Good News for Governor's

Reporting on the recent tragedy on Governor's Road in Dundas, the Dundas Star news article quoted a Hamilton traffic staffer with some news TLCers will be happy to hear:

"Gallo said he does not anticipate the city acting on the Downtown Dundas Transportation Master Plan recommendation to widen Governor’s Road.
“It’s dependent on future need, and that can change,” Gallo said. “It would need another environmental assessment because it’s been five years (since the DDTMP). It’s not as simple as saying it’s approved and it happens.”

This is a huge relief, since widening would only compound problems on this road, as TLC noted in comments on the Downtown Dundas Transportation Master Plan in 2008 and 2010.

Now is the time to implement long-delayed (and low cost) improvements to the walking and cycling environments in keeping with Dundas's small town character. We would go further today and suggest a road diet for Governor's for the stretch where there is an extra lane (between Ogilvie and Creighton) and turning it into bike lanes on both sides of the road, as called for in the city's Shifting Gears Cycling Plan.

More on this area in the near future.

bad intersection getting worse?

[If the city gets their way, this already dangerous intersection will be made more so for pedestrians, given the City's plan to widen the crossing by adding through lanes, as presented in the final draft of the Downtown Dundas Transportation Master Plan...]

Dundas woman struck crossing road TheSpec.com - Local - Dundas woman struck crossing road

Paul Morse, Hamilton Spectator, December 21, 2009


A 51-year-old Dundas woman is in hospital with non-life threatening injuries after she was struck by a car while crossing Governor’s Road in Dundas this afternoon.

Police say the pedestrian was in the crosswalk heading south at Ogilvie when she was struck by a car turning right onto Governor's around 1 p.m. Monday.

Charges against a 71-year-old female driver from Woodham, Ont. are pending, said Hamilton police media officer Sergeant Terri-Lynn Collings.

traffic woes nothing to sneeze at...

Safety issues won’t move H1N1 clinic

Governor’s Road site will remain in use

Craig Campbell, News Staff

Published on Nov 06, 2009

Dundas Baptist Church on Governor’s Road will remain one of Hamilton’s four HINI influenza immunization clinics as long as the city still has doses of the vaccine, despite problems with traffic safety in the surrounding area.

Hamilton Police expressed concerns over the location of the main immunization clinic when it was announced. And Division 30 Inspector Bob Buck said there were traffic and pedestrian safety issues on the already controversial road right from the start.

“It became dangerous,” Inspector Buck said. “We raised that issue. We expressed concern about that location. From a traffic and pedestrian standpoint, it’s a difficult location.”

As the only immunization clinic for at-risk residents open all five days Oct. 26-30, the Dundas Baptist Church site saw the biggest influx of people by far. Hamilton Public Health Services staff say more than 8,000 people were injected with the H1N1 vaccine –that’s more than 1,600 people each day and over 280 people every hour.

But residents saw the impact as thousands of people looked for limited parking and lined up along the side of Governor’s Road waiting their turn.

“It was crazy,” said Randy Kay of the group Transportation for Livable Communities, which has been calling for safety and pedestrian improvements to Governor’s Road.

“The parking lot filled, cars parked on the side street, and cars backed up two lanes wide to Overfield. Crazy!”

He went by the Baptist Church clinic last Friday about 15 minutes before it closed. Mr. Kay suggested hindsight may encourage Public Health to examine the location, and move the immunization clinic somewhere with more parking or find a site people can get to without a car if they choose.

But Public Health spokesperson Tara Hall said no review of the location has taken place, and the clinic will not move from that site

“Dundas Baptist Church is one of four permanent locations,” Ms. Hall said.

The site met the required criteria for H1N1 clinics, including providing enough space and being available to the city for the required four to six weeks.

As long as Hamilton still has vaccine available, the Governor’s Road location is scheduled to be used until just before Christmas. It wasn’t known earlier this week when the clinic will open to the general public.

Ms. Hall said the public health department hopes having more clinics open this week, and insisting only the most at-risk residents get the vaccine for now, pressure on the Dundas location will ease and there will be fewer traffic and pedestrian safety problems.

