and access/circulation

Multimodal Transportation Study • Existing Conditions

– Walking, bicycling, carpooling, transit use, bus use – Crash data – Parking supply and demand – Stakeholder input on key transportation issues and opportunities – Existing infrastructure (focus on pedestrian and bicycle access) – Traffic Study (current trip distribution and intersection level of

service)

• Future Analysis – Future Traffic Study (scenarios for future trip distribution and

intersection/congestion impacts) – Projected parking needs – Infrastructure needs (focus on pedestrian and bicycle access) – Site design and access/circulation

} Sept – Dec

2014

Multimodal Transportation Study • Existing Conditions

– Walking, bicycling, carpooling, transit use, bus use – Crash data – Parking supply and demand – Stakeholder input on key transportation issues and opportunities – Existing infrastructure (focus on pedestrian and bicycle access) – Traffic Study (current trip distribution and intersection level of

service)

• Future Analysis – Future Traffic Study (scenarios for future trip distribution and

intersection/congestion impacts) – Projected parking needs – Infrastructure needs (focus on pedestrian and bicycle access) – Site design and access/circulation

} Sept – Dec

2014

} Jan – June 2015

>> Existing Infrastructure

HOW DOES THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM CURRENTLY OPERATE AT AND AROUND ABINGDON ES?

Key Themes: Public Input • Need to focus on improved walking and bicycling conditions • Concerns about vehicle speeds on S Abingdon Street • Concerns about congestion at S Abingdon Street and 29th Street • Difficult intersections

– S Abingdon Street and 29th Street / 30th Street – 28th Street and S Abingdon Street

• Limited parking; Existing parking spaces are too narrow – 8.5 ft. x 15 ft.

• Concerns crossing S Walter Reed Drive from Windgate Village • Lighting on trail in Fort Reynolds Park • Limited bicycle parking available • With expansion, provision of new parking and new entrances to school • Limited connectivity to S Fairlington

Route 7A 7C 7F 7Y

Stops on roads…

31st Street S, Abingdon Street

29th Street S

Walter Reed and

Arlington Mill

31st Street S, Abingdon Street

29th Street S

31st Street S, Abingdon Street

29th Street S

Hours, Monday to Friday

4:45 am to 11:22 pm

6:05 am to 8:47 am

5:34 am to 11:38 pm

5:09 am to 9:42 pm

Headways between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.

Every 8 minutes

Every 20 minutes

Every 50 minutes

Every 9 minutes

• 78 spaces in school lot

• 30 spaces in tennis court lot

• Over 650 spaces on streets surrounding Abingdon campus

>> Transportation System Use

HOW DOES THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM CURRENTLY OPERATE AT AND AROUND ABINGDON ES?

To School From School

Source: 2014 Parent Survey (202 respondents) and Student Travel Tally (275 respondents)

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Walk Bike School Bus FamilyVehicle

Carpool Transit Other

Student Travel Tally Parent Survey

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

Walk Bike School Bus FamilyVehicle

Carpool Transit Other

Student Travel Tally Parent Survey

Wal

k

Bik

e

Sch

ool B

us

Per

sona

l V

ehic

le

Car

pool

Tra

nsit

Oth

er

APS Neighborhood Schools (average) 24% 1% 45% 28% 1% 0% 0%

APS Neighborhood Schools (range)

7% -44%

0% - 5%

29% - 63%

18% - 38%

0% - 2%

0% - 1%

0% - 1%

Abingdon Elementary (neighborhood school) 23% 0% 52% 24% 1% 0% 0%

Source: 2014 Abingdon Parent Survey (202 respondents) and 2013 APS GO! Parent Survey of All APS Neighborhood Elementary Schools (except schools with fewer than 100 responses)

7%

91%

1% 1%

Walk

Drive alone in private car

Drive (APS vehicle)

Carpool

Source: 2014 Staff Survey, 99 respondents

Observation & Mode Counts Intersection Counts Speed/Class/Volume Counts

Abingdon Elementary School

Source: Manual Counts, Sept 2014

Source: Manual Counts, Sept 2014

Source: Intersection Counts, Sept 2014 and Field Observations, Nov 2014

Source: Manual Counts, Sept 2014

Source: Manual Counts, Sept 2014

Source: Field Observations, Nov 2014

• 29th Street S primarily consists of school-related traffic

• S Abingdon Street experiences typical commuter peaks

• During school arrival and dismissal, 29th Street S has similar volumes to S Abingdon Street

