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08 School Access Analysis 33330 8th Avenue South, Federal Way, WA 98003 | p.253.945.2043 | f.253.941.0442| www.fwps.org Business Services Each Scholar: A Voice. A Dream. A BRIGHT Future. Mireille Fogang, Design Engineer March 18, 2019 Bush, Roed & Hitchings, Inc. 2009 Minor Avenue East Seattle, WA 98102 RE: Single-Family Development - 1321039002 and 1321039091 Dear Mireille, The Federal Way School District recently received information on parcels 1321039002 and 1321039091, a proposed single-family development with up to fourteen residential units. The project is located at South 320th St and 21st Ave SW. Under current boundaries, this development is in the Olympic View Elementary, TAF at Saghalie Middle School, and Decatur High School service areas. School service areas are reviewed each year and necessary boundary changes may be made to accommodate enrollment increases. Students living in this area walk to Olympic View Elementary and Decatur High School. Students living in this area receive school bus transportation to TAF at Saghalie Middle School. Bus stops are reviewed annually as student transportation needs change. The closest stop for TAF at Saghalie Middle School is on 26th Ave SW@SW 325th PL. Student safety must be considered for all students. We ask the developer to prepare a “School Access Analysis” to and from the elementary school, middle school, and high school for this proposed development. Attached are guidelines for preparing this analysis. The analysis will include safe walking plans for students who would walk to and from schools and school bus stops, with school location, large bus access plans, description of sidewalks, pedestrian paths, road shoulders, location of crosswalks, etc. The analysis will also include plans for our special needs students who require door-to-door transportation, with small bus access plans. All planning features that assure safe transportation for students are factors the district must consider as we comment on development within our service areas. The most recent Federal Way School District Capital Facilities Plan indicates a student yield of .47 from new single-family housing. This development could add about seven new students. These are averages only; the actual number of students may vary. This may create a need for additional space, equipment and staff. This impact is mitigated by the collection of impact fees. The District appreciates the opportunity to comment on this proposed development. Sincerely, Jennifer Wojciechowski Student & Demographic Forecaster cc: Sally McLean, Assistant Superintendent of Finance and Operations Paul Vang, Security and Safety Manager Mike Benzien, Executive Director of Operations Michelle Turner, Director of Transportation 33330 8th Avenue South, Federal Way, WA 98003 | p.253.945.2043 | f.253.941.0442| www.fwps.org Business Services Each Scholar: A Voice. A Dream. A BRIGHT Future. School Access Analysis New development creates a need for analysis of student pedestrian safety. The Federal Way School District would prefer an analysis of walking paths to schools and bus stops from new subdivisions be prepared by the developer prior to final comments on impacts. Generally a walking route should be planned to assure that school-age pedestrians from a neighborhood: • Cross the fewest number of streets to reduce vehicle-pedestrian exposures • Walk on sidewalks or paths where available; • Walk the shortest possible distance on streets without sidewalks or wide shoulders; • Walk on the left side of the road facing traffic on streets where practicable; • Avoid high speed, high volume roads and roads with high truck volume. • Make maximum use of protective techniques (traffic control devices, existing crossing guards and school patrols.) • Use easements with walkways through parks or other available areas where student safety is maximized. Walkways and paths must be cleared of vegetation for maximum visibility. The analysis of walking paths to schools and school bus stop locations from a new subdivision should include the following information: • School location • Description of sidewalks, pedestrian paths and shoulders including:  condition and width of shoulder and sidewalks;  whether shoulders are paved, gravel or grass, or non-existent;  whether sidewalks and pathways are immediately adjacent to the traffic lanes or are separated by a planting strip or other means from moving traffic; and  the location of drainage or irrigation ditches. • Location of all crosswalks, including type of crossing protection offered; • Medians, pedestrian refuge islands and other pedestrian safety features; • Posted speed limits and warning signs, especially all 20 mph school speed limit zones; • All stop and yield signs; • Traffic signals including presence of marked crosswalks and pedestrian signal indication. Traffic signal timing and phasing for pedestrian crossing. • Major sight line obstructions as measured from the height of children. • Bicycle lanes or paths. • Other relevant pedestrian safety factors observed. 