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Update Oct 30 - Signs are Up - Please Click Here

Update Oct 26 - Response about No Right Turn Sign - Please Click Here

Children's Safety at Franklin Public School

October 22, 2009

I have been asked what I've been doing for the Safety of our Children at Franklin Public School.

Franklin Public School is one of the oldest schools in the Town of Markham, situated in the Original Village of Markham.  The streets that surround it are narrow, and there are no boulevards between the sidewalk and the streets. Eastbound traffic to Church Street on their way to Markham District High School must travel along Joseph Street and north of Maple Street.  This is also a well known infiltration route for people avoiding the Main Street and Highway 7 intersection. 

None of the streets in this area were designed to carry this volume of traffic.

Children from the southern part of the Original Village must cross Joseph Street at Franklin to get to the school.  There is a crossing guard at Church and Franklin, but the one at Joseph and Franklin was removed 10 or 15 years ago.  While there are technically sufficient gaps in the traffic volumes for the children to cross, it is intimidating to see cars accelerating as they round the corner at George Street.

Joseph Street is a one way street eastbound. The direction of the traffic was changed in the 1980's, but either some people don't remember, or they don't care.  Despite a "One Way" sign at the end of Franklin, people still turn and go the wrong way.  I have asked our traffic engineers, today, to erect a "No Right Turn" sign at the corner to increase awareness.

This past fall and spring, I have asked for the Town's Traffic Engineers to do yet another gap study, and the figures confirm that they do not meet the Ministry standards for a crossing guard.  Please click here for the results of the Gap Study taken last spring.  As a matter of interest, I was trained to be able to do the gap study, and with a number of residents from the area, as well as the Principle of Franklin School, we braved a cold winter morning to do the study ourselves.  The results were right.

I also found that the snow plow was filling the sidewalk and forcing parents and children to walk on the street.  Our Operations Department cleared the snow immediately and did so on each subsequent snowstorm.  I have contacted them to remind our crews that this is a priority again this year, as the children are walking there between 8 and 9 in the morning and home again after school.

Just last Friday, I had called a meeting in my office with York Regional Police about the traffic and the school crossing problems.  The two Constables assigned to the Village put this as a priority area and you should see them making a presence on Joseph.  They will also be there in unmarked vehicles as well.

A lot of work has been done for the safety of students in the area and there is still more to do.  I’ve listed some of the points below.

I have asked for a review of the gap study for this fall since there may be some changes in the traffic patterns.  There are other methods of safety including safety patrollers and the possibility of a “Walking School Bus”.  Both these methods have been effective in other areas, but I want to research them further before I would recommend them.  I understand that the parents have already incorporated an informal walking school bus program, so perhaps we can augment it.

A review of the need for intersection enhancements was done to provide further guidance for both pedestrians and motorists. The intersection enhancements include, curb depressions (to define the crossing locations), pavement markings (stop bars and cross-walk lines), and traffic signs including blue school area signs.  The intersection locations include Franklin and Joseph, Franklin and Church, Maple and Church (special attention at the northbound stoop sign location), Maple and Markham Street with a review of other intersections to be done as needed.

I have worked with our Town Planning Department and Franklin School to improve the turning problems at Markham Street and Maple.  The Town approvals are in place and I understand that the York Region School Board will me doing the work on their property.

I have had meetings and calls with York Regional Police and are making themselves visible and increasing enforcement as the enhancements are being completed.  An Education and Enforcement event will be held when the improvements are done.

Some of the above have been completed and I will keep you informed as I progress with the rest.

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Update Oct 26 - Response about No Right Turn Sign

I have asked our traffic engineers on Thursday, October 22, 2009, to erect a "No Right Turn" sign at the corner to increase awareness. I received an e-mail today, Monday Oct 26 as follows.  "We will look into this and get a response within the next couple of weeks.". I see no reason why this can't be done as it does not change anything covered by the Highway Traffic Act that I'm aware of.

I will update this page as the process moves forward.

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Signs are Up

October 30, 2009

Traffic Operations staff have investigated after my call to them the day before the article in the Economist and Sun and by Friday October 30, 2009 there was a "No Right Turn" on the Stop sign.

They have also installed a additional signs on the existing Stop Sign post at the Maple/Joseph and the Albert/Joseph intersections.  This is in accordance with current Provincial guidelines.

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