Hamilton Police put an on-duty officer at the site immediately, expecting it to be an issue when it opened last Monday at 1 p. m. But when police discovered how busy it was and the officer was unavailable to respond to calls, a paid-duty or overtime officer was assigned to the site.

But police and public health commended each other on their individual efforts to keep the location as safe as possible, and manage the large numbers of people.

Inspector Buck said clinic staff did a really good job managing the people who showed up, and Ms. Hall said police did a great job managing traffic and providing safe pedestrian crossing across Governor’s Road.

http://www.dundasstarnews.com/news/article/193731

ungoverned

No new crossing guards on Governor's Road

Craig Campbell, Dundas Star News. Published on Aug 29, 2008

Despite ongoing pedestrian safety concerns around three Governor's Road schools, no crossing guards are being added.

With classes set to start within days, Dundas students will begin the year with only seven crossing guards, compared to the nine in place a year ago.

Three local crossing guard locations were removed over the past year. Only one crossing guard was added, at Bridlewood and Governor's, since the opening of Sir William Osler School last winter. The elementary school took on the student populations of both Dundas District and Central Park, as well as some Dundana students.

The City of Hamilton rejected a request from St. Bernadette Catholic Elementary School's principal to relocate the Creighton and Governor's guard to Huntingwood Road - an uncontrolled intersection more commonly used by students than the stoplight-protected intersection at Creighton. A 15-year-old Highland High School student was struck by a car while crossing at Hungtingwood two years ago. There have been many near collisions and several vehicle collisions there.

Participants in a pedestrian safety walkabout of the three neighbouring Governor's Road schools supported the requested relocation of a guard, as well as potentially adding an extra crossing guard for Sir William Osler.

http://www.dundasstarnews.com/news/article/141226

ungoverned governor's?

Audit suggests changes to update road philosophy
Participants watch Governor's drivers ignore rules during school dismissal

Craig Campbell, Dundas Star News
Published on Jun 06, 2008

Governor's Road is still treated as a highway access to Dundas, despite a drastic change in its use, Dundas' public school board trustee said last week.

Jessica Brennan participated in a safety walkabout on Governor's Road, joining a group that focussed on traffic, pedestrian and cycling issues around the new Sir William Osler Elementary School. Another group focussed on issues around St. Bernadette Catholic Elementary School, less than one kilometre away.

"It's the philosophy of the road," Ms. Brennan said during a short discussion that raised no less than 19 issues to pursue, following last Thursday's safety review.

"It used to be thought of as a highway into Dundas. That doesn't address the current use."

She noted Governor's Road now revolves around educational and residential uses, with a new focus on pedestrians and cyclists. Ms. Brennan's comments echoed points made by many other participants.

Most agreed the philosophy of the road, and driver attitude, has to change to meet the reality of its current use.

To help address this, the City of Hamilton will reassess placement of crossing guards on Governor's Road, and consider a recommendation to move the current crossing guard at Creighton Road to Huntingwood, and potentially adding a second crossing guard at Bridlewood.

Governor's Road will also be reviewed for dedicated bike lanes. The Hamilton Wentworth District School Board will be asked to add more bike racks to accommodate a large number of students who ride to school.

Concern was also expresssed about the lack of sidewalks on Governor's Road, beyond Moss Boulevard.

Organized by Transportation for Livable Communities and city staff from public health and traffic services, the walkabout included Dundas councillor Russ Powers and his administrative assistant Arlene Vanderbeek, the local public school trustee, staff of St. Bernadette Catholic Elementary School and parents from Sir William Osler - but no staff representatives of Highland Secondary School or Sir William Osler.

In total, 17 people participated in the safety review, during Safe Kids Week.

St. Bernadette Catholic Elementary School Principal Rukshi Athulathmudali will request increased police and bylaw enforcement of No Stopping and No Parking areas in front of the school.

During last week's audit, a car made an illegal U-turn in front of the school then parked on the sidewalk, in a clearly marked No Stopping zone.

Several students dashed across Governor's Road from between parked cars crammed into a no parking area intended for emergency vehicles. School staff discourage parents from parking there, but the bylaw does permit parking for 15-minutes.

Ms. Athulathmudali would also like to see a curb, or sidewalk, placed across the street from the school, to dissuade drivers from passing on the soft shoulder or attempting U-turns.

