Approved by City/School Traffic Safety Committee: 6/24/99

Reducing automobile congestion and safety hazards associated with dropping off/picking up PAUSD students is the goal of the proposed school trip reduction program.

The energy and impetus to implement a trip reduction program must originate with the school site. The commitment of both the School District and the City is to provide outside support such as expertise, materials, carpool matchlists and other resources necessary to enable a trip reduction program at a school site.

For many years, the Palo Alto Unified School District, the City of Palo Alto and the Palo Alto Council of PTAs have cooperated to address school traffic safety problems through a combination of the three Eís: engineering, enforcement and education. The School Trip Reduction Program extends that partnership to include a fourth "E", encouragement of alternatives to driving, and the provision of resources and expertise to school sites implementing the program.

Existing procedures to review and resolve traffic safety problems at the site level and on streets used for school commutes remain in place, facilitated by the City/School Traffic Safety Committee. In addition, each partner supports efforts to reduce traffic congestion and safety hazards associated with dropping off/picking up PAUSD students as follows:

• At schools desiring to participate in the Palo Alto School Trip Reduction Program, a site level traffic safety committee is formed if one does not already exist. The committee should include the PTA Traffic Safety Representative, the principal, a PTA Trip Reduction Coordinator as well as other interested members of the school community. The Traffic Safety Committee serves as a steering committee contributing to and evaluating plans and progress in promoting trip reduction and educating the school community about safe practices, as well as dealing with traditional traffic safety concerns.
• A volunteer is recruited to serve as PTA Trip Reduction Coordinator. This volunteer is the primary force in the implementation of the trip reduction program at the school site, in consultation with the school principal and the Traffic Safety Committee. He/she also serves as a liaison between the school community and other agencies involved in this program (the City, the District and other resources).

• In conjunction with the City, the District supports efforts to reduce traffic congestion at school sites.
• Promotes awareness of safety issues and supports alternative commute options along school commute routes, in line with recommendations of Citywide School Commute Safety Study and the Cityís Comprehensive Plan.
• Addresses the safety of access, circulation and parking on school sites as outlined in the document "Traffic Safety Guidelines: Building for Excellence Program" adopted by the Board of Education on May 4, 1999.
• Partners with the city in enhancing the Bicycle/Pedestrian Safety Education program and finding other ways of encouraging alternative commutes.

• In conjunction with the District, the City supports efforts to reduce traffic congestion at school sites.
• Includes school trip reduction programs in the job description of the new commute coordinator.
• Promotes awareness of safety issues and supports alternative commute options along school commute routes, in line with recommendations of Citywide School Commute Safety Study and the cityís comprehensive plan.
• Partners with the school district in enhancing the Bicycle/Pedestrian Safety Education program and finding other ways of encouraging alternative commutes.