Challenge

The City of San Antonio sought solutions to improve safety and encourage more children and families to walk to and from school. Some of the challenges of the existing conditions included speeding, deficient pedestrian infrastructure, unsafe crosswalks and roadways, concerns about unleashed dogs, overgrown vegetation, limited lighting, and a lack of direct routes from nearby neighborhoods. The goal was to create a safer, more comfortable environment that made walking to school a practical option for more families.

Solution

Kittelson worked closely with City of San Antonio staff and school officials who oversee student pickup/drop-off (PUDO) and traffic operations to better understand the pedestrian experience of students and families traveling to and from school each day. Our team conducted onsite walk audits during PUDO times; evaluated the existing roadway network and pedestrian infrastructure; and walked the surrounding neighborhoods to observe the routes students use to reach school.

The team then assessed the existing conditions and identified key issues and opportunities for improvement. The recommendations focused on enhancing both the circulation network and school PUDO operations. Kittelson provided conceptual level recommendations and layouts that included refreshing crosswalk markings, introducing traffic-calming measures, identifying locations for crossing guards, and developing new walking connections that created shorter, more direct routes for students.

In addition to the recommendations concerning speeding and inadequate pedestrian facilities around school traffic, our team identified nontraditional barriers to walking and biking—such as loose dogs, sidewalk obstructions, informal pickup behavior, and internal campus circulation—making the recommendations highly tailored to each community.