It was suggested relocating a Creighton and Governor's crossing guard closer to St. Bernadette at Huntingwood, would provide a closer crossing option for young students.

Ms. Athulathmudali also said drivers are not obeying the 40 km-h flashing school zone that includes the three school stretch of Governor's Road.

Without assistance

Over at Sir William Osler, Ms. Brennan noticed there were more school children crossing Governor's Road than the single crossing guard could accommodate. That resulted in some students crossing at different areas without the assistance of a crossing guard.

A second guard at Osler and relocating a guard to Huntingwood will be part of the Governor's Road crossing guard analysis by the city.

Several vehicles speeding along Governor's Road illegally used the unpaved shoulder to pass another car waiting to turn left into the school's parking lot.

Ms. Athulathmudali, and a St. Bernadette teacher also participating in the safety walk, said drivers speeding by on the shoulder is a common occurrence that has resulted in a few staff members being rear-ended in front of the school.

Ms. Brennan also asked for an update on a proposed Governor's Road roundabout, and the potential widening of the street.

A list of 19 issues and questions raised during last week's walkabout, including investigation of traffic calming measures and increasing by-law and police enforcement, has been produced and representatives of the city, school boards, or Transportation for Livable Communities have been asked to follow-up.
http://www.dundasstarnews.com/news/article/131416

getting ready to walkabout

Sustainable transportation takes to the streets and sidewalks on Governor's Road in Dundas May 29, 2008, as parents, city staff, principals and teachers, along with politicians and media join TLC volunteers in a walkabout to look for ways to improve the walking and cycling environment in the vicinity of three schools on a one kilometer stretch of road.

The event was part of Safe Kids Week.

Thanks to the organizing efforts of TLC volunteer Erin Willson, supported by Hamilton Public Health nurses Sharon Mackinnon and Sue Connell, and a small grant from Safe Kids Canada, much insight was gained on needed improvements, with action to follow.

Participants used checklists and information provided by Safe Kids Canada to evaluate the area around the schools for safety and comfort for children walking or cycling, and identified areas in need of improvement.

A fuller report will follow at a later date.

Thanks for all who gave their time to make this important event a success!

Governing School Zone

Media Advisory

Transportation for Liveable Communities(TLC)

addressing school zone safety in Dundas

Dundas, ON-May 15, 2008-Transportation for Liveable Communities (Hamilton's sustainable transportation advocacy group) will be leading a Community Walkabout on Governor's Road from St. Bernadette's School to Sir William Osler School.

WHO: TLC, Staff from City of Hamilton (Public Health Services, Traffic, School Crossing Guards), staff from the Hamilton-Wentworth Catholic District School Board and the Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board, parents and interested community members.

WHAT: TLC, in cooperation with Safe Kids Canada, wants parents to understand that most pedestrian injuries and deaths are preventable. TLC has received a grant from Safe Kids Canada to conduct a "Community Walkabout" as part of Safe Kids Week. The goal of the walkabout is to address school zone safety. This approach is effective because it brings everyone together at once to identify and address the issues and work on how to make the environment safer.

WHEN: Thursday, May 29, 2008

3:15 p.m.

WHERE: Walkabout participants will meet across the street from St. Bernadette's school at Governor's Road, Dundas. The group will proceed west along Governor's Road and end at Sir William Osler School, where there will be a brief meeting to summarize findings from the walkabout and identify potential solutions.

WHY: Pedestrian injuries are a leading cause of injury related death of children under the age of 14. In order to make our communities safer for child pedestrians, we need to change societal attitudes to respect the rights of pedestrians, make environments safer, and increase the knowledge, skills and practices of children and parents. Making communities more walkable is a best practice program to reduce child pedestrian deaths and injuries. If a community is walkable and safe for children, it makes the environment safer for pedestrians of all ages.

tlchamilton.org PO Box 19, 1280 Main Street West Hamilton ON L8S 1C0 tlchamilton@gmail.com

governor's walk-about

Three school stretch reviewed for Safe Kids Week

Craig Campbell, Dundas Star News, Published on May 02, 2008

A community safety walk of Governor's Road will mark Canada's Safe Kids Week.