1 SCHOOL ACCESS ANALYSIS 2200 SW 320th Street Preliminary Plat Date: March 18th, 2019 1.0 PEDESTRIAN PATHWAY TO AND FROM DECATUR HIGH SCHOOL The pedestrian pathway from the proposed housing development to Decatur High School begins on the west side of 21st Avenue SW approximately 185 feet south of SW 320th Street. The pathway consists of an existing 4 foot wide concrete sidewalk in good condition, separated from the traveled lanes of the road by a 3 foot wide curb and landscape strip. The posted speed limit along 21st Avenue SW is 35 miles per hour. At the intersection of 21st Avenue SW and SW 320th Street, the pathway crosses SW 320th Street at the signalized crossing to the north side of SW 320th Street. This signalized crossing has pedestrian signal indicators and painted crosswalks. The pathway then continues to the west along the north side of SW 320th Street. The pathway consists of an 8 foot wide concrete sidewalk in good condition, adjacent to the curb and traveled lane. The pathway is unimpeded for approximately 960 feet until it comes to a crossing with 25th Avenue SW that is controlled with a stop sign. The crossing has accessible ramps on both sides of 25th Avenue SW but does not have a painted crosswalk designation. The pathway continues west for approximately 400 feet to the signalized intersection of 26th Avenue SW and SW 320th Street. At the intersection, the pathway crosses 26th Avenue SW at the signalized crossing to the west side of 26th Avenue SW. This signalized crossing has pedestrian signal indicators and painted crosswalks. The pathway then continues to the north onto the school property. The posted speed limit along SW 320th Street is 35 miles per hour. To return to the proposed housing development, the route shall be reversed. 2.0 PEDESTRIAN PATHWAY TO AND FROM OLYMPIC VIEW ELEMENTARY AND BUS STOP FOR TAF AT SAGHALIE MIDDLE SCHOOL The pedestrian pathway from the proposed housing development to Olympic View Elementary and the closest bus stop to TAF at Saghalie Middle School begins on the west side of 21st Avenue SW approximately 180 feet north of SW 322nd Street. The pathway consists of an existing 4 foot wide concrete sidewalk in good condition, separated from the traveled lanes of the road by a 3 foot wide curb and landscape strip. The posted speed limit along 21st Avenue SW is 35 miles per hour. At the intersection of 21st Avenue SW and SW 322nd Street, the pathway crosses SW 322nd Street. This controlled intersection has accessible ramps and a stop sign but no designated crosswalk striping. The pathway then continues to the south unimpeded for approximately 300 feet until it comes to SW 322nd Place where the pathway turns west along the north side of SW 322nd Place. The pathway here consists of a 4 foot wide concrete sidewalk with a rolled burb in good condition, adjacent to the traveled lane. The pathway is unimpeded, except for single family home driveways, for approximately 900 feet until it comes to a crossing with 24th Avenue SW that is controlled with a stop sign. Prior to the crossing, SW 322nd Place bends to the south into 23rd Avenue SW then bends back to the west into SW 323rd Street. 2 The crossing does not have any ramps or a painted crosswalk designation. The pathway continues west for approximately 200 feet to a crossing with 25th Avenue SW. This crossing is also controlled with a stop sign and the crossing does not have any ramps or a painted crosswalk designation. The pathway continues to the west for approximately 360 feet to the intersection of SW 323rd Street and 26th Avenue SW. The posted speed limit along this section of the pathway is 25 miles per hour. At the intersection of SW 323rd Street and 26th Avenue SW, the pathway crosses SW 323rd Street to the south and immediately crosses 26th Avenue SW to the west. This partially controlled intersection has one stop sign, accessible ramps but no designated crosswalk striping. The pathway then continues south for approximately 465 feet to the intersection of 26th Avenue SW and SW 325th Place. At this intersection is the bus stop for TAF at Saghalie Middle School. At this location there is also a paved pathway onto the grounds of Olympic View Middle School. The posted speed limit along 26th Avenue SW is variable. There are changeable speed limit signs that vary depending upon the time of time of day and the day of the week to help mitigate the vehicular presence near the school. To return to the proposed housing development, the route shall be reversed. 3.0 LARGE AND SMALL BUS ACCESS The proposed development will be capable of accommodating both large and small bus service to and from the development. The proposed development will construct a 20 foot wide private road with a cul- de-sac that will be designed to meet fire truck clearance. This design is more than adequate to accommodate all sizes of school buses.