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Establishing Safe Communities in Madison County, Kentucky

Presentation by: Ruth Hawkins, MSN, RN, CHES

Lloyd Jordinson, RN Dorathy Lachman, MD

Creating a Creating a Culture of Culture of

SafetySafety

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SafeSafe Routes to School Routes to School ((SRTS)— SRTS)—

City of Berea, Madison County, KYPresented by:

Ruth R. Hawkins, MSN, RN, CHESHealth Education Director

Madison County Health Department1001 Ace Dr.

Berea, KY 40403859-228-2041 (office)859-986-1027 (Fax)

Website: www.madison-co-ky-health.org

+Funding Received

Madison County Health Department received 1 of 3 grants awarded in state for the Healthy Communities program

Amount funded - $36,000

Three focus areas: Physical activity, nutrition, & tobacco prevention

+Focus Area: Physical Activity Reduce Obesity: Improve physical activity among youth and adults.

Action Area 1. Develop and enhance access to community sidewalks, walking and biking paths to promote physical activity in the community.

+Strategies

Provide SRTS training for Berea Independent School (administration,

staff, parents, & students) City of Berea employees (law enforcement &

GIS coordinator) Madison County School System

(administration & staff) St. Joseph Berea Staff Madison County Health Department Staff

Install bicycle racks on school campus & various location in the city

+Strategies (cont’d)

Provide student & parent education on SRTS

Provide incentives to youth to promote walking & biking

Improve signage around school campus & in town (Share the Road, School Crossing, etc.)

Improve Traffic Laws Enforcement around town and “special attention” at school start-up & dismissal

Evaluate success of program

+Actions: SRTS Training

Conducted SRTS National Training Course on November 12, 2009 @ Berea Independent School Library

34 Individuals attended Berea Independent School District parents, teachers,

students, & principals Mayor City GIS Coordinator/Surveyor Hospital Staff City Law Enforcement Officer Madison County School Officials Health Department Staff

+SRTS National Training Course

Website

http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/training/national_course/index.cfm

+Local Interventions for

SuccessEducation – Programs for students, parents,

community at large

Encouragement –Provide bike racks; promote parent volunteers to initiate walking/biking to school; engage neighborhoods to promote safety for youth; incentives/rewards for students

Enforcement – Improvement plan for monitoring traffic flow & safety at school start-up & dismissal; crossing guards; “