The walkabout to assess pedestrian and cyclist safety on the stretch of Governor's Road near two elementary schools and one high school will be hosted by Transportation for Livable Communities. It's one of about 1,000 community projects being held in the last week of May in a program organized by Safe Kids Canada.

Anyone interested in participating is welcome to meet in front of St. Bernadette Catholic Elementary School at 3:15 p.m. on Thursday, May 29.

Safe Kids Week project leader Denyse Boxell said participants hosting their own event are encouraged to download the Safe Kids Canada pedestrian safety guide and use it to assist in their own assessment.

The Safe Kids Canada Web site also offers a four-page community walkabout scoresheet for community groups to use during their assessments.

The scoresheet includes 16 different questions; each is allocated one point for a 'no' answer, two points for 'sometimes', three for 'yes' and zero points for 'don't know'.

Questions include: Can streets be easily, safely and conveniently crossed? Do drivers drive the speed limit? Do sidewalks exist? Are sidewalks well maintained? Are there traffic calming measures?

Each question includes teaching or discussion points to help assess that particular question, or safety indicator.

A total score for the walkabout below 17 points is assessed with the statement "Community needs to make considerable effort to create pedestrian friendly environment."

A score in the range of 17 to 32 points is defined as pedestrian friendly in some areas, but needing more work in others. And a score of 33 or more points is considered "very pedestrian friendly."

Ms. Boxell said Safe Kids Canada will provide further support and education to any community group that requests it.

"We lobby local and provincial governments to make pedestrian safety better," she said.

But local groups must take the lead role in their own community, and reach out to Safe Kids Canada to receive resources or other forms of support.

Ms. Boxell said a group can contact the national organization with information on a particular pedestrian concern, their findings and their efforts, and Safe Kids Canada can provide a letter supporting the group's effort, or training, information and documents to help improve pedestrian safety.

For more information: www.sickkids.ca/safekidscanada or http://governorsroad.blogspot.com.


http://www.dundasstarnews.com/news/article/126715

Site specific

You are welcome to attend a Community "Walk-About" at Governor's Road, Thursday, May 29, 2008.

Meet participants including city traffic staff, public health officials, politicians, parents and children at 3:15 at Governor's Road outside St Bernadette's school, 270 Governor's Road, Dundas ON.


View Larger Map

This event will be a feet and wheels on the ground opportunity to examine the area from a non-automotive perspective.

The aim is to bring to light some of the traffic safety issues effecting pedestrians and cyclists on this road. A facilitated de-brief will conclude the hour or so walk, to be conducted at Sir William Osler school (330 Governor's Road at Bridlewood)

The aim is to bring together recommendations to enhance the area for walkers and cyclists, including the many children and young adults attending the three schools in the immediate area, and area residents.

TLC received a grant from Safe Kids Canada to bring about this event as part of Safe Kids Week 2008.

Come out if you are interested in making this area safe for all!

new flash on governor's road

News on Governor's Road from the Dundas Star News

Governor's Road awaits safety improvements

Group calls for further safety improvements

Craig Campbell

Published on Jan 11, 2008

Long discussed improvements to Governor's Road traffic control should be on their way, as city staff prepare to install a new reduced speed zone along a three school stretch of the road. City of Hamilton traffic technologist Sue Russell couldn't say when the system would be operational, as there may be some bugs to work out.

"It's new equipment and a new program. There could be some unforeseen problems, as with any new product," Ms. Russell said. "I don't want to make any promises I can't keep."

The reduced speed school zone was approved by city council in April 2007. One of eight such school zones across the city, the Governor's Road zone will stretch from Moss Boulevard to 75 metres east of Huntingwood.

Flashing lights will warn drivers the regular 50 km/h speed drops to 40 km/h during morning, mid-day and afternoon rush hours.

The flashing light speed zone will be in effect for just over five hours each day, between 7:50 a.m. and 4 p.m. The part-time school zone was anticipated to be in place by September 2007, when the new Sir William Osler School was scheduled to open. Delays in the school's completion coincided with an apparent delay in receiving equipment from a supplier.

Osler School opened in November 2007 without the school speed zone in place. Ms. Russell said this week an expected start date for the new system is not set. She said staff will need training before the equipment is installed.

