18-Deliberate and act on a resolution approving an application for funding through TXDOT for Safe Routes to Schools Infrastructure Grant Program18CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM BRIEFING SHEET
Submittal Date:
Originating Department:
Presented By:
A.genda Item No.:
11 /06/09
Council Date:
City Manager
Kevin Carruth
18.
11 /09/09
RECOMMENDED MOTION:
Move to approve a resolution approving an application to the Texas Department of Transportation Safe
Routes to Schools Infrastructure Grant Program and authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and
execute all necessary documents.
POLICY ISSUE(S):
Grant application; Infrastructure development
BACKGROUND:
The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Safe Routes to Schools Infrastructure Grant Program
provides up to $500,000 to develop the infrastructure to connect schools to trails so that school children
have a safe environment to ride or walk to school. The proposed project will connect Justiss Elementary
and Crocket Middle School to the Trail de Paris and follows the Safe Routes to School Master Plan
previously adopted by the City and funded through another TxDOT grant last year. This project is in
cooperation with the Paris Independent School District.
BOARD/COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
EXHIBITS:
Resolution; Draft application
ACTION:
BUDGET INFO:
❑ Financial Report ❑ Minute Order
Expense
$
❑ Department Report ❑ Resolution
Budgeted Amt.
$
❑ Presentation Z Ordinance
y'I'D Actual
$
❑ Public Hearing ❑ Other
Acct. Name
Acct. Number
FISCAL NOTES:
REVIEWED AND APPROVED BY:
Z Administration Z Ciry Cletk ❑ Community Development ❑ EMS/IT ❑ Finance ❑ Fire
❑ Municipal Court Z Legal ❑ Library ❑ Police ❑ Eng./Public Works ❑ Utilities
City of Paris 0 17 5 Revised 2/04/08
DRAFT
attorney\reswork\current\SRTS Infrastructure Grant Res 2009
RESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS;
APPROVING A111 APPLICATION FOR FUIVDING THROUGH THE TEXAS
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATIOIV, FOR THE SAFE ROUTES TO
SCHOOLS IIVFRASTRUCTURE GRAIVT PROGRAM FOR INFRASTRUCTURE
IMPROVEMENTS TO CREATE A SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR CHILDREIV TO
BE ABLE TO WALK OR RIDE BIKES TO AND FROM SCHOOLS IN THE
PARIS IIVDEPENDEIVT SCHOOL DISTRICT; AUTHORIZIIVG THE
EXECUTION OF ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR
ACCEPTANCE AND IMPLEMENTATION OF SAID GRANT UPON NOTICE
THEREOF; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS RELATED TO
THE SUBJECT; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the Texas Department of Transportation through the Safe Routes to
Schools Infrastructure Grant Program provides funding for infrastructure projects, and the
City of Paris wishes to apply for grant funds to provide infrastructure improvements such
as sidewalks, crosswalks, signs and bike lanes to provide a safe environment for children to
be able to walk or ride bikes to and from schools in the Paris Independent School District;
and,
WHEREAS, on September 29, 2008, the City Council of the City of Paris conducted a
public hearing and adopted Resolution No. 2008-079 supporting the Safe Routes to Schools
Master Plan with the majority of infrastructure to be constructed on City right-of-ways in
the areas of Crocket Middle School and Justiss Elementary School.
WHEREAS, The City Council of the City of Paris is desirous of processing an
application to the Texas Department of Transportation for the Safe Routes to Schools
Infrastructure Grant Program in the amount of $500,000.00 to fund infrastructure
improvements to create a safe environment for children to be able to walk or ride bikes to
and from schools in the Paris Independent School District and the City Manager should be
authorized to execute any and all documents necessary for acceptance and implementation
of said grant upon notice thereof.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF PARIS, TEXAS, THAT:
Section 1. The findings set out in the preamble to this resolution are hereby in
all things approved.
Section 2. The submission of an application to the Texas Department of
Transportation, Safe Routes to Schools Infrastructure Grant Program be, and the same is
hereby approved to provide infrastructure improvements for a safe environment for
children to be able to walk or ride bikes to and from schools in the Paris Independent
School District, in the amount of $500,000.00.
