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| Date: | 04/16/2024 |
| Title: | Safe Routes to School Phase 2 Adoption |
| Presented by: | Elyse Monat |
| Department: | Planning & Community Services |
| Presentation: | Yes |
Information
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Policy Coordinating Committee (PCC) adopt the Safe Routes to School Plan, Phase 2.
The Technical Advisory Committee, the Planning Board, the City Council, and the County Commissioners forwarded a recommendation of plan approval. The City Council added an additional disclaimer to the plan which has been added to the document.
The Technical Advisory Committee, the Planning Board, the City Council, and the County Commissioners forwarded a recommendation of plan approval. The City Council added an additional disclaimer to the plan which has been added to the document.
BACKGROUND (Consistency with Adopted Plans and Policies, if applicable)
The Billings Metropolitan Planning Organization conducted a Safe Routes to School Plan, Phase 2 with Sanderson Stewart as the consultant. This plan looked at a mix of Billings Public Schools, County schools within the MPO area, and private schools.
Schools in the plan include:
The Plan evaluates current walking and biking conditions at the schools above, identifies barriers or issues that might discourage students from walking or biking, develops a list of recommended projects ranked by impact, and develops walking route maps for schools where walking and bicycle infrastructure is currently available (excludes Billings Christian School Elementary, Grace Montessori Academy, and Pioneer Elementary). The 105 infrastructure recommendations were developed by considering several sources, including public input from open houses or tabling sessions at school events, public comment from an interactive website that included a survey and interactive map, on-the-ground walking audits of all the schools, surveys from principals, discussions with crossing guards, GIS data, and staff expertise. Recommended projects are generally within one mile of the school. Project impact was evaluated using four categories, including traffic safety, (project) feasibility, demand, and equity. The Plan also identified programmatic recommendations to advance Safe Routes to School.
The Technical Advisory Committee forwarded a recommendation of Plan approval to the Policy Coordinating Committee and the governing bodies at its meeting on February 29, 2024, and the Planning Board forwarded a recommendation of Plan approval to the Policy Coordinating Committee at its meeting on March 26, 2024. The Billings City Council forwarded a recommendation of plan approval, with an additional disclaimer, at their meeting on April 8, 2024. The County Commissioners forwarded a recommendation of plan approval, with the Council disclaimer, at their meeting on April 9, 2024.
Schools in the plan include:
- Ben Steele Middle School
- Billings Central Catholic High School
- Billings Christian Elementary School
- Billings Christian High School
- Castle Rock Middle School
- Elysian School
- Grace Montessori Academy
- Independent Elementary School
- Lewis & Clark Middle School
- Lockwood Schools Campus (K-8)
- Medicine Crow Middle School
- Mount Olive Lutheran School
- Pioneer Elementary School
- Riverside Middle School
- St. Francis Catholic School
- Sunrise Montessori School
- Will James Middle School
The Plan evaluates current walking and biking conditions at the schools above, identifies barriers or issues that might discourage students from walking or biking, develops a list of recommended projects ranked by impact, and develops walking route maps for schools where walking and bicycle infrastructure is currently available (excludes Billings Christian School Elementary, Grace Montessori Academy, and Pioneer Elementary). The 105 infrastructure recommendations were developed by considering several sources, including public input from open houses or tabling sessions at school events, public comment from an interactive website that included a survey and interactive map, on-the-ground walking audits of all the schools, surveys from principals, discussions with crossing guards, GIS data, and staff expertise. Recommended projects are generally within one mile of the school. Project impact was evaluated using four categories, including traffic safety, (project) feasibility, demand, and equity. The Plan also identified programmatic recommendations to advance Safe Routes to School.
The Technical Advisory Committee forwarded a recommendation of Plan approval to the Policy Coordinating Committee and the governing bodies at its meeting on February 29, 2024, and the Planning Board forwarded a recommendation of Plan approval to the Policy Coordinating Committee at its meeting on March 26, 2024. The Billings City Council forwarded a recommendation of plan approval, with an additional disclaimer, at their meeting on April 8, 2024. The County Commissioners forwarded a recommendation of plan approval, with the Council disclaimer, at their meeting on April 9, 2024.
ALTERNATIVES
The Policy Coordinating Committee may:
- Adopt the Safe Routes to School Plan, Phase 2
- Not adopt the Safe Routes to School Plan, Phase 2
FISCAL EFFECTS
There are no direct fiscal effects from adopting the plan. However, the City, County, schools, or other parties, may choose to program funds to implement project recommendations in the future.