The idea of a school speed zone, along with a roundabout on Governor's Road, was raised while former councillor Art Samson represented Dundas. Mr. Samson wanted to see safety improvements made to the less than one kilometre stretch of road that includes St. Bernadette Catholic Elementary School, Highland Secondary School, and Sir William Osler Elementary.

Start times for the schools range from 8:15 a.m. at Highland, to 9 a.m. at St. Bernadette to 9:10 a.m. at Osler.

When the reduced speed zone is operational, it is planned to be in use from 7:50 a.m. to 9:10 a.m., then from 10:59 a.m. to 1:45 p.m., and finally from 2:45 to 4 p.m.

The new elementary school's morning bell time coincides exactly with the end of the morning reduced speed, at which time it will return to 50 km/h from 40 km/h.

Ron Gallo of the city's traffic department said a consultant will be hired to conduct an environmental assessment of a roundabout in area of Governor's Road and Davidson Boulevard.

Mr. Gallo said the budget is in place and he hopes the assessment will be completed in 2008, allowing the design to be done in the first quarter of 2009 and construction by the end of next year.

"That's a best case scenario for me," Mr. Gallo said, noting he'd been involved in discussions about a Governor's Road roundabout for more than two years, and would like to see it done.

Transportation for Liveable Communities sent an e-mail this week to all members of Hamilton's city council, supporting a new reduced speed zone and a roundabout at Davidson Boulevard, along with several other recommendations.

The local pedestrian, cyclist and transit interest group also called for a comprehensive traffic audit of Governor's Road --with results released to the public -- additional school crossing guards, and improved public transit service on Governor's Road. Among the changes supported by TLC are new traffic calming measures - in particular bicycle lanes that were proposed in the city's May 2007 Cycling Network Strategy.

Governing Governor's

TLC follow-up on the traffic situation on Governor's Road in Dundas ON, with recommendations aimed at making walking and cycling safer options:

January 7, 2008

Dear Councillor Powers,

This letter is a follow-up to Transportation for Liveable Communities' December 18, 2006 letter regarding Governor's Road. We are seeking updated information on plans relating to traffic considerations for this area: specifically, TLC is interested in ensuring full attention is paid to improving safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and the many young people attending the three schools in the one kilometer section of Governor's between Creighton and Castlewood Drive.

Last January (2007) Councillor Powers wrote in the Dundas Star that within the year there would be a "detailed study of all aspects of this transportation link" and that "participation will be solicited and very much appreciated as the decisions reached will determine how things are improved.." (Dundas Star News, Friday, January 26, 2007)

TLC would like to know how our original concerns are being addressed since we have not had any follow-up correspondence from the councilor's office since our original communication on December 18, 2006.

Turning to the specifics as originally presented on Councillor Powers' ward web site, TLC requests that the results of the comprehensive traffic audit (mentioned as the first point under "General" considerations) should be made available to the public before final decisions are made.

In the interim, TLC has made comments on points made by Mr. Powers that need to be addressed further:

