Message on High School Intersection/Traffic Circulation Needs Assessment Now!

[TONY Redington]

Good Day:

As a result of Walk Bike Council meeting discussion--and in face of unlimited planning funds from feds--sent this message later last night to key folks involved in planning for world class high school at the current site:

Good Day Ward 2 and 3 School Commissioners:

At the Walk Bike Council meeting this evening the importance of a full integrated traffic circulation plan as part of the new high school facilities location--assuming the current site--came up.  With a roundabout on the North Ave Corridor Plan (2014) at Institute Drive and consideration of walk/bike/transit connections north to the 127 area, the need for a preliminary design seemed to those attending to be of importance.  

I did surface this question with you about a year ago when things were very unsettled and it was suggested this was in the province of DPW and did forward the concern to them.  However, it is now clear a new building or two is possible and the traffic circulation, transit, roundabout (the only intersection type which Federal Highway has designated as a proven pedestrian safety countermeasure), etc., should be evaluated before and during facilities design, not afterward. 

Am not sure who should take the lead, but am just trying to get the word out!

Note the attached photo of the Montpelier Keck Circle Roundabout now 26 years old located 300 feet from Main Street Middle School--in 20 years 0 bike crashes, one non-serious (non-student) pedestrian injury and two minor car occupant injuries.  Our 20 high crash BTV intersections on VTrans list (concentrated in ONE and Downtown) average 1.5 injuries a year!

   Yours truly, 

   Tony Redington

   Walk Safety Advocate

   125 Saint Paul St  Apt 3-03

cc  Erik Brotz Brown, Chair, Walk Bike Council

     Chapin Spencer, DPW Director

     DPW Commissioner Peggy O'Neal Vivanco

     Nicole Losch, DPW

     NPA 2/3 Steering Committee

     Jen Green, BED

     Max Tracy, City Council

     Mark Barlow, City Council

     Max Schindler, Burlington CCRPC Representative

     Jack Hanson, TEUC Chair

     Jane Stromberg, City Council

     Charles Baker, CCRPC Director

     Jonathan Weber, Local Motion

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What can you do?

Sign the Stop the Champlain Parkway Project and Choose the Champlain RIGHTway Petition: http://chng.it/tS9Ts5FjDx   SafeStreetsBurlington.com