To ArlCoBo re: School Slow Zones

Good evening,

I am writing to enthusiastically support the adoption of consent agenda item #18 that will codify the 20mph school slow zones. The proposed change in the County Code will make our streets safer for our children and for everyone who travels to a school building and make the work of staff more efficient. 

As you may be aware, the Virginia legislature is currently considering a bill to increase school crossing zones from 600 feet to 750 feet from school boundaries.  Going forward, Arlington should follow suit and increase the size of the school slow zones. See HB2104: https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?231+sum+HB2104.  

Arlington should also increase the time that the variable school crossing zone speed limits are in effect, consistent with Virginia Code §46.2-873, which allows such signs to be in effect "during such other times as the presence of children on such school property or going to and from school reasonably requires a special warning to motorists."  All Arlington schools host activities - morning recess, clubs, sports, enrichment classes, etc - or child care (or "extended day") before and after school. The students attending those activities and care should be safe getting to and from the school building. Arlington should have lower variable speed limits around schools in effect at least 15 minutes before morning activities and extended day begin and at least 15 minutes after afternoon and evening activities and extended day end. 

Even with school slow zones, our work is not done. Arlington County should continue to improve street safety, particularly around school properties. Schools are currently major contributors to car traffic - with the accompanying negative environmental, air quality, and safety impacts. By making streets around schools safer, Arlington will enable more students and staff to bike and walk to school, reducing this school-related car traffic. Also, school buildings are community centers that serve much more than just their students. Schools serve as meeting places, sports venues, community theaters, voting places, playgrounds and parks for the entire community. Schools are distributed throughout the County. Making school streets safer makes the entire county safer.

Specifically, Arlington County should adopt best practices for safe school streets from around the world. Arlington should add design elements that reinforce the lower speed limits and reduce volumes of motor vehicle traffic around schools, so as chokers, chicanes, and diverters. Arlington should look into limiting private vehicles, particularly internal combustion engine vehicles, from the streets around schools. Arlington should support efforts to get students to school via walking or biking, by addressing safety issues on routes to schools, supporting bike buses and walking school buses, and improving the maintenance of routes to schools, especially on trails. Arlington should also continue to work towards getting more students to school via public transit and school buses. 

The school slow project zone is an important part of Arlington's Vision Zero efforts and staff should be commended on their work, both to engage with the public on this project and to come up with efficient ways to make our streets safer. 

I look forward to continuing to work with you to achieve Vision Zero in Arlington and to make Arlington a better place to live, learn, work and play, especially for our kids.

Thank you for your time and for your service.

/s

Gillian Burgess
gillian.burgess@gmail.com
646-284-8894


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