Councillor Powers	Transportation for Liveable Communities
Add an advanced left turn signal to the traffic lights at the Governors Road/Creighton Road intersection for eastbound/westbound traffic along Governors Road.	Await result of traffic audit to determine need Immediately change the walk/don't walk signal at Creighton to always go to "walk" on the green signal – currently the "walk" signal only appears after a pedestrian has activated the crossing button. The default is "don't walk" which creates confusion for all users by prioritizing cars over pedestrians, and makes crossing more uncertain, thus more dangerous.
Widen Governors Road to accommodate an identified left turn/holding lane from Creighton Road to at least Davidson Boulevard.	Adding an extra lane makes crossings for pedestrians more difficult and dangerous by increasing crossing distance and adding an extra lane of traffic to contend with. Road widening also contributes to a driving environment that induces speed. Therefore TLC strongly opposes a general widening, but supports limited , site specific widening to create turning lanes if required at St. Bernadette's school, and Highland Secondary school.
Install traffic lights or a roundabout (includes a pedestrian-activated crossing signal) at Davidson Boulevard.	A roundabout is the preferred option for safety and efficiency reasons, which TLC fully supports.
Install a pedestrian-activated crossing signal at the corner of Governors Road/Huntingwood Drive.	TLC supports this as a possible solution, but only in a context of accompanying traffic calming measures such as (but not limited to) a raised crosswalk and a median island. An alternative solution might include another roundabout at this location in the long term.
Post school crossing guards at the Huntingwood, Castlewood/Bridlewood and Davidson pedestrian crossings.	TLC supports
Extend the sidewalk on the north side of Governors Road from Davidson Boulevard to Pirie Drive.	TLC supports
Install a flashing "Speed Reduced to 40 kph" for the area bounded by the east/west boundaries of the three schools. This is programmed to be activated during morning and late afternoon/evening rush hours.	Evidence suggests that signs are not enough to influence driver behaviour, thus TLC supports physical traffic calming measures to slow traffic speeds: examples include lane narrowing, bicycle lanes, wider sidewalks, a traffic median, to enhance safety in the school zone.
Continue to lobby for a crossing guard at the Governors Road/Bridlewood /Castlewood Drive intersection.	TLC supports
Conduct a comprehensive traffic audit to identify contributing factors.	TLC supports, and requests a copy of the final report
Enhance public transit frequency along Governors Road during rush hours on weekdays.	TLC supports, with the following considerations: there is currently no bus service provided on Governor's Road on weekends – adding rush hour buses to alleviate traffic fails to address the demand for transit mobility for residents on weekends. TLC requests weekend bus service for Governor's Road. Current levels of transit service are poor in the entire ward, with one hour wait times much of the day on both Governors, and King..TLC therefore requests a comprehensive review of transit operations in Dundas with the goal of improving the level of service.
Review signal synchronization for eastbound/westbound traffic at Main Street, Oglivie Street and Creighton Road.	TLC supports synchronization that discourages speeding and takes into account the requirements of pedestrians for prompt crossing service.

For all the points noted, TLC requests a full update from the councillor/city of Hamilton on actions taken or decisions made.

Further: since our original letter, the Transportation Master Plan for the city has been approved by council – in that document there are plans specific to the area in question, but not addressed in councillor Powers' initial list of proposed solutions. The TMP refers to bike lanes for Governor's Road "Dundas Street-Governor's Road [from] Cootes Drive [to] Castlewood Blvd BL [2.9km at a cost of $166,750, to be done in the Medium term (http://www.myhamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyres/1ECE9040-72DC-432B-B480-163B810363C0/0/3CyclingNetworkStrategy.pdf ).

Therefore, TLC strongly recommends action on bike lanes be fully integrated with any road work to be done on Governor's Road. Bike lanes would assist in creating safer and more pleasant conditions for pedestrians and help improve the roadside atmosphere while giving more options to sustainable transportation users.

In conclusion, TLC would like to reiterate that users of Governor's Road include cyclists, pedestrians, transit and drivers. The current city wide transportation master plan, and the city's Vision 2020 planning documents all emphasize supporting sustainable modes of transportation. As a result, TLC expects any changes on Governor's Road to reflect this emphasis.

Thank you for your help in addressing our concerns,

Randy Kay

for TLC

APPENDIX

1.2 The Importance of Walking and Bicycling

In healthy communities walking, cycling and other kinds of non-motorized transportation (e.g. roller blades, scooters, skateboards, etc.) are a normal, routine part of daily life. These active modes contribute to the quality of life and public health, provide options for getting around, and are important elements of the integrated transportation solution the City of Hamilton wants to achieve.

Specifically, walking and cycling are directly related to the following GRIDS strategic directions:

Four: Design Neighbourhoods to improve access to community life.

Six: Expand transportation options that encourage travel by foot, bicycle and transit and enhance efficient inter-regional transportation connections.

Promoting and encouraging walking and cycling through the provision of facilities and programs helps build active communities, and reduces the dependence on automobile transportation and the associated infrastructure costs, air quality, safety and congestion problems. With the increasing focus on the health costs of our sedentary lifestyles, daily walking and cycling are seen as essential components of a healthy lifestyle. Many communities are attempting to redesign themselves to facilitate non-motorized travel by: Providing walkways and bikeways that accommodate and encourage non-motorized travel, rather than only designing communities around the automobile; Managing traffic and road design to allow pedestrians, cyclists and other travelers as well as motorists to use the roads. Features that facilitate automobile use such as wide roads and intersections, large parking lots, drive-through businesses can create an uncomfortable and unsafe environment for non-motorists; Encouraging walking and cycling within and between communities by managing the shape of urban growth and promoting more compact development.

