Lawton Metropolitan Planning Organization Elementary School Accessibility/Walkability Report

City of Lawton Planning Division FY 2011

This report was prepared by the Lawton Metropolitan Planning Organization (LMPO) and was financed through United States Department of Transportation funds (Federal Highway Administration Planning (PL) and Federal Transit Administration (Section 5303)) and in part through local matching funds provided by the City of Lawton and Lawton Metropolitan Planning Organization. The contents of this document are the responsibility of the LMPO. The United States Government and its agencies assume no liability for the content of this document or for the use of those contents.

Accessibility/Walkability Report

The Lawton Metropolitan Planning Organization Elementary School Accessibility/Walkability Report was successfully completed thanks to the continued involvement and support of many committees and people.

LMPO Members Pat Henry David Denham John Jones Keegan Ledford Jim Nisbett John A. Pereira Charlotte Perkins Harold Robinson Neil Springborn

Transportation Technical Committee Members Isaac Akem Division Administrator, FHWA Debra Burch Executive Director, Lawton Chamber of Commerce and Industry Randy Butler Director of Public Works, Fort Sill Eduardo Elder Roadway Design Engineer, ODOT Jerry Ihler Director of Public Works & Engineering, City of Lawton Kenneth LaRue Transit Program Manager, ODOT Barbara McNally General Manager, Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport Sagar Medisetty Traffic Engineer, City of Lawton Craig Moody Planning, ODOT Robert Patrick Region VI Administrator, FTA Richard Rogalski Director of Planning, City of Lawton Bob Rose Division VII Engineer, ODOT Steve Sherrer General Manager, Lawton Area Transit System Blaine Smith Executive Director, Association of South Central Oklahoma Governments

Accessibility/Walkability Report

Transportation Policy Committee Members Fred L. Fitch Mayor, City of Lawton Isaac Akem Division Administrator, FHWA Randy Bass State Senator John Bowman Planning Engineer, ODOT Debra Burch Lawton Executive Director, Lawton Chamber of Commerce and Industry Brad Burgess Transportation Commissioner, Division VI ODOT Randy Butler Director of Public Works, Fort Sill Ann Coody State Representative Stanley Haywood City Council, City of Lawton Pat Henry Chairman, LMPO Barbara McNally General Manager, Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport David Means Lawton Metropolitan Area Planning Commission Larry Mitchell City Manager, City of Lawton Robert Patrick Region VI Administrator, FTA Steve Powell Friends of the Trail Bob Rose Division VII Engineer, ODOT Gail Turner County Commission, Comanche County

Other Agencies Flower Mound Public School Lawton Public Schools

Staff Chris Widmer Transportation Planner Debbie Dollarhite Senior Planner Richard Rogalski Director of Planning Russel Taylor Transportation Planner

Accessibility/Walkability Report

Table of Contents Introduction Background ...... 1 Purpose and Goals ...... 2 Table 1 ‐ List of Schools Participating in the Report ...... 2 Table 2 ‐ Citied Barriers to Active Transportation ...... 2 Variables ...... 3 Figure 1 ‐ Elementary School Coverage Map by School Population ...... 4

Elementary School Surveys Adams Elementary ...... 6 Maps Figure 2 ‐ Infrastructure Surrounding School Building ...... 6 Figure 3 ‐ Transportation Resources ...... 7 Figure 4 ‐ Buffers ...... 8 Figure 5 ‐ Aerial Image ...... 9 Almor West Elementary ...... 12 Maps Figure 6 ‐ Infrastructure Surrounding School Building ...... 12 Figure 7 ‐ Transportation Resources ...... 13 Figure 8 ‐ Buffers ...... 14 Figure 9 ‐ Aerial Image ...... 15 Beginnings Academy ...... 18 Maps Figure 10 ‐ Infrastructure Surrounding School Building ...... 18 Figure 11 ‐ Transportation Resources ...... 19 Figure 12 ‐ Aerial Image ...... 20 Brockland Elementary ...... 23 Maps Figure 13 ‐ Infrastructure Surrounding School Building ...... 23 Figure 14 ‐ Transportation Resources ...... 24 Figure 15 ‐ Buffers ...... 25 Figure 16 ‐ Aerial Image ...... 26 Carriage Hills Elementary ...... 29 Maps Figure 17 ‐ Infrastructure Surrounding School Building ...... 29 Figure 18 ‐ Transportation Resources ...... 30 Figure 19 ‐ Buffers ...... 31 Figure 20 ‐ Aerial Image ...... 32

