Chapter 5: Strengths – Barriers – Opportunities Analysis

C HA P T E R 5: S T R E N G T HS – BA R R I E R S – O P P OR T U N I T I E S A N A L Y SI S

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 edited and are not listed in any priority order.

STRENGTHS

The main existing strengths within the community are the presence of committed staff and community members, as well as the school’s location contiguous with the City of Ogema. A primary example of the personal commitment to SRTS are stakeholders such as local law enforcement and the school principal who are already involved in student safety around the school and key players in the SRTS Team. The strengths that enhance and support the opportunity for children to safely walk and bicycle to school were gathered by the Ogema SRTS Team and community members and are listed in greater detail in Table 2 below. Recommendations to improve SRTS found in Chapter 9 of this report are built off of many of these strengths.

Table 2: Community and School District Strengths

Community Strengths

1 The presence of committed staff and community members at the school and in the

City of Ogema.

2 School monitors are present to help direct morning traffic and ensure students can safely access the school from vehicles and buses.

3 The location of the school makes it accessible to those on foot and by bike living within city limits, based on the MnDOT Walk/Bike Zone Concept.

4 The school set-up and playground amenities allow for children to be active during after-school programs.

5 The school also provides busing for children attending after school programs.

6 Ogema Days is a community event that is accessible via walking or biking.

7 A pedestrian (button) activated LED crosswalk is in place on U.S. Highway 59.

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8 Extraordinary level of parent and community involvement at the second kick-off meeting.

9 An Ogema police officer patrols vehicle speed on U.S. Highway 59 during school dismissal.

BARRIERS

To successfully develop and implement SRTS activities and programs, it is important for the SRTS Team, with aid from members of the community, to identify and understand the existing barriers within the community that are preventing children from walking and bicycling to school. These barriers, listed in greater detail in Table 3 below, are an accumulation of information received from the SRTS team and community members.

Table 3: Commuity and School District Barriers

Community Barriers

1 There is currently no designated path or trail for students to travel by foot or bike between Waubun and Ogema (a distance of 5.4 miles).

2 U.S. Highway 59 has a speed limit of 40 through Ogema and past the school. There is no transitional speed limit from the 55mph limit on either side of Ogema.

3 U.S. Highway 59 is very busy and is not safe for students to walk or bike across.

4 A housing development is located on Feather St. (just north of the school) and there are no sidewalks or an official trail for students to safely get to and from school.

5 The bus and parent drop-off area in front of the school is busy and potentially unsafe for students.

6 The Ogema School District covers a large geographical area, which increases the amount of time children are on the bus, sometimes over an hour.

7 County Road 18 on the south side of the school is unsafe for students due to the water drainage ditches. There is only one sidewalk, on the east side of the school.

8 Low visibility near the parent and bus drop-off areas.

9 Vehicles travel at speeds higher than the posted speed limit of 40mph on U.S.

Highway 59.

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10 The topography of U.S. Highway 59 creates low visibility when approaching the school from either the north or the south.

11 The pedestrian activated signage on U.S. Highway 59 is not highly visible.

OPPORTUNITIES

The SRTS Team, also with aid from members of the community, identified opportunities to improve walking and bicycling to school that are not currently being acted upon, as well as programs that support and encourage these behaviors. The list of opportunities in Table 4 is not exhaustive but is an accumulation of ideas and action steps to help achieve the overall vision.

Table 4: Community and School District Opportunities

Community Opportunities

1 Identify the feasibility of implementing a school speed zone designation on U.S.

Highway 59.

2 The City of Elbow Lake has a high concentration of students attending Ogema. There is an opportunity to develop targeted fitness and education programs in Elbow Lake.

3 Identify potential education and encouragement activities for students.

4 The town of White Earth has a community center which could potentially serve as a remote drop off area for students living there.

5 Opportunity to partner with the Boys and Girls Club in Ogema.

6 The open space and amenities behind the school could allow for education and encouragement activities to take place there.

7 There is room to place a bike rack near the front door of the school.

8 Safety patrol (parent or student) in school in parking lot and along U.S. Highway 59.

9 Provide education on pedestrian safety skills and informing parents how to drive more safely around pedestrians and bicyclists.

10 Introduce transition speeds on U.S. Highway 59 so traffic entering Ogema will be traveling at a lower speed.

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11 Opportunity to build a path between the School and Eagle Drive / Feather Street housing development.

12 Partner with MnDOT on the resurfacing of U.S. Highway 59 this Summer.

13 Improve lighting on U.S. Highway 59, especially near crosswalk and intersections.

14 Sidewalk along school and U.S. Highway 59. Crosswalk connection between the school and the Fire Hall. (Emergency evacuation site).

15 School speed zone on U.S. Highway 59 with radar enabled speed feedback sign.

16 Install a stop light at the intersection of U.S. Highway 59 and County Highway 18 and 370th (Kolb) Street.

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