Section 3. The City of Paris agrees to comply with all commitments and
assurances set forth in the grant application and, if funded, the award, and the City
Manager of the City of Paris be, and he is hereby authorized and directed to execute on
behalf of the City of Paris, an application for said grant.
Section 4. The City Engineer be, and he is hereby appointed as Project Director
and is hereby authorized and directed to execute and deliver, on behalf of the City of Paris all reports, communications, assurances, and documents necessary for the completion of
said project.
Section S. That the Director of Finance be, and he is hereby, authorized and
directed to serve as the Financial Officer for said project and to receive and distribute funds
for said infrastructure project.
Section 6. That the City Mayor, City Manager, the City Engineer and Finance
Director be authorized and directed to execute, on behalf of the City of Paris, and all
documents necessary for acceptance and implementation of said grant upon notice of
award thereof by the Texas Department of Transportation under the terms and conditions
and in the forms approved by the City Attorney, and to proceed with the use of said funds
upon receipt thereof for purposes stated herein and in accordance with the grant
conditions.
DULY PASSED AND APPROVED this 9th day of November, 2009.
ATTEST:
Janice Ellis, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
W. Kent McIlyar, City Attorney
Jesse James Freelen, Mayor
- ' 17
i
~ Project Number:
(For TxDOT use only)
Form 2334
(08/09)
Page t of 6
Infrastructure Project Application
(Please refer to the Program Guidance and Application Instructions for details on application submission requirements)
Applications may represent a single school campus, muitiple schools, a region, community and/or a school district.
1. Applicant Information:
NBme: IKevin Carruth I
Tltle: City Manger
Organization: city of Paris
Mailing address:
Other Information:
Project manager:
Title:
Agency
Shawn Napier
Director, Engineering, Planning
City of Paris
Telephone number:
City, State, Zlp: Paris, Texas 75460 Fax number:
Email:
2. Title of project (limit 100 characters)
City of Paris, TX and Paris ISD SRTS Infrastructure Project
Which SRTS category(ies) does your project address (check all that apply):
N Sidewalk Improvements
❑ Traffic Diversion
N Secure Bicycle-Parking Facilities
Z Ped/Bike Crossing Improvement Z On-Street Bike Facilities
Z Off-Street Bike/Ped Facilities Z Traffic Calming (off-system only)
3. Project description (limit 200 characters)
Our project greatly improves safety around two schools in PISD by providing a means to walk or bike to school on a path that is
formally separated from vehicular traffic on busy streets.
Specific Location of Proposed Improvement Project:
N Sketch, map, or aerial photo of project limits attached: (Photographs, cross sections and typical sections may be provided)
School(s) or District: IParis ISD ~
City/County: Paris/Lamar
TxDOT District: Paris
4. Which specific schools are affected by this project?
Justiss Elementary and Crockett MiddleSchool
Safe Routes to School Program (SRTS)
Infrastructure Project Application 17" S'
~
Form 2334 (08l09)
Page 2 of 6
5. What is the proposed project start date? i o/zoi o end date? i o/zo1i
6. Which SRTS component(s) does your project address (check all that apply):
❑ Education ❑ Enforcement ❑ Encouragement ❑ Evaluation Z Engineering
7. SRTS Plan has been submitted and approved by TxDOT?
M Yes ❑ No
If yes, please identify the school, district, or community that submitted the plan.
I Paris ISD
If no, please note that a SRTS plan must be submitted and approved by the SRTS state coordinator at
TxDOT prior to a proposal being accepted for funding consideration.
8. Does the local school(s) or school district have a policy
that prohibits or discourages bike & pedestrian travel to school?
❑ Yes ZNo
If Yes, what measures are proposed to change this policy? (Limit 200 characters)
9. Has a local resolution endorsing the project and committing to provide any maintenance
requirements of the city or county been issued and included with this application?
Z Yes ❑ No
10. Has applicant previously been awarded an SRTS project?
❑ Yes N No
If Yes, has the project been successfully completed?