Accessibility/Walkability Report

Cleveland Elementary ...... 35 Maps Figure 21 ‐ Infrastructure Surrounding School Building ...... 35 Figure 22 ‐ Transportation Resources ...... 36 Figure 23 ‐ Buffers ...... 37 Figure 24 ‐ Aerial Image ...... 39 Country Club Heights Elementary ...... 42 Maps Figure 25 ‐ Infrastructure Surrounding School Building ...... 42 Figure 26 ‐ Transportation Resources ...... 43 Figure 27 ‐ Buffers ...... 44 Figure 28 ‐ Aerial Image ...... 45 Crosby Park Elementary ...... 48 Maps Figure 29 ‐ Infrastructure Surrounding School Building ...... 48 Figure 30 ‐ Transportation Resources ...... 49 Figure 31 ‐ Buffers ...... 50 Figure 32 ‐ Aerial Image ...... 51 Douglass Learning Center ...... 54 Maps Figure 33 ‐ Infrastructure Surrounding School Building ...... 54 Figure 34 ‐ Transportation Resources ...... 55 Figure 35 ‐ Buffers ...... 56 Figure 36 ‐ Aerial Image ...... 57 Edison Elementary ...... 60 Maps Figure 37 ‐ Infrastructure Surrounding School Building ...... 60 Figure 38 ‐ Transportation Resources ...... 61 Figure 39 ‐ Buffers ...... 62 Figure 40 ‐ Aerial Image ...... 63 Eisenhower Elementary ...... 66 Maps Figure 41 ‐ Infrastructure Surrounding School Building ...... 66 Figure 42 ‐ Transportation Resources ...... 67 Figure 43 ‐ Buffers ...... 68 Figure 44 ‐ Aerial Image ...... 69 Flower Mound School ...... 72 Maps Figure 45 ‐ Infrastructure Surrounding School Building ...... 72 Figure 46 ‐ Transportation Resources ...... 73 Figure 47 ‐ Buffers ...... 74 Figure 48 ‐ Aerial Image ...... 75

Accessibility/Walkability Report

Howell Elementary ...... 78 Maps Figure 49 ‐ Infrastructure Surrounding School Building ...... 78 Figure 50 ‐ Transportation Resources ...... 79 Figure 51 ‐ Buffers ...... 80 Figure 52 ‐ Aerial Image ...... 81 Hugh Bish Elementary ...... 84 Maps Figure 53 ‐ Infrastructure Surrounding School Building ...... 84 Figure 54 ‐ Transportation Resources ...... 85 Figure 55 ‐ Buffers ...... 86 Figure 56 ‐ Aerial Image ...... 87 Jackson Elementary ...... 90 Maps Figure 57 ‐ Infrastructure Surrounding School Building ...... 90 Figure 58 ‐ Transportation Resources ...... 91 Figure 59 ‐ Buffers ...... 92 Figure 60 ‐ Aerial Image ...... 93 Learning Tree Academy ...... 96 Maps Figure 61 ‐ Infrastructure Surrounding School Building ...... 96 Figure 62 ‐ Transportation Resources ...... 97 Figure 63 ‐ Aerial Image ...... 98 Lincoln Elementary ...... 101 Maps Figure 64 ‐ Infrastructure Surrounding School Building ...... 101 Figure 65 ‐ Transportation Resources ...... 102 Figure 66 ‐ Buffers ...... 103 Figure 67 ‐ Aerial Image ...... 104 Park Lane Elementary ...... 107 Maps Figure 68 ‐ Infrastructure Surrounding School Building ...... 107 Figure 69 ‐ Transportation Resources ...... 108 Figure 70 ‐ Buffers ...... 109 Figure 71 ‐ Aerial Image ...... 110 Pat Henry Elementary ...... 113 Maps Figure 72 ‐ Infrastructure Surrounding School Building ...... 113 Figure 73 ‐ Transportation Resources ...... 114 Figure 74 ‐ Buffer ...... 115 Figure 75 ‐ Aerial Image ...... 116

