Safe Routes to School Strategy - Opportunities for the City of Covina
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HEALTHY COMMUNITIES ELEMENT | SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL STRATEGY – OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE CITY OF COVINA A Project Presented to the Faculty of California State Polytechnic University, Pomona In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Master Of Urban and Regional Planning By Brandy A. Turnbow 2019 SIGNATURE PAGE PROJECT: HEALTHY COMMUNITIES ELEMENTS | SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL STRATEGY - OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE CITY OF COVINA AUTHOR: Brandy A. Turnbow DATE SUBMITTED: Spring 2019 Department of Urban and Regional Planning Dr. Alvaro Huerta Project Committee Chair Professor of Urban and Regional Planning Lecturer Steven A. Preston, FAICP Project Committee Member Department of Urban and Regional Planning Brian K. Lee, AICP Director of Community Development Community Development Department, City of Covina - Client ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Big thank yous to both Brian Lee, AICP, Director of Community Development and Nancy Fong, Assistant Director of Community Development at the City of Covina, for taking interest in this project. To Branden Ip, Graphic Designer that created the layout to this report. To Dr. Alvaro Huerta and Steven A. Preston, FAICP for your thoughtful feedback and patience. And lastly, to my husband Carlos Alvarez for supporting me throughout the completion of my studies. Without you, this project would not exist. Thank you all for making this project rewarding and most importantly, fun! iii DISCLAIMER This report was prepared in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master in Urban and Regional Planning degree in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning at the California State Polytechnic University, Pomona. It was prepared at the direction of the Department and with the approval of the City of Covina, Community Development Division Director, Brian Lee, AICP as the client. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Department, the College of Environmental Design, California State Polytechnic University, Pomona as a whole, or the client. iv EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The City of Covina is working towards a healthier community to improve the quality of life for residents. The executive summary highlights the City, the project’s scope of work and how the City can achieve its goals and objectives. The City of Covina is a mature, suburban community located in the eastern portion of the San Gabriel Valley, approximately 23 miles east of downtown Los Angeles and just north of the San Bernardino Freeway (Interstate 10). With nearly a population of 49,000 residents1, Covina has retained its pleasant small-town flavor and has preserved and improved its vibrant, quaint downtown, centered on Citrus Avenue and Badillo Street, as the focus of the community. The nearby San Bernardino (Interstate I-10), Foothill (Interstate I-210), and Orange (California State Route SR-5) Freeways and the Metrolink commuter rail line link the City to other areas of metropolitan Los Angeles. Covina is a rising community within the San Gabriel Valley looking for ways to improve its General Plan through mobility and public safety strategies, to create an even healthier community atmosphere for residents. One way of contributing to a healthier community is implementing a healthy communities element to the City’s existing general plan. This report dives deeply into considering the development of a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program for schools within the City limits as a strategy for the healthy communities element. 1 “Covina, California.” Crime in Pine Bluff, Arkansas (AR): Murders, Rapes, Robberies, Assaults, Burglaries, Thefts, Auto Thefts, Arson, Law Enforcement Employees, Police Officers, Crime Map, Onboard Data, Jan. 2019, www.city- data.com/city/Covina-California.html. v There are two school districts within the City of Covina; Covina Valley Unified School District and Charter Oak Unified School District. This report may be seen as a preliminary study for a potential pilot program that can be implemented into the school systems as a foundation for future Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Programming. The project focuses on two high schools and one elementary school: Northview High School Charter Oak High School Badillo Elementary School Traffic data, pedestrian counts and walk audits of all three schools were conducted as the methodology for this report. Because there are no current safe routes to school (SRTS) programs within the City, the walk audits and pedestrian counts in this report are original data. This report will analyze how a safe routes to school (SRTS) programming strategy can be implemented towards a healthy communities element as an addition to the City’s general plan. Goals and objectives have been created to achieve the City’s wants: CURRENT GOALS GOAL #1 | PRELIMINARY STUDIES The researcher will gather and collect data to see where improvements can be made to benefit both the City and the students at the participating schools. o Objective 1 | Walk Audits Performing an initial walk audit and counts of bicyclist, pedestrians and vi private vehicle usage will allow the researcher to understand the built environment of each studied school. o Objective 2 | Traffic Data Collection Collecting traffic data of major intersections surrounding studied schools will allow the researcher to understand issues associated with vehicle usage and traffic flow. GOAL #2 | OUTLINE FOR REQUIREMENTS After the walk audits and analysis, the researcher will create an outline of items needed so the City may apply for a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) funding grant. o Objective 1 | Analyze Data After reviewing the walk audits and traffic collision data, the researcher will discuss the findings to show the significance of the current conditions and how this information can be used towards applying for a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program. o Objective 2 | Strategies for Safety Reviewing traffic data of major intersections around studied schools, will allow the researcher will be able to observe the key issues associated with traffic flow and recommend solutions to create a safer walking environment. FUTURE GOALS GOAL #3 | COLLABORATIVE PARENT & SCHOOL EDUCATION Education of safe routes to school (SRTS) topics such as laws of the road and bicyclist and pedestrian safety can be facilitated by the City in collaboration with school officials and parents to create an open dialogue to address concerns from all vii participant aspects. o Objective 1 | Public Involvement Allows parents and school officials the opportunity to learn and address concerns that will be considered throughout the decision making process. The goal is to create a network between the City, the school and parents where all parties can learn and be transparent with a safe routes to school (SRTS) program. o Objective 2 | Balance of Information & Education Providing the school and parents with balanced and impartial information of a safe routes to school (SRTS) program is critical. This continuous dialogue on defining a healthy community will allow parents to partner with the City in this process. GOAL #4 | RAISE AWARENESS / PROMOTE WELLNESS During Parent Teacher Association (PTA) meetings, the City will be able to give parents a delegated power to expand and sustain a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program. o Objective 1 | School District Involvement Having the school district on board with a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program is critical for the City and schools participating in the program because it creates awareness of the overall goal to become a healthier community. o Objective 2 | Pilot Programs Implement a pilot program that has a data analysis component and a proposed viii nine month program and an educational plan for the City, Schools and Parents. SIGNIFICANCE The significance of this client project is to show how a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program can be used as a strategy for the City’s healthy communities element. Implementation measures such as a senior center, Bicycle Master Plans (BMP) and further development of parks and medical facilities have been put in place and adding a program like this targets the youth of the community to become healthier and more actively involved. ix TABLE OF CONTENTS Signature Page .................................................................................................................................. ii Acknowledgements ......................................................................................................................... iii Disclaimer ………………………………………………………………………………….……..iv Executive Summary ................................................. ………………………………………………v List Of Tables ................................................................................................................................. xi List Of Figures ............................................................................................................................... xii Chapter 1 .......................................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter 2 .......................................................................................................................................... 7 Chapter 3 ........................................................................................................................................ 22 Chapter 4 ........................................................................................................................................ 29 Chapter 5 .......................................................................................................................................