Traffic Control and Parking in School Areas

There has been concern expressed over short-term vehicular congestion and lack of parking in the vicinity of Oakwood City School sites. Enrollment in the City schools has risen by approximately 21% over the past five years, with additional growth of 3 to 5% forecast for the next 5 years.

Many residents have noted congestion and insufficient parking at Oakwood’s school facilities as a community issue. A comprehensive review of policies practices and standards should be applied at each school location to insure completeness, uniformity and conformance with local and state guidance and regulations. School zones have been established and appropriately signed at each of the school sites with the speed limit reduced to 20 mph during the AM school arrival and PM dismissal periods. Signage and pavement markings are present and in good condition. Regulatory signage is present restricting on-street parking in the vicinity of the schools to a two-hour maximum during school hours.

Table 1: 2003 TRAFFIC VOLUMES
ROUTE NO. ROUTE NAME LIMITS CLASSIFICATION AVERAGE DAILY TRAFFIC
CR 612 DOROTHY LANE FROM PATTERSON BOULEVARD TO FAR HILLS AVENUE MAJOR ARTERIAL 20,600
CR 660 IRVING AVENUE FROM SHROYER ROAD TO FAR HILLS AVENUE COLLECTOR 9,500
CR 611 PATTERSON ROAD FROM FAR HILLS AVENUE EAST TO SHROYER ROAD MINOR ARTERIAL 15,400
SR 48 FAR HILLS AVENUE FROM DOROTHY LANE NORTH TO PEACH ORCHARD AVENUE MAJOR ARTERIAL 27,800
CR 659 SCHANTZ AVENUE WEST FROM DIXIE DRIVE NORTHEAST TO OAKWOOD AVENUE MINOR ARTERIAL 3,800
CR 609 SHROYER ROAD FROM DOROTHY LANE NORTH TO PATTERSON ROAD COLLECTOR 16,300
WILTSHIRE BOULEVARD FROM FAR HILLS AVENUE EAST TO ACORN DR. LOCAL STREET 1,100

The City, in cooperation with the schools, is currently instituting turning movement restrictions at selected intersections in the vicinity of Harman and Smith Elementary Schools to improve circulation and to minimize vehicular/pedestrian conflicts. In addition the City is investigating options to improve traffic flow around the Junior/Senior High School.

The establishment of a school route plan for each site should be considered. This plan should be developed in accordance with guidance in the latest edition of the “Ohio Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices.” The plan should encompass all regulatory signage, pavement markings, signals, and policies for crossing guards and on-street parking. In addition, specific traffic, pedestrian and bicycle circulation and parking should be thoroughly reviewed at each site. In conjunction with the Oakwood City Schools, pedestrian