CHAPTER 5: STRENGTHS – BARRIERS – OPPORTUNITIES ANALYSIS A strengths, barriers and opportunities analysis of existing policies and programs related to walking and bicycling to school was also performed. This is similar to a SWOT Analysis (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats) but tailored for use in SRTS planning. The comments in the following tables are not listed in any priority order. Recommendations to improve SRTS found in the sub-chapter titled “Action Plan Recommendations” at the beginning of this document have taken into consideration Hawley’s unique strengths, barriers and opportunities.
STRENGTHS The City of Hawley and the Hawley school campus have many strengths to work with like many other communities in west central Minnesota. Identifying and understanding those strengths are key with regards to any SRTS plan. The strengths listed in detail (see Table 1) below were gathered by the Hawley SRTS team in coordination with WCI staff. Table 1: Community and School District Strengths
Community Strengths 1
Hawley, while small, has a dense, contiguous suburban form and an active downtown with industrial centers well-positioned at the edges of the city.
2
The school is well-positioned in the center of Hawley and is well-connected to residential neighborhoods for those who walk and/or bike.
3
Hawley is compact, with the clear majority of residences in the urbanized area of the city no more than three-fourths of a mile from the school.
4
Traffic volumes on most roads is very light making it relatively easy for most people to walk and/or bike in existing conditions.
5
Many students already walk and bike to both schools as seen during the walk audit.
HAWLEY SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PLAN
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