Southeast Washington School Walk Route Study Data Collection and Analysis Project Steptoe Elementary School Fast Facts Travel Mode: 0% of the student body is estimated to walk or bike to school Student Population: 32 City of Steptoe Population: 180 (2010 US Census) Plans Steptoe does not have an existing safe walk plan or safe walking route map. Intersections and Crossing Guard Locations Steptoe Elementary does not have an existing crossing guard program. School Route Conditions Highway 195 and Highway 23 present formidable barriers to student walking and biking activity. In addition, there are few sidewalks and marked crossings on potential school routes. Other Issues Steptoe Elementary serves a very small, rural student population and is located adjacent to a high speed/traffic highway. No students currently walk or bike to school, mainly as a result of needing to cross Highway 195. Existing Conditions Siting Steptoe School is located on Tennessee Street at the intersection with Scholz Road. The main entrance to the elementary school is on Scholz Road and the student loading/unloading zone is on the school’s east side. Sidewalks, marked crossings, and school warning signage are ab- sent on the approach to the school. Bike parking is located on the southeast side of the building. Appendix: School Site Evaluations and Recommendations page 142 Pedestrian warning signage indicates to motorists that they must yield to people in the crossing Southeast Washington School Walk Route Study Data Collection and Analysis Project Southeast Washington School Walk Route Study Data Collection and Analysis Project Engineering Recommendations Crossings The crossings adjacent to Steptoe Elementary are not marked with crosswalks. High visibility crosswalks, school speed limit, and school warning signs are recommended on all intersection approaches to the school, with priority placed at the intersection of Scholz Road and Tennessee Street. The intersection of Highway 195 and Kerns Avenue, just west of the school property, is not safe for students to cross as it is currently configured. To facilitate a safe crossing a flashing school warning beacon, school 20 mph speed limit sign, and high visibility crosswalks should be installed. This intersection should also be staffed by adult crossing guards in the AM/PM school hours. Sidewalks There are no existing sidewalks on the roadways leading toward the school. Sidewalk development, on at least one side of the roadway is recommended in the following locations: • Scholz Road from Steptoe Street to Cass Road • Kerns Avenue/Hwy 23 from Elder Street to Tennessee Street Bikeways A single route to school warrants separated facilities for bicyclists. It is recommended that Highway 23 from Elder Street to Scholz Road be striped with bike lanes. Bike lanes may also be provided on Scholz Road from the intersection of Highway 195 to Cass Road if the roadway is widened. 144 Steptoe Elementary School £ ¤ 195 £ ¤ 195 U V 23 Old State Blackwell Cass Shahan Steptoe Fisher Old Steptoe Lupfer Throop Elder Old State Water Kerns Moreland Tennessee Gurnsey Cashup Kerns WSDOT, GIS and Roadway Data Office, Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, i- cubed, USDA, USGS, AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, swisstopo, and the GIS User Community Steptoe Elementary School Engineering Recommendations 0 1,000 500 Feet F Southeast Washington Walking Study Data Collection and Analysis Project Date: June 2013 LEGEND Half-mile distance Proposed Facilities Crossing Guard Location Æ ý High visibility crossing 8 9 : L M N O Ped actuated signal Å Æ Ç School sign Í Î School zone beacon 1 2 3 | Speed sign Recommended Facilities Proposed Sidewalk Proposed Bike Lane Proposed Shared Lane Markings å Schools Æ c Library Rail Lines of Washingtion State Southeast Washington School Walk Route Study Data Collection and Analysis Project Southeast Washington School Walk Route Study Data Collection and Analysis Project Non-Infrastructure Recommendations Steptoe Elementary does not currently offer any walking and biking specific programs or education. Details about individual education and encouragement programs is found in Chapter Two. To further increase safe student walking and biking activity, the following are recommended as possible next steps: • Walk/Bike to School Day/Week/Month (annually) • Back-to-School Blitz • Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Education Course and/or Curriculum Procedural Recommendations The Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 392-151 mandates the preparation of “suggested route plans” and the distribution of a recommended school route to all elementary students. The code also provides the details of organizing and training safety patrols. The suggested route plan for Asotin is shown at right. This plan is recommended based on considerations of traffic patterns existing traffic controls, and other crossing protection aids such as school patrols. These route plans limit the number of school crossings so that students move through the crossings in groups, allowing only one entrance-exit from each block to and from school. To further increase the use of the suggested route plans, the following are recommended as next steps for the school: • Distribute the suggested route plans to all students with instructions that it be taken home and discussed with parents • Consider locations along the suggested routes where school safety patrols would be beneficial • Form a Safety Advisory Committee consisting of school administration, law enforcement, traffic engineering professionals, and the school-parent association. • Consider using Student Transportation Allocation funding as matching funds for the construction of recommended engineering improvements 146 å Steptoe Elementary School £ ¤ 195 £ ¤ 195 U V 23 Old State Shahan Blackwell Fisher Cass Smith Old Steptoe Steptoe Tollett Tiegs Mcmeekin Lupfer Throop Elder Lovers Old State Water Moreland Tennessee Fisher WSDOT, GIS and Roadway Data Office Steptoe Elementary School Walk Route Map 0 2,000 1,000 Feet F Southeast Washington Walking Study Data Collection and Analysis Project Date: May 2013 LEGEND å Schools Crossing Guard Location Æ ý High visibility crossing Æ ý Marked crossing 8 9 : L M N O Ped actuated signal Å Æ Ç School sign Í Î School zone beacon 1 2 3 | Speed sign ! Ô Shared Use Path U Bus stop Æ c Library Existing School Route 1-mile Buffer Rail Lines of Washingtion State å £ ¤ 195 £ ¤ 195 U V 23 Old State Blackwell Steptoe Cass Throop O l d Kerns T e n n e s s e e Cashup Shahan 1/4 mile distance from school