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Transportation Services Phone: (907) 742-1200 FAX: (907) 742-1222 |
Therese
Stokes, P.E., Project Manager
Alaska Department of
Transportation and Public Facilities
4111
Dear Ms. Stokes,
Thank
you for the opportunity to comment on the DeArmoun Road Project. The
We
attempt to locate school bus stops in the safest possible locations. When we
evaluate potential school bus stops we consider the following:
·
Site Distance -
on highways where the speed limit is forty (40) miles per hour or more, we need
visibility of at least 500 feet.
·
Waiting area -
areas which have a safe location off the roadway for students to wait for the
bus are preferable.
·
Grade at bus
stops - school bus stops should be located on flat ground. During the winter months it is difficult for
children to board and exit the bus when parked on a slope. Locating a school bus stop on a slope
increases the potential for a child to slip and fall under the school bus.
Buses would also have a difficult time stopping and starting at school bus
stops located on a grade.
·
Street lights -
wherever possible school bus stops will be located in close proximity to a
street light.
The
We would also like to
see separated walkways constructed on both sides of
Improved
site distance and reduction of grades in Phase 2 of the project area,
especially at school bus stops will help improve safety for school bus
operations.
We
would also like to see the addition of pullouts at several locations along
If
you have questions please feel free to contact me at the number listed above.
Sincerely,
Steven Kalmes
Director, Transportation
Services
cc: Ray Amsden
Carol Comeau
Marty Elkins
Linda Schwald
George Vakalis
Requirements
for
The Anchorage School District
Transportation Department establishes school bus routes to serve eligible students
within the natural attendance areas of District schools. In order to be
eligible for transportation students must live more than one and one half (1.5)
miles from school or live in an area, which has been determined to be hazardous
by the Districts Hazardous Transportation Committee. Safety of students is the
primary concern when establishing school bus routes and student pick up
locations.
Some roads within the boundaries of
the
• The pickup point requiring duplicate
mileage must serve at least three students and be at least one mile one way
from the main route; or the pickup point requiring duplicate mileage serves a
minimum of fifteen (15) or more students.
• The entire route must be over regularly
maintained roads, having at least a gravel surface, which is under the
supervision and all weather maintenance of the Alaska Department of Highways,
the
• Adequate turnaround space for
transportation vehicles must be available on the route.
School buses are designed to provide
safe transportation for students. However, the potential for accidents
increases dramatically if buses are routed on roads with unsafe conditions or
roads not adequately maintained, especially during the winter months.
The design and handling
characteristics of school buses are radically different from other vehicles on
the road today. An empty full size
school bus weighs in excess of 2.5 tons and has a significantly higher center
of gravity than an automobile or light truck.
Because of the differences in vehicles used for student transportation
the
• Access - Areas with limited access (one road
in and out) are not desirable.
• Grade - Residential and collector streets
with a grade in excess of 10% will not be considered for school bus
service. Grades between 6% and 10% will
be evaluated to determine if school bus service can be provided in a safe
manner. The severity and length of the
grade will be considered in conjunction with all other factors.
• Recovery area - Roads with steep grades must
have adequate area to recover from a skid should the bus loose traction while
traveling up or down a grade.
• Road Width - The road must be built and
maintained to a sufficient width to allow a school bus and another vehicle to
pass without leaving the roadway.
• Sharp Curves - Tight curves that require the
bus to enter the oncoming lane of traffic are unacceptable. Curves at the end of a steep grade can cause
a serious safety hazard should the school bus loose traction and will be
grounds for denial of an route extension.
• Sight Distance - There should be sufficient
sight distance, especially on hills, curves, and at student loading zones so
that other traffic can be seen.
• Steep embankments - Embankments along the
sides of the road can cause a hazard should the school bus loose traction.
• Winter Maintenance - All roads on school bus
routes must be maintained to provide safe access for school buses especially
during the winter months. If maintenance
is an issue the District will monitor winter maintenance one complete winter
prior to initiating bus service.
The
Requirements
for School Bus Stops
The area to be served by the bus
must met the criteria listed above and be reviewed by Transportation Department
to determine the safest location for the school bus stop. The following items
are considered when adding or relocating a school bus stop.
• Distance to the child's home - on regular
routes students may, depending on conditions, be
required to walk up to 1.5 miles to the school bus stop.
• Distance to closest stop - the District
attempts to locate school bus stops no closer than 1/8 mile apart. Experience has indicated that bus stops
located close together make motorists impatient; resulting in more cars passing
stopped buses.
• Location - every attempt is make to locate
school bus stops at intersections that will serve the entire neighborhood.
• Visibility - on highways where the speed
limit is forty (40) miles per hour or more, no bus will stop on a curve or a
hill where visibility is not at least 500 feet.
Three hundred (300) feet minimum visibility is required on all other
roads and highways.
• Waiting area - areas, which have a safe location
off the roadway for students to wait for the bus, are preferable.
• Grade - school bus stops must be located on
flat ground. During the winter months it
is difficult for children to board and exit the bus when parked on a
slope. Locating a school bus stop on a
slope increases the potential for a child to slip and fall under the school
bus.
• Road maintenance - as stated above, the road
must be maintained by the Alaska Department of Highways, the
• Street lights - wherever possible school bus
stops will be located in close proximity to a street light.
• Width of street - school bus stops will be
located only in areas where streets are wide enough to safely board and
discharge students.
