Observation Results

OB S ER VA TION R E S ULT S

To gain a better understanding of the current conditions at and around the New York Mills School, on Tuesday, September 30, 2014, the SRTS team conducted field observations of students’ travel behaviors, patterns and mode choices during morning arrival and afternoon departure. Team members were strategically-positioned around the school and in the City of New York Mills. They counted the number of pedestrians and bicyclists accessing school grounds and which routes the students took. They also observed whether students were using good techniques when crossing the street and how motorists behaved in relation to pedestrians and bicyclists on the streets and on school grounds.

Morning Observations  Weather at Wadena Municipal Airport, Bluffton, MN: 7:35 AM – 53.6 °F. Clear. Wind – WNW, 5.8 mph.19

Observations began at 7:25 AM with school starting at 8:30 AM.

Judith Brockway and Marsha Maki – Front of school

 No parking signs and crosswalks clearly marked.  Vehicles slow down in car loop but park in no parking area.  Kids getting out on both sides of vehicle, not just side with sidewalk.

Patrick Hollister – Walker Ave and Gilman Street

 Pedestrians: 15.  Cyclists: Six.  Six kids went north on Walker across Gilman on foot.

 Two kids went north on Walker across Gilman on bikes.

 Three kids went west on Gilman across Walker on foot.

 Three kids went west on Gilman and north on Walker on foot.

 Three kids went west on Gilman and north on Walker on bikes.

 One kid walked his bike west on Gilman and north on Walker.

 Three kids walked north on Walker and west on Gilman.

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Weather Underground. Weather History for Wadena Municipal Airport, Bluffton, MN: Tuesday, September 30, 2014. Available at http://www.wunderground.com. Accessed on July 2, 2016.

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 Buses go north on Walker.  Students using crosswalks  Speeds seem okay

Emily Ambrosy – Miller Street and Broadway Avenue

 Pedestrians: Four

 Cyclists: One.  Biker on east side of Broadway and walkers on west.

Afternoon Observations  Weather at Wadena Municipal Airport, Bluffton, MN: 3:14 PM – 64.4 °F. Rain, Thunderstorm. Wind – West, 10.0 mph.19 Note – The thunderstorm observed at Bluffton did not impact conditions at New York Mills.

Observations began at 3:00 PM and ended at 3:30 PM with the elementary school dismissing at 3:10 PM and the high school at 3:18 PM.

Patrick Hollister – Gilman Street and Hayes Avenue: Front of elementary school

 Pedestrians: 18.

 Cyclists: Two.  Six kids crossed Gilman.

 Two biked along Gilman.  Six kids walked east along Gilman.  Two kids walked kitty corner southeast across Hayes Avenue and Gilman.  Two kids walked north on Hayes across Gilman.  One kid walked south on Hayes and east on Gilman.  One kid walked south on Hayes Avenue crossed Gilman.  50% students using crosswalks.

Michelle Lecoustre-Young – Front of entrance to high school  Students crossing diagonally across entire parking lot.

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Judith Brockway – Gilman Street and Walker Avenue

 Pedestrians: Nine.

 Cyclists: Three.  Some students using good techniques to cross street.  Some crossed where shouldn’t.

 Bicyclist didn’t stop at stop sign but looked both ways.  Another bike did not look before going through intersection.  Traffic speed was okay, all stopped at signs.

Emily Ambrosy – Miller Street and Walker Avenue

 By the time buses loaded and leaving, the walkers and bikers were gone.  Elementary out at 3:08, 3:22 buses still there. High school out at 3:18.

James Gritz – Miller Street and Broadway Avenue

 Pedestrians: Three.

 Cyclists: Four.  Miller and Broadway – one pedestrian and one biker.  Gilman and Broadway – two pedestrians and three bikers.  Kids are not watching when crossing.  Only one student walked on correct side of roadway.  Miller Street and Gilman Street are unsafe to walk on.

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