Within transportation plans, policies that affect walking and cycling involve the planning, design, implementation, operation and maintenance of linear facilities (sidewalks, crosswalks, trails, bikeways, and bicycles on transit) and other amenities (benches, shelters, bicycle parking, etc.), and may also complement policies in other City programs that encourage cycling and walking (safety and education programs, bikeway maps, etc.).

City of Hamilton
DEVELOPMENT OF POLICY PAPERS FOR PHASE TWO OF THE TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN FOR THE CITY OF HAMILTON
WALKING AND CYCLING POLICY PAPER

[Copy of original TLC letter attached]

Three bells

Bell rings at 9:10 for Osler students

Craig Campbell, Dundas Star News

(Jul 6, 2007)

Concerns over the planned early start time for Sir William Osler School convinced the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board to conduct a quick, and rare, parent survey.

According to local superintendent of education John Laverty, a slim majority supported the 9:10 a.m. start - and that time will be used for both Dundas District and Central Park in September, as well as Osler whenever it is ready for students.

"This was somewhat atypical," Mr. Laverty said this week after the new start time was announced to parents on June 28, the last day of school.

He explained bell times are usually decided in consultation between the board's transportation department and school principal.

In this particular case, two schools being closed by the board -- Central Park at 9 a.m. and Dundas District at 8:10 a.m. -- had a wide variation in start time.

"We've never faced that before," Mr. Laverty said.

An early 8 a.m. start time or a late 9:10 a.m. start would have allowed the board to use existing busses and not add new transportation. But when an 8 a.m. start time was announced by principal Maria Rowles, the school board started to hear from several concerned parents who felt the start time was much too early, particularly for younger students who walk to school. So board staff agreed to send home a parent survey on June 25 with a deadline for them to be returned by the morning of Wednesday, June 27.

Mr. Laverty agreed the opportunity for parental input was a short one, but noted choosing a bell time typically doesn't involve outside consultation. He said the Osler situation was not typical.

He said the board also normally finalizes start times before the end of the school year, so parents have a couple of months to make child care arrangements if necessary.

According to a letter sent to parents on June 28, 90 per cent of parents responded to the survey, and 53 per cent preferred the 9:10 a.m. start.

When it opens sometime after next September, Osler school will be one of three schools within half a kilometre on the south side of Governor's Road.

Start times will range from 8:15 a.m. at Highland Secondary School to 9 a.m. at St. Bernadette Catholic Elementary, and 9:10 a.m. at Osler.

The new school's principal must request any crossing guards necessary from the City of Hamilton. The city operated three crossing guards on Creighton Road this school year, including one at Creighton and Governor's Road.

Randy Kay, a Dundas resident and member of transportation for livable communities, an Ontario Public Interest Research Group, said the primary concern should now be getting kids to the school by walking, cycling or roller blading, while calming traffic and creating safe crossing points.

Opposed to widening

Mr. Kay said TLC is opposed to the city widening Governor's Road, which allows for increased traffic speeds and increases crossing distance.

The group supports the addition of bicycle lanes.

"Priority one should be pedestrians and cycling, then transit, then finally cars. And it's not clear to me at this point this is the emphasis we're getting," Mr. Kay said.

Governor's Reply

From: Powers, Russ < russ.powers@hamilton.ca>
Date: Dec 18, 2006 1:08 PM
Subject: RE: School Zone Safety on Governors Road
To: TLC <tlchamilton@gmail.com>

Your issues are noted and will be considered as the process moves forward.

- - - -

(read TLC's Letter to Councillor Powers)

Governing Governor's

PO Box 19, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton ON L8S 1C0
tlchamilton.blogspot.com
g-tlc@mcmaster.ca
905-525-9140 ext. 26026

Monday, December 18, 2006

Dear Councillor Powers,

Transportation for Liveable Communities (TLC) is a working group of the Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG) McMaster. TLC works to achieve balanced sustainable transportation solutions in the city of Hamilton.