• During all other times, S Abingdon St has higher traffic volumes

• Traffic volumes on S Abingdon Street do not vary significantly between the data collection locations

S Abingdon Street Speed Data Overall Speed Limit: 25 MPH 85th Percentile Speed: 24 MPH During Arrival and Dismissal School Zone Speed Limit: 20 MPH 85th Percentile Speed: 26 MPH/22 MPH (AM/PM)

• Overall 85th percentile speeds do not significantly exceed the speed limit

• 85th percentile speeds during arrival exceed the school zone speed limit

• During arrival, motorists may experience slight delay:

– Traveling west 28th Rd at Abingdon Rd – Intersection of Abingdon Rd & 29th St – Traveling east on 30th St at Abingdon Rd – Intersection of Abingdon St & 31st St

• During dismissal, motorists experience less delay compared with arrival due to less commuter traffic and fewer trips associated with the school

• 78 spaces in school lot

• 30 spaces in tennis court lot

• Over 650 spaces on streets surrounding Abingdon campus

*Shows parking after arrival (~8:20AM) on a typical day

*Shows parking before dismissal (~1:50PM) on a typical day

*Shows parking during a school event: Back to School Night (~7:15PM)

• Three years of crash data • Crash data doesn’t capture

near misses or close calls • Eight total crashes • Four crashes involved one

moving vehicle and parked vehicles

• One crash involved car braking behind school bus

• No pedestrian or bicycle crashes

Source: Arlington County Department of Environmental Services (2011-2013)

WHAT IS THE POTENTIAL FOR TRANSPORTATION DEMAND MANAGEMENT (TDM) AT ABINGDON ES?

Opportunities • Neighborhood school site (compact walk zone) • Generally complete sidewalk network • Proximity to regional trails • Available transit service (bus, Capital Bikeshare) • Existing percentage of students walking • Engaged and enthusiastic staff (e.g. success of Safety Patrol) Challenges • Topography (hilly) • Existing staff travel modes • Intersection deficiencies

Source: 2014 Parent Survey

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%

Lack of bicycleBefore school activities

School is on the way to another destinationLack of adequate pedestrian and bicycle facilities at school

Heavy/bulky items to carryHills

Afterschool activitiesLack of adequate pedestrian and bicycle facilities

Other transportation options are more convenientWeather or climate

Lack of crossing guardsDarkness

Amount of traffic along routeSpeed of traffic along route

Concerns about bullying, violence, or crimeLack of adults to walk or bike with

Safety of intersections and crossingsDistance

Child's Age

Very Important Somewhat Important

27%

12%

18%

23%

20%

Less than 1/4 mile 1/4 mile up to 1/2 mile 1/2 mile up to 1 mile 1 mile up to 1 1/2 miles 1 1/2 miles or more

Source: 2014 Staff Survey

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

Concern about violence or crime

Difficult road crossings

Lack of sidewalks or pathways

Need car for travel during work

Lack of showers or lockers

Comfort

Hills

Convenience

Weather or climate

Heavy or bulky items to carry

Trip duration

Trip distance

Very Important Important

Source: 2014 Staff Survey

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

Don't know how to ride a bicycleConcern about violence or crime on route

Bikeshare stations too far awayDon't know safe route

Need car for travel during workLack of secure bicycle parking

Don't own a bicycle or bikeshare membershipLack of covered bicycle parking

Difficult crossingsComfort

Trip durationLack of comfortable places to bike

ConvenienceLack of showers or lockers

Trip distanceWeather or climate

Heavy or bulky items to carry

Very Important Somewhat Important

Source: 2014 Staff Survey

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90%

Need car for travel during work

Operating hours

Cost

Frequency

Comfort

Stops/stations too far away

Trip distance

Reliability

Trip duration

Convenience to APS work location

Heavy/bulky items to carry

Weather or climate

Convenience to other destinations (e.g., home, errands)

Very Important Somewhat Important

HOW WILL THE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM OPERATE WHEN THE EXPANSION IS COMPLETE?

• Site design components impact circulation, access and mode choice – School driveway locations – Location and design of pick up/drop off and bus loop – Degree of separation of travel modes – Parking

• Minimize and mitigate on-site conflicts between users

• Balancing parking demand with other site needs (e.g. green space)

• Address key facility gaps/issues for bike and pedestrian access

• Finalize existing traffic analysis • Conduct infrastructure assessment • Coordinate with design team on site layout • Finalize existing conditions report • Continue SRTS Team and community engagement • Assess future impacts of school expansion on transportation

network • Evaluate future parking demand