Observation Results

O B S E R V A T I O N R E S U L T S

To gain a better understanding of the current conditions at and around the Ogema School, on Tuesday, September 16, 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 Ogema. 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 in Detroit Lakes: 7:30 AM - 45 °F. Clear. Wind Southwest at 5.8 mph.18

Observations began at 7:20 AM with school starting at 8:15 AM. The busiest arrival time was between 7:34 and 8:00 AM.

Nearly all observers noted the high traffic speeds, high traffic volumes and a high number of trucks and commercial vehicles on U.S. Highway 59. There were at least three students who walk to school and crossed U.S. Highway 59 at County Highway 18 and 370th (Kolb) Street. None of these three students were observed using the pushbutton-activated, LED-embedded “School Crosswalk Warning” signs. One observer location near the school parking lot saw five students walking to school.

There were also concerns expressed by some observers about how some of the students walked through the parking lot after being dropped off by parents in private automobiles. There was also some confusion as to how parents dropping off students from private automobiles should navigate the parking lot and where they should actually drop off students. Some parents even parked in the student drop-off area.

Afternoon Observations  Weather in Detroit Lakes: 3:00 PM - 66 °F. Clear. Wind South at 6.9 mph.18

Observations began at 3:00 PM with school dismissing at 3:08 PM. Buses depart the school at 2 separate times with two leaving at 3:10 PM and another four leaving at 3:40 PM.

18

Weather Underground. Weather History for Detroit Lakes, MN: Tuesday, September 16, 2014. Available at http://www.wunderground.com. Accessed on March 28, 2016.

P a g e 54 | Chapter 7: Existing Conditions and Findings