We are writing to draw attention to the traffic situation on Governor’s Road in Dundas.

With the new Dundas West elementary school under construction on Governors Road at Bridlewood, there will be three schools (including Highland Secondary School and St. Bernadette’s elementary school) on this short stretch of highway (less than 1km).

The statement of a problem can make all the difference when seeking solutions. TLC is concerned that a solution you offered on your web site during the recent election campaign begins with the assumption that “traffic flow” is the problem on Governor’s Road, and offers road widening as a solution.

TLC feels that this is the wrong assumption and a desperately wrong conclusion.

The problem, as we see it, is traffic flows all too well the majority of the time on Governor’s, and that the speed of that flow puts school children and other pedestrians, cyclists and drivers at risk.

As you are likely aware there is a direct correlation between traffic speed and pedestrian fatalities:

Fig. 1 U.K. Department of Transportation, 1987. Killing Speed and Saving Lives, London, UK DOT.

Generally the only time traffic slows down on Governors is during “rush” hours, when the presence of too many single occupancy vehicles all going in the same direction at the same time creates a situation that is, from a pedestrian and cycling point of view, actually safer in terms of collision impacts. We should be aiming for a 30km/h maximum speed limit in the school zone.

TLC would thus prefer to pose the question: “what measures can be employed to create a safe and healthy environment for children using active methods of getting to school (i.e. cycling, walking) and to engineer a safer roadside environment for area residents outside of school hours?”

The City of Hamilton’s Public Health department recognizes the need for safe routes to school:

“Concerns about health and pedestrian safety among our children and air quality issues are prompting us to rethink the way we choose to get around in our communities,” said Sue Connell, Public Health Nurse with the City of Hamilton. “Obesity and inactivity in young children are reaching unprecedented levels and are creating serious health problems in our children. Vehicle transportation contributes to air pollution and smog and our children are especially vulnerable to the impacts of poor air quality. Many of the school zones in the Hamilton area are unsafe because of traffic concerns because large numbers of children are being transported to and from school. By walking to school with their parents or caregivers, children have an excellent opportunity to learn and develop their pedestrian skills.”

SOURCE: http://www.myhamilton.ca/myhamilton/cityandgovernment/

newsandpublications/newsreleases/ 2005news/september/05-09-30.htm

Road widening would only allow for increased vehicle speeds and make crossings more dangerous than the current situation, and run counter to the goals of the Transportation Master Plan currently under consideration by the city, and the goals outlined in Vision 2020:

• To develop an integrated sustainable transportation system for people, goods and services which is environmentally friendly, affordable, efficient, convenient, safe and accessible.
• To encourage a shift in personal lifestyle and behaviour towards transportation choices that enhance personal health and fitness, save money, and have the lowest environmental cost.

It is imperative that we get the necessary improvements in place as opportunity presents itself. And it is important that proper engineering is applied to ensure safe outcomes.

When slowing or ‘calming’ traffic, the right design invites the right driver response. The guiding principle of traffic calming is to influence motorist speeds and behavior through good design whenever possible, rather than by traffic control measures such as traffic signals and STOP signs.

There are many design and engineering tools that can be used to slow down traffic and make it safer for children to walk and bicycle to school including;

• Narrow lanes
• Chokers and chicanes
• Speed humps
• Raised pedestrian crosswalks
• Neighborhood traffic circles
• Reduced corner radiiSpeed sensitive signals
  

Source: http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/guide/engineering/slowing_down_traffic.cfm

Proper consideration must be given to effective traffic calming design if we are to be supportive of active modes of transportation like walking and cycling. Lane narrowing, the addition of bicycle lanes, wider sidewalks, a traffic median, a pedestrian crossing are all potential treatments that could enhance the safety of the school zone.

Surely the concentration of schools on this dangerous roadway makes safety considerations a priority for the city to address in a timely fashion.

TLC is happy to assist by being part of a public process that effectively deals with the worthy goals of providing safe and active routes to school, and improved cycling and walking facilities for area residents.

TLC would appreciate your prompt response and an outline/timeline of the next steps you intend to take.

We look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

Randy Kay

For Transportation for Liveable Communities