Study Session Desk Item.�owx o0
COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT
DATE: MARCH 3, 2015
TO: MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL
FROM: GREG LARSON, TOWN MANAGER
MEETING DATE: 03/03/15
STUDY SESSION
DESK ITEM
SUBJECT: MEMORANDUM ON LOS GATOS SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOLS EFFORTS
REMARKS:
After the Addendum was prepared for distribution, additional information was submitted to
summarize recent accomplishments with Los Gatos Safe Routes to School (Attachment 4).
Attachments previously received with staff report on February 26, 2015:
1. Palo Alto Unified School District Traffic Safety Guidelines
2. Palo Alto Unified School District Resolution Endorsing the Safe Routes to School National
Partnership Consensus Statement
Attachment (Previously received with Addendum on February 27, 2015):
3. Los Gatos -Monte Serene Safe Routes to School newsletter (fall 2014 and winter 2015)
Attachment (Received with this Desk Item
4. Los Gatos -Monte Sereno Safe Routes to School newsletter (winter 2014)
PREPARED BY: Matt Morley
Director of Parks an Public N ks
Reviewed by: Assistant Town Manager 6trwn Attorney
Winter
S(Z)s
Safety for Our Students
CELEBRATE GOOD TIMES
2014
In the fall of 2006, a group of parents and school administrators at Blossom Hill School and
Fisher Middle School along with representation from the LG /MS Police Department, formed a
Safe Routes to School group to encourage students to use active transportation to and from
school. The focus was to reduce traffic around the school and encourage healthy habits. This
small group of individuals got to work implementing programs focusing on changing how
families traveled to and from school. The group soon grew to include representatives from all 5
LGUSD schools, Hillbrook School and the members of the LGHS SR2S Club. The group has done
much in the past 8 years to improve the accessibility of walking, biking and skating around Los
Gatos. Take a look at the accomplishments and successes of this group
SUS Calendar
Gore Team Meetings
esdays.9A10 -10AM)
12.2014 April 16, 2014
:h 19, 2014 May 21, 2014
in Springtime! - Take it To the
for Students and Families fall E
Working with local, county and state officials. Los Gatos -Monte Sereno SR2S strives to provide information and support to
improve the infrastructure in Town, support enforcement and look for opportunities to provide a safer environment in our
community for all to walk and bike. If you are interested in becoming involved, please contact lgg2sta email com.
ATTACHMENT
Working Hard for the Community
Education /Encouragement
Fall "Walk and Bike to School Week" introduced to over 5000 students
over 5 years. Spring time "Take It To The Streets" events engaging over
3000 students for the past 3 years.
• Community Newsletter distributed quarterly via e- packets at 5 public
schools and 1 private school to over 3000 students /families — 3 years
• Bike Rodeos reaching over 800 411 and 51" grade students over the past
2years
• Student leadership at Fisher and Los Gatos High School
• Bike Rodeos at Blossom Hill, Van Meter and Daves Ave Schools
reaching over 800 4d' and Sd' grade students.
• Safety presentations to educate kindergarten students at Daves Ave
(100 students) and 2n^ and 41n graders (200 students)
• Traffic Safe Communities Network has provided over $1000 worth of
prizes and incentives over the past 3 years to all the schools to
encourage walking, biking and scootering to school.
• Family Bike Nights at Blossom Hill and Van Meter Schools
Air Quality Experiment with Blossom Hill School and Fisher Middle
School and with student presentation to TSCN and publication of
results, 2010/11.
' Hillbrook School Parent volunteers lead walkers and bikers to school
from Blossom Hill Park every Monday.
Hillbrook School runs 2 shuttle buses to school each day to help reduce
traffic around the school.
Enforcement
Engineering (Infrastructure, signs, striping, etc.)
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• Operation Safe Passage during Fall and Spring events provided by LGMS
PD for 5 years.
• Use of radar trailers during Fall and Spring events to encourage proper
speed limit around schools
• Collaboration with TSCN, LG -MS SR2S, LGUSD, Hillbrook School and
LGMS PD to educate students and parents on proper bike safety and
helmet instruction.
• Additional Crossing guards provided by LGUSD and LGMS PD in addition
to Hillbrook funding a crossing guard for the intersection at Hilow and
MarchmonL
• Additional crossing guard at Kennedy Road and Los Gatos Blvd and at
Cherry Blossom and Shannon Road.
• $1M project (1/2 Caltrans SR2S funds, 1/2 Town funds) for SR2S improvements on BH Road east 1/2 mile
from BHS including new bike lanes and sidewalks, improved signage including multiple radar speed signs,
crosswalk at Hillbrook, various physical changes to the road to reduce speedway effect, re- positioning of the
parking area in front of BH Park, and more
• Town and SR2S funding to extend bike lane along Daves Ave. towards Highway 9
New signage was installed on property along Poppy Lane to enforce "no student drop off" locations near
Clubhouse entrance.