Accessibility/Walkability Report

Pioneer Park Elementary ...... 119 Maps Figure 76 ‐ Infrastructure Surrounding School Building ...... 119 Figure 77 ‐ Transportation Resources ...... 120 Figure 78 ‐ Buffers ...... 121 Figure 79 ‐ Aerial Image ...... 122 Ridgecrest Elementary ...... 125 Maps Figure 80 ‐ Infrastructure Surrounding School Building ...... 125 Figure 81 ‐ Transportation Resources ...... 126 Figure 82 ‐ Buffers ...... 127 Figure 83 ‐ Aerial Image ...... 128 Sullivan Village Elementary ...... 131 Maps Figure 84 ‐ Infrastructure Surrounding School Building ...... 131 Figure 85 ‐ Transportation Resources ...... 132 Figure 86 ‐ Buffers ...... 133 Figure 87 ‐ Aerial Image ...... 134 Swinney Elementary ...... 137 Maps Figure 88 ‐ Infrastructure Surrounding School Building ...... 137 Figure 89 ‐ Transportation Resources ...... 138 Figure 90 ‐ Buffers ...... 139 Figure 91 ‐ Aerial Image ...... 140 Washington Elementary ...... 143 Maps Figure 92 ‐ Infrastructure Surrounding School Building ...... 143 Figure 93 ‐ Transportation Resources ...... 144 Figure 94 ‐ Buffers ...... 145 Figure 95 ‐ Aerial Image ...... 146 Whittier Elementary ...... 149 Maps Figure 96 ‐ Infrastructure Surrounding School Building ...... 149 Figure 97 ‐ Transportation Resources ...... 150 Figure 98 ‐ Buffers ...... 151 Figure 99 ‐ Aerial Image ...... 152 Wilson Elementary ...... 155 Maps Figure 100 ‐ Infrastructure Surrounding School Building ...... 155 Figure 101 ‐ Transportation Resources ...... 156 Figure 102 ‐ Buffers ...... 157 Figure 103 ‐ Aerial Image ...... 158

Accessibility/Walkability Report

Woodland Hills Elementary ...... 161 Maps Figure 104 ‐ Infrastructure Surrounding School Building ...... 161 Figure 105 ‐ Transportation Resources ...... 162 Figure 106 ‐ Buffers ...... 163 Figure 107 ‐ Aerial Image ...... 164

Conclusion Conclusion ...... 167 Meeting with Administrators ...... 167 Table 3 ‐ List of Schools by Observation Dates ...... 167 Table 4 ‐ Lawton Safe Routes to School 2007 – 2009 Funded Projects ...... 168 Current Conditions ...... 169 Figure 108 ‐ Infrastructure Surrounding Elementary School Buildings ...... 170 Table 5 ‐ List of Accidents by School Coverage Area 2009 – 2010 ...... 171 Figure 109 ‐ Lawton Police Department Map of Blocks and Zones ...... 171 Figure 110 ‐ Average Accident Count Map for 2009 – 2010 ...... 172 Figure 111 ‐ Median Household Income 2005 – 2009 by School Coverage ...... 173 Observations ...... 174 Table 6 ‐ List of Schools by Estimated Students Using Active Transportation ...... 174 Figure 112 ‐ Crosswalk Example North of Whittier School ...... 175 Analysis ...... 176 Table 7 ‐ Prioritized List of Schools in Need of Attention for Improvements ...... 176 Safe Routes to School ...... 177 Table 8 ‐ Time Table for Safe Routes to School 2011 ‐ 2013 Application Cycle ...... 177

Appendix A ...... 178 Appendix B ...... 179

Accessibility/Walkability Report

Background The City of Lawton is home to three different public school districts representing a combined total of 30 elementary schools scattered throughout the city’s various communities. The high number of elementary schools provides many families the opportunity to live within a close proximity of their children’s school building. As a result, families have the opportunity to choose from various modes of travel when transporting their child between home and school. Families can choose between personal vehicles, school buses, day care vehicles, or various forms of active transportation relative on the distance they live to their child’s school.

Active transportation, such as walking and biking, is a mode of travel that is sometimes overlooked in a vehicle dominant culture centered around street and highway development. The U.S Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) has found that the overall proportion of children walking and bicycling to school has steadily declined between 1969 and 2001.1 A similar trend is true for children that live within a mile of the school. The National Center for Safe Routes to School found between 13% and 17% of students of public schools walk or bike to school and 45% arrive by personal vehicles driven by a family member.2

Health Issues Fewer children are using active transportation at a time when more children are at higher risks of weight gain and obesity. The Comanche County Memorial Hospital Founda