Westminster City Council
SUBJECT
Title
City of Westminster Safe Routes to School Plan.
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publichearing
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From: Adolfo Ozaeta, Assistant City Manager
Requested by: Administration
Prepared by: Veronica Johnson, Management Analyst
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RECOMMENDED ACTION
Recommendation
Adopt a Resolution entitled, “A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF WESTMINSTER, CALIFORNIA, ADOPTING THE CITY OF WESTMINSTER SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PLAN.”
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BACKGROUND
In February 2021, the City applied for a Sustainable Transportation Planning Grant with the State of California for the Westminster Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Plan. In November 2021, the City was awarded the grant in the amount of $469,000 with a local match of $76,500, for a total project cost of $545,500. The City retained the consulting team, comprised of Alta Planning and Design, Inc., Mark Thomas, and Fehr & Peers, through the RFP process and began the SRTS Plan in August 2022.
Through the efforts of City staff and expert consultants and with community and stakeholder input, the team has developed a citywide SRTS Plan that includes conceptual infrastructure design and programmatic recommendations at all of Westminster’s 21 schools for safety improvements; and more convenient walking and bicycling options for Westminster's schoolchildren, families, and residents. The project aims to ensure that all students and their families, regardless of income or vehicle ownership, have equitable access to affordable transportation options.
The SRTS Plan is needed due to Westminster's high traffic volumes and speeds, and to provide infrastructure to enhance pedestrian and bicycle improvements for school-aged pedestrians who walk and bike to school. Westminster's SRTS Plan also builds upon recent efforts to improve active transportation, including the City's Mobility Element update of the General Plan, Westminster's Active Transportation Plan, Orange County Transportation Authority’s (OCTA) SRTS Action Plan, and SCAG RTP/SCS goals. The goal of the SRTS Plan is to create a healthier, safer, and more vibrant Westminster.
In developing the SRTS Plan, outreach efforts included conducting walk audits at all 21 schools located within the City of Westminster. Present at the walk audits were stakeholders including students, parents, school staff, City staff, police department, consultants, the Orange County Health Department, and OCTA. Additional outreach included pop-up events and workshops to ensure equitable engagement of stakeholders. Outreach for this plan began in Spring 2023 and concluded in Spring 2024.
Through this comprehensive effort, the City of Westminster Safe Routes to School Plan identifies and maps safe routes to schools, recommended infrastructure improvements, and identifies education/encouragement programs and policies to promote and support safe routes to schools in Westminster.
City staff will pursue grant funding for the implementation of the proposed concepts recommended in the SRTS Plan. Projects identified in an adopted plan are generally more competitive.
FISCAL IMPACT
None.
LEGAL REVIEW
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed as to form.
CONCLUSION
Safe Routes to School programs create safer routes for walking or biking to school, including recommendations for infrastructure improvements; and guidance for education, engineering, and enforcement programs. By adopting the city’s first-ever Safe Routes to School Plan, this document provides a foundation to actively encourage physical activity and improved connectivity within the city.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Proposed Resolution
2. City of Westminster Safe Routes to School Executive Summary
3. City of Westminster Safe Routes to School Plan
REVIEWED BY
Erin Backs, Finance Director
Christian Bettenhausen, City Attorney
Christine Cordon, City Manager