' Sidewalks along Mitchell Ave improve safety for walkers /bikers and slow traffic
Re- striping bike line on Cherry Blossom alongside the school, improved signage
Improved visibility into Fire Station driveway ingress /egress at Cherry Blossom and Shannon
Improved visibility into Shir Hadash parking ingress /egress along Cherry Blossom
Reduced speed on BH in front of The Terraces
Improved traffic light /walk sign timing at Cherry Blossom and BH Rd.
New Signs throughout the neighborhood surrounding Hillbrook School reminding the community to drive
slowly and keep children safe.
Each school has developed its own signature programs to help encourage safe walking
and biking to school. Here is a sampling of what is happening at your school.
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FISHER STUDENTS TEACH SAFETY
VAN METER RAFFLES OFF BIKES
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Working with TSCN and Mikes Bikes in Los
gatos and the Van Meter Home and School Club,
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grade students.
Van Meter SR21 has raffled off bikes to
encourage kids to walk and bike to school.
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SIGNS REM
TO BE SAFE
BIKE RACKS FOR
THE WILDCATS
Los Gatos High School
purchased two additional bike
racks for student use. In
addition, the bike racks have
been enclosed in a locked gate
and fence securing the bikes
safely during the school day.
STRIVING FOR GOLD AT DAVES AVE
Classrooms at Daves Ave. compete to have the most
number of walkers, bikers and skaters to earn the
Golden Sneaker Award.
ok School places signs in the
ding the neighborhood
ing drivers to drive safely
students and neighbors.
IM HILL COUNTS
BEES
Hill uses technology to scan
to count walkers, bikers and
FISHER STUDENTS TEACH SAFETY
Fisher SR2S student leaders have been trained
to teach proper helmet safety to 4th and 5th
Is amoo
grade students.
co
SIGNS REM
TO BE SAFE
BIKE RACKS FOR
THE WILDCATS
Los Gatos High School
purchased two additional bike
racks for student use. In
addition, the bike racks have
been enclosed in a locked gate
and fence securing the bikes
safely during the school day.
STRIVING FOR GOLD AT DAVES AVE
Classrooms at Daves Ave. compete to have the most
number of walkers, bikers and skaters to earn the
Golden Sneaker Award.
ok School places signs in the
ding the neighborhood
ing drivers to drive safely
students and neighbors.
IM HILL COUNTS
BEES
Hill uses technology to scan
to count walkers, bikers and
LG -MS SR2S is Recognized. for Work in Community
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Los Gatos/Monte Sereno Police
apartment recognized the efforts of the LG-
5 SR2S Coalition at its annual recognition
ant. Daves Ave. Principal, Kit Bragg, spoke
the group's continued commitment to the
uth in the Los Gatos community. In
3ition, the group has been recognized by
CN and received numerous grants to
morts its efforts.
Team Awards, Recognition, Grants and Donations:
• Recognized by Traffic Safe Communities Network in May 2013 for outstanding leadership in the
Santa Clara County-wide SR2S program
• Honored by the LG -MS PD with Community Service Award, October 2013
• National visibility and grant funds from the Safe Routes to School for Air Quality Science project
for S'h - 81h grade students 2010 -2011
• Awarded $500K in grants from Caltrans for infrastructure projects in past 5 years
Donations received from Benchmark Environmental ($1000's worth of services and equipment
rental for Air Quality Project) and ExactBid, Inc for County programs ($750)
Many Thanks!
nk you to the following individuals, businesses
organizations that have supported LG -MS SR2S
Its over the past 5 years.
all Sports
Magoos Pizza
ike's Bikes
C Boardshops
•oSians of Los Gatos
Fisher Home & School Club
ssom Hill Home & School Club
ise Van Meter Home & School Club
es Ave Home & School Club
Briones, Cook and Doty Families
Gatos Union School District
Gatos - Saratoga Union High School District
Gatos /Monte Sereno Police Department
a Clara County Sheriff
of Monte Sereno
n of Los Gatos
Clara County Traffic Safe Communities Network
Traffic Safe Communities Network, a
program of the Santa Clara County
Health Department, has been a strong
supporter of efforts in Los Gatos and
Monte Sereno. They have provided
numerous services, including hosting
bike rodeos for 40' and 5"' graders,
providing incentives and assisting
with surveys of active transportation.
The LG -MS SR2S Coalition says thank
you to TSCN for all its help. A special
thank you to Alice Kawaguchi and
Tonya Veitch for training parents and
student leaders. Your ongoing
support is appreciated by S112S and
the Los Gatos Community.
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