Traffic and Parking Management
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Traffic and Parking Management Plan Background
Background
New Horizons School is a growing school. The school we occupy was originally built as a neighborhood school in which students could walk, take their bikes, or take a short bus ride. However, NHS is in a unique situation in that it is not a neighborhood school – students come to our school from varying distances resulting in a situation where a large portion of our students are driven to and from school.
Consequently, the increased volume of drivers has resulted in a parking and traffic situation that causes much congestion, especially at pick-up time after school. Because of the volume of traffic, please know that pick -up time will be slow. Our Traffic and Parking Management Plan can only do so much.
Collaboration
New Horizons School, Strathcona County, Traffic Enforcement and Elk Island Transportation, continue to work closely together to try to keep the streets around NHS safe, non-congested as possible, and as least disruptive for our neighbors as possible.
Traffic Study
In the spring of 2018, Strathcona Council requested that a traffic study around our school because of the volume of residential complaints. Our Traffic and Parking Management Plan is a collaborative response to the study that was presented to Council in September.
Strathcona County School Traffic Safety Partnership
The Strathcona County School Traffic Safety Partnership (SCSTSP) is a partnership that meets regularly to address school traffic safety issues and concerns.
The following are the partners who meet:
- Elk Island Public Schools
- Elk Island Catholic Schools
- New Horizons School
- Le Conseil Scolaire Centre-Nord (CSCN)
- Alberta Transportation Office of Traffic Safety
- Royal Canadian Mounted Police
- Strathcona County
Parking
Parking is limited at New Horizons School, and parking in the incorrect places causes difficulties.
Please honor our parking plan.
Use the map below for assistance.
- Avoid Parking on the West Side of Hawkins Crescent
- Parking on the west side of Hawkins Crescent is a key contributor to traffic congestion and contributes to jay-walking, one of the biggest risks in school zones.
- Parking Lot
- DO NOT BACKUP in the drop-off line unless specifically directed by a supervisor in an orange vest.
- Do not park in the designated staff parking stalls. These are reserved for École Claudette-et-Denis-Tardif staff.
- Please do not use these stalls for morning drop off.
- Use the visitor stalls during drop off time only if you must assist your child carrying items into the school, or if you have to speak to someone in the school.
- Use the visitor stalls if you are volunteering or entering the school.
- Alternate Parking
- The above map identifies two alternative parking areas. They are identified in purple.
- Kinsmen Park
- Wilson Crescent
- Some parents enjoy the scenic walk through the park from the parking lot by the Village on the Lake Sports Park.
- The above map identifies two alternative parking areas. They are identified in purple.
Parking Map
Tips
Driving Courtesy
Please remember to drive safely through the neighbourhood. The number of vehicles that line the neighbourhood streets daily is increasing, and we owe it to our neighbors to drive courteously.
Driving courteously includes
- driving at a safe speed
- not parking on sidewalks
- not blocking driveways,
- and avoiding the use of neighbour driveways to turn around.
Pedestrian/Bicycling Courtesy
- Form a single line when approaching other pedestrians so that no one is forced to walk on the roadway.
- Please walk your bike when riding on the sidewalk where pedestrians are present.
- Walk your bike once you are in front of the school.
Don’t Litter
- Please take your litter such as disposable masks, wrappers and beverage containers with you.
Morning Drop Off
Entering the Parking Lot
- Please enter Hawkins Crescent at its west access when the pedestrian crossing sign is up on the crosswalk (ie. do not turn left not at the pedestrian crossing).
- When entering the parking lot, keep right (close to the pylons).
Dropping Off In The Parking Lot
- Drop off only where the pylons are located.
- Drivers may assist their children to exit the vehicle in the drop off zone.
- If possible, please try to have your child ready to exit on the passenger side.
- If your child needs assistance exiting the vehicle, put on your hazard lights and a monitor will assist. Parents please remain in your vehicle.
Can I park in the parking lot to drop off my child?
- Yes, if space is available in the designated visitor parking (see above map).
- Remain in line and instead of dropping off in front of the school proceed to a parking stall.
Can I pass vehicles in front of me?
- At times, vehicles in front of you may take some extra for their children to exit the vehicle. Please be patient.
- If there is a long delay in the line, please wait for a traffic monitor to indicate that you may pass.
Can I drop off curbside on Hawkins Crescent?
- Yes. The area in front of the playground is a drop-off and pick up zone.
- Please note that there is no monitor present at that location.
- Do not park in this zone.
After School Pick-Up
Note: All bus students go directly to their bus waiting for them on Strathcona Drive.
At pick-up time, NHS is a busy place. In order to maintain safety and reduce the congestion, please read the following closely.
Pick-up time can take up to 10-15 minutes after the 3:15 p.m. dismissal time.
Parent Meeting Zones
Parking & Meeting Your Child at School?
- If you are parking your car and meeting your child at school, please meet in the purple zone below and allow for appropriate physical distancing and remain off the sidewalks to allow for free and uncongested flow of pedestrian traffic (purple zone in the map below).
- Do not wait for your child in front of the school.
- Avoid crossing the entrance and exit to the parking lot. It is unsafe to do so. These are are high traffic areas.
- Please park along Wilson Crescent or the Kinsmen Park Parking lot.
- Parking on Hawkins results in jaywalking and crossing the street in a highly congested area. This is an unsafe practice that unnecessarily puts your children at risk.
Vehicle Identification Number
Map: Parent Pick-Up Zones
Grades K-3 Pick-Up Zone
K-3
NHS Parking Lot
(Blue on the Above Map)
Procedure
- Please enter Hawkins Crescent at its west access (ie – not at the pedestrian crossing).
- We are asking that parents not enter Hawkins at the pedestrian crossing or park on Hawkins Crescent so that the traffic moves in one direction and eliminates congestion.
- Parking on the west side on Hawkins Crescent in front of the school creates huge safety issue as doing so increases congestion that creates limited sightlines for pedestrians.
- Parking on the west side often leads to the two highest risk behaviours in a school zone: U-turns and jay-walking.
- Form a single line curbside.
- Keep your four way flashers on to indicate to the vehicle behind you that you are in the pick-up line.
- As students are picked up, the line will move forward. Please move with the line.
- Please do not park or wait for you child while in the “Student Pick-Up Zone” on Hawkins in front of the playground.
- Do not double-park or pass to gain entry to the parking lot.
Tips
- Have your 4-way flashers on to indicate to the vehicle behind you that you are in the pick-up line.
- Do not pass vehicles with their flashers to gain entry to the parking lot.
How will I know where my child is?
- Unless you’ve made alternate arrangements with your child, all students who are being picked up will remain at the main entrance of the school.
- Monitors in the parking lot will escort your child to your vehicle.
- Pick up occurs in the zone between the pylons in the parking lot.
Where do I go when my child gets into my vehicle?
- Please remain in line until a monitor gives you the signal to pass.
Grade 4 Pick-Up Zone
Grade 4
Hawkins Crescent In Front of Playground
(Light Green on the Above Map)ap)
Students in Grade 4 should wait at the Hawkins Crescent “Student Drop-Off Zone” along the fence in front of the playground.
NOTE: Siblings are always picked up together in the youngest sibling’s zone, unless alternate arrangements have been made and shared with the homeroom teachers and the office.
Procedure
Please enter Hawkins Crescent at its west access (ie – not at the pedestrian crossing).
- We are asking that parents not enter Hawkins at the pedestrian crossing or park on Hawkins Crescent so that the traffic moves in one direction and eliminates congestion.
- Parking on the west side on Hawkins Crescent in front of the school creates huge safety issue as doing so increases congestion that creates limited sightlines for pedestrians.
- Parking on the west side often leads to the two highest risk behaviours in a school zone: U-turns and jay-walking.
- Form a single line curbside.
- Keep your four way flashers on to indicate to the vehicle behind you that you are in the pick-up line.
- As students are picked up, the line will move forward. Please move with the line.
- If your child is not at the Grade 4 pick-up zone when you arrive, continue to move with the line into the parking lot and a let the monitor know you are picking up a grade 4 child.
- We are asking that parents not enter Hawkins at the pedestrian crossing or park on Hawkins Crescent so that the traffic moves in one direction and eliminates congestion.
Tips
- Have your 4-way flashers on to indicate to the vehicle behind you that you are in the pick-up line.
- Do not pass vehicles with their flashers to gain entry to the parking lot.
- Proceed to the NHS Parking lot if the École Claudette-et-Denis-Tardif school buses are present.
How will I know where my child is?
- Unless you’ve made alternate arrangements with your child, all students who are being picked up in this zone will remain there until the École Claudette-et-Denis-Tardif (ECDT) school buses arrive.
- When the ECDT buses arrive, students will be escorted back to the main entrance of the school.
- Unless you’ve made alternate arrangements with your child, all students who are being picked up in this zone will remain there until the École Claudette-et-Denis-Tardif (ECDT) school buses arrive.
Where do I go when my child gets into my vehicle?
- If you are on Hawkins, safely pass the pick-up line.
- If you are in the parking lot, please remain in line until a monitor gives you the signal to pass.
Grade 5 & 6 Pick-Up Zone
Grade 5 & 6
Wilson Crescent & Kinsmen Park Parking Lot (Pink on the Above Map)
NOTE: Siblings are always picked up together in the youngest sibling’s zone, unless alternate arrangements have been made and shared with the homeroom teachers and the office.
We recommend that drivers entering Wilson Crescent on the east entry and waiting for your child at the west entry.
- A crossing guard will be located on Strathcona Drive & Hawkins to assist.
- Please wait for the patrollers to call “proceed” before entering the crosswalk.
- Monitors will be located at the west entry of Wilson Crescent and at the Kinsmen Park parking lot.
- Parents are invited to wait in their car for their child in this zone.
- A crossing guard will be located on Strathcona Drive & Hawkins to assist.
IMPORTANT:
Any student left waiting for a ride in this zone after 3:25 p.m. will be escorted back to the school. Please meet your child there.
Grade 7-9 Pick-Up Zone
Grade 7-9 Pick-Up Zone
Village Drive
(Orange on the Above Map)
NOTE: Siblings are always picked up together in the youngest sibling’s zone, unless alternate arrangements have been made and shared with the homeroom teachers and the office.
Junior high students will have a short one minute walk to this spot.
A monitor will be located at Village Drive to assist students.
IMPORTANT:
Any student left waiting for a ride in this zone after 3:25 p.m. will be escorted back to the school. Please meet your child there.