❑ Yes ❑ No
If No, briefly explain:
Safe Routes to School Program (SRTS)
Infrastructure Project Application
17
Form 2334 (08/09)
Page 3 of 6 Project Number:
(For TxDOT use only)
Problem Identification
Total points available - 25
1. Identify any potential safety problem(s) related to Safe Routes to School by indicating the obstacles
(physical or perceived) to walking and/or biking to and from the school site(s):
Please check at least one
Z Limited or no cross walks
❑ Posted speed limits
Z Children walking or biking in street
Z Roadway safety
Z Commercial driveways/railroads/intersections
❑ Width of intersection or roadway
Z Width of shoulder, sidewalk and/or trail
Z On-street parking
Z Congestion near drop off points
❑ Recent changes in adjacent land use and/or development
Z Potential users not traveling due to perceived risk
❑ Possible storm water drainage design issues
Z Missing links, lack of facility, restrictive barriers
❑ Other
2. Problem Identification Description (limit 5,000 characters):
Instructions: Use the following space to articulate the SRTS problem so that you can demonstrate why
the proposed solution is necessary and appropriate. If documentation such as sketches, pictures, maps,
exhibits, diagrams, and tables are submitted, they must be referenced in the text, numbered sequentially
and submitted as an attachment (PDF, jpg, etc.).
In addition to describing the problem(s), explain any obstacles (physical or perceived) to walking/hiking to
school and how they are related to the identified problem(s). Identify risks or hazards facing children who
bike and/or walk to school and how they will be addressed by the proposed project. If crashes
or incidents have occurred, identify date, time, frequency, type, and severity of crashes that will be
addressed by the proposed project. Other information, such as health statistics may also be
included as support documentation. Was an engineering study of the prob/em conducted? If yes, please
explain and attach a copy. Provide pedestrian signal warrant analysis for intersections, trafflc studies, etc,
when applicable.
Describe the student population. Example: What is the percentage of children who currently walk or bike
to and from your school(s)? Complete Appendix A: CURRENT ENVIRONMENT (PRE-PROJECT) for
each school (included in this application).
Identify current and potentia/ safe wa/king and biking routes to schools. (Please see the SRTS Program
Guidance for assistance in determining safe routes.)
Safe Routes to School Program (SRTS)
Infrastructure Project Application
lo~~
Form 2334 (08/09)
Page 4 of 6 Project Number:
(For TxDOT use only)
Problem Identification Description Continued:
(Insert narrative below)
Based upon evaluation of current conditions, students who want to walk or ride their bike to Justiss Elementary School (JES) or Crockett
Middle School (CMS) have no route that will provide a safe barrier between them and vehicular traffic. Both schools are located in areas
of high vehicle usage and almost non-existent sidewalks with no bike lanes. The few existing sidewalks adjacent to JES are broken,
overgrown and in a state of disrepair.(Photo (P)1) There are no sidewalks adjacent to CMS.(P2)
arents, students and school personnel face many real and perceived obstacles regarding students walking/biking to school. Our SRTS
laster Plan identifies at least ten real barriers to active transportation for each campus. Barriers at both schools include: one crosswalk at
ach campus; congestion at student drop off and pick up areas; no safe corridor to ride a bike; crossing streets and intersections are
ifficult or dangerous due to high traffic volume; missing or insufficient walkways; intersection with traffic light in high traffic area;
talkways are not accessible to students with disabilities; bike parking at schools is insufficient; and, public safety concerns. At JES the
~ck of shoulder on the street which runs directly in front of the campus, causes children to walk on a very heavily travelled roadway.(P3)
nd, at CMS, on-street parking on the road directly in front of schoo) causes visual hazards and unsafe student movement. Perceived
bstacles include: student/vehicle accidents, personal safety incidents, bicycling accidents, unsafe vehicle speed in high traffic areas and
ge of students (JES).
Over 94% (JES) and 96% (CMS) of the enrolled students reside within 2 miles of their school. However, less than t% of the student
population walks or bikes to either school. Hazardous route busing is provided due to the identified safety hazards of active
transportation and the lack of family vehicles (elevated poverty rate in area). CMS is located in a highly residential area of the city which
should encourage the natural inclination of walking/biking to school. However, since no sidewalks are available in the residential area
most closely linked to the school and sidewalks exist only on the major thoroughfares connecting the outlying neighborhoods (134)
students cannot safely exercise this option. Less than 1% of the parents surveyed replied that they carpool with other families resulting
in congestion at student drop off/pick up areas. JES serves a younger student population. The neighborhoods adjacent to this school
are accessed by either crossing an extremely busy street, that has no traffic calming features, to a neighborhood with no sidewatks or by
walking on a sidewalk that is in extreme disrepair/non-existent in places.(P5) Parents surveyed indicated they would be supportive of
their children walking/biking to school if the route were convenient and safe. Currently, the situation is not conducive to parents
allowing their children to utilize this option.
During the previous four years there have been 14 trafFic accidents on roadways located within a few blocks of the JES campus; 1 auto-
pedestrian with injury; 4 injury accidents and 9 accidents with property damage. During the same four yeas, Paris Police report 442 traffic
citations were issued. Around CMS, there were 4 traffic accidents in the same time period - one with injury, 3 with property damage and
318 traffic citations issued. Although the number of incidents occurred infrequently, this is a tremendous perceived risk for adults in
assessing the vulnerability of the students.
ur community is participating in the National Children's Health Study which is focusing on some of the root causes of childhood
Iments such asthma and obesity. OR DATA FROM RACHEL - WORK IN PROGRESS
Potentially, there are safe routes for students to walWbike to both schools. Each of the real problems identified above are addressed by
the addition of the infrastructure enhancements subsequently outlined. Once safe passage is provided, perceived risks can be
eliminated.
Safe Routes to School Program (SRTS)
Infrastructure Project Application
~l~i
Form 2334 (08/09)
Page 5 of 6 Project Number:
(For TxDOT use only)
Proposed Improvement Project
Total points available - 40
Description of Proposed Solution (Limit 5,000 characters):
Instructions: Use this space to describe how the proposed improvement project will improve safety and
encourage biking and walking to school. The connection between the problem(s) and the proposed
improved project must be clearly demonstrated. If documentation such as sketches, pictures, maps,
exhibits, diagrams, and tables are to be submitted, they must be referenced in the text and numbered
sequentially. There will be a place on the online submission form to identify and attach these documents.
Please attend to, at a minimum, the following:
1. Describe how the proposed project improves safety within finro miles of your school(s), with
respect to the identified problem(s), including the potential to reduce child injuries and fatalities.
2. Describe how the student population will be affected by the implementation of this infrastructure
project. Example: What is the anticipated percent increase of children who will walk or bike to
school after the project is implemented? Complete Appendix B: PROPOSED ENVIRONMENT
(POST-PROJECT) for each school (included in this application).
3. Describe any enforcement, encouragement and/or educational components related to your
project, either existing or planned. If one or more of the components are not included, please
explain why the component is not an integral part of the project.
4. Describe the existing and expected land-use changes, such as new schools, housing and/or
commercial developments, which would impact the amount of bicycle and pedestrian travel.
For example, a new 100 home subdivision is being built next to an elementary school on a
heavily traveled arterial roadway without connecting sidewalks or 100,000 square feet of
additional retail is expected to be constructed at the intersection northwest quadrant in the next
five years. Please include relevant sections of a comprehensive plan or bicycle and pedestrian
plan, if available.
Safe Routes to School Program (SRTS)
Infrastructure Project Application
Y ~ ~ R'
Form 2334 (08/09)
Page 6 of 6 Project Number:
(For TxDOT use only)
Proposed Improvement Project Continued:
(Insert narrative below)
Our project greatly improves safety around Crockett Middle School (CMS) and Justiss Elementary School (JES) by providing a means to
walk or bike to school on a path that is formally separated from vehicular traffic on busy streets. We have determined that the
infrastructure strategy from our SRTS Master Plan is most relevant to accomplish our overall goals of 1) improving the safety of and 2)
increasing the number of students walking and bicycling to school. It should be noted that our SRTS Master Plan incorporates strategies
from each of the categories of education, encouragement, enforcement and evaluation; however, due to the almost total lack of safe,
appropriate routes to walWbike to school, parents and students will not take the first step if these deficiencies are not corrected.
ents will be positively impacted by the implementation of this project. Our goal is to increase the percentage of students walking/
g to school by 10%. ?time? Parents and students surveyed in our SRTS Master Plan indicated a willingness to walk and/or bike to
ol if appropriate and safe avenues for travel were in place.
r SRTS Master Plan contains components which are related to this project. CMS and JES participated in 2009 Int'I Walk to School Day.
isical education activities at each school educate and encourage students to increase daily physical activity. Use of these techniques
:ourages the students to be physically active during family time on the weekends. However, education and encouragement strategies
not an integral part of this application due to the fact that there are no safe routes to walWbike to school and infrastructure must be
istructed in order for the other strategies to be successful.
The following describes the proposed improvements for each campus with numbered items corresponding to the numbered
improvements indicated on each map (attached). The focus of both projects is sidewalWcrosswalk construction.
The proposed improvements for CMS include four foot wide concrete sidewalks, flashing school zone signs, rumble strips, bike lanes and
a 12 foot wide hike/bike sidewalk. Specifically: 1. Two new flashing school zone signs/rumble strips installed in high traffic areas. 2. New
sidewalks and crosswalks - north. 3. New sidewalks and crosswalks- south. 4. New sidewalk and crosswalks - west to connect bike lanes.
5. New bike lanes on roadway connecting to new pedestrian/bike lane connecting to existing hike/bike Trail de Paris - the artery of our
SRTS system.
The proposed improvements for JES include four foot wide concrete sidewalks, flashing school zone signs, rumble strips, and painted
walking area in an existing parking lot. 1. New rumble strips added to existing flashing signs or in conjunction with new flashing and
non-flashing signs in four areas - all high traffic areas. 2. A four foot striped walking area will be painted on parking lot surface to provi(
a route to new crosswalks and new sidewalk. 3. Existing crosswalk improvements to connect to new four sidewalk.4. New sidewalk
with curb ramps/ crosswalks /culvert will end at railroad crossing, tying into a proposed hike/bike trail (Trail de Paris). S. New sidewalk
with curb ramps/crosswalks will continue south until it reaches existing concrete parking lot on northeast corner of t 9th St (FM 79) and
Bonham St (Bus. US 82). There is signal control at intersection.
acles to active transportation will be rectified by construction of the improvements outlined above. By providing a formal
ration between the paths of our students and the hazards of rush hour traffic, we will begin the process of implementing our SRTS
The combination of traffic safety devices, increased police patrol and student safety education will result in fewer traffic and
!strian accidents and/or injuries. An added benefit is that students can access the Trail de Paris from several neighborhoods and
v bike to CMS.
Safe Routes to School Program (SRTS)
Infrastructure Project Application
1 r1,
~
~
n,
~
Form 2336
(osios)
Page 1 of 2
Project Measurement
Total points available -10
Project Number:
(For TxDOT use only)
Description of the progress and success of the project will be measured and evaluated.
Performance measures may include before and after data such as the following:
• Total number of students reached through the project
• Number of students biking to school
• Number of students walking to school
• Number of students bused to school
• Number of students driven to school
• Number of partnerships developed
• Completion of a safety analysis
• Letter of appreciation
• Survey of parental approval and/or support
Even though infrastructure projects are construction projects, there is often public involvement in the
planning stages as well as education about the improvement after it has been completed. These activities
can also provide measures that can help support the projecYs progress and impact following completion.
Please describe how the project will be measured in the following section.
Safe Routes to School Program (SRTS)
Infrastructure Project Application
~~`t
Form 2336
(oaios)
Page 2 of 2
Project Measurement:
(Insert narrative below)
Project Number:I
(For TxDOT use only)
Our SRTS Master Plan includes data that wiil provide the baseline for our project measurement. Student and parent
survey results regarding real and perceived obstacles to active transportation as well as data pertaining to current
travel modes were documented. Additionally, traffic citation and crash data were compiled.
Evaluation strategies outlined in our Master Plan include: record police department statistics regarding
enforcement of traffic laws and number of crashes; record number of students walking/biking to school through
student surveys and counts by volunteers on a random basis; record number of vehicles in drop off and pick up
areas; measure student physical fitness levels before and after implementation of Plan; record parent perceptions
of safety; and, provide opportunities for police and parent comment on progress of program.
The process of developing a SRTS Master Plan brought together members from different factions of our community.
Partnerships were developed with Paris ISD,Think Child Safety, Friends of the Trail de Paris, Crockett Middle School
PTO(parent group) and several governmental entities.
Our Action Plan incorporates strategies in each of the 5 E's. Each component in itself requires measurement and
evaluation to some degree. it will be the responsibility of the SRTS Team to monitor the progress of each
component and make adjustments as necessary to ensure overall success. For example, Paris ISD will request and
evaluate feedback on SRTS-related curriculum presented to students and parents. Then, education and
encouragement components may need modification based upon responses received.
Safe Routes to School Program (SRTS)
Infrastructure Project Application
F ~ r
~ Project Number:
(For TxDOT use only)
Form 2337
(08/09)
Page t of 1
Project Support
Total points available - 10
Instructions: Limit 2,000 characters. Use this section to describe the project partners and the collaboration that has been
created to ensure the success of the project.
Is the project location(s) on designated route(s) in a local or regional bicycle, pedestrian, and/or trails transportation plan in
addition to your Safe Routes to School Plan? Please provide details and relevant sections of the supporting plans.
Indicate if there are any other programmed or planned transportation projects adjacent to the proposed project that would
impact the function of the proposed safety improvement. Provide the time frames for construction and completion for the
programmed or planned projects.
If there are no other programmed or planned projects applicable to this proposed project, please note that information in the
narrative and provide an explanation as to how this proposed project is part of your overall SRTS plan.
Describe any supporting or participating organizations, local agencies, and/or citizen support. (Possible project partners may
include school officials, local traffic engineers, law enforcement agencies, public health agencies or organizations, school-based
associations, local elected officials, nonprofit groups, bicycle clubs, local businesses or other community groups). Please attach
any relevant documentation for the proposed safety improvement, such as letters, petitions, and any required resolutions from
boards, councils, and regional planning agencies.
Describe plans to provide maintenance and ongoing funding, if needed, to ensure the continued success of the project and the
parties responsible for supporting the project.
(Insert narrative below)
The proposed infrastructure project is the backbone of our SRTS Master Plan. Unless a route is constructed that
will provide a safe corridor for our students to walk/bike to school, we cannot realistically proceed with our other
strategies. However, with the infrastructure enhancements and the tremendous support from our community, our
IMaster Plan will be successful.
Led by the City of Paris,Texas, Paris ISD and Friends of the Trail de Paris, our SRTS project enjoys the support of
many community organizations. These include: Paris Police Department, City Council of Paris, Texas, Lamar County
Commissioner's Court and County Judge Chuck Superville, Greater Paris Development Foundation, Lamar County
Chamber of Commerce, PTO of Crockett Middle School, Think Child Safety, Justiss Many of these organizations
have pledged support to a comprehensive SRTS Team that will continue to meet after the construction is complete.
Attached are letters of support.
Paris ISD will lead the education component by implementing physical education activities and other strategies
that will encourage students to continue healthy activities during family time. Think Child Safety will provide
pedestrian/vehicular safety education to all community members. Paris Police Department will increase police
presence on roadways during drop off/pick up times and train a volunteer citizen patrol to increase adult presence
in school zones.
The proposed project links to the Trail de Paris, a paved, multi-use recreational trail that covers approximately 5
miles within Lamar County, Texas. The Trail enjoys tremendous support from the community, including bicycle and
health-oriented groups.
Our project will be constructed on property belonging to the City of Paris and Paris ISD. Both entities have
pledged their support to maintaining the infrastructure once complete and to providing future funding to ensure
the viability of the project. Letter and Resolution attached.
Safe Routes to School Program (SRTS)
Infrastructure Project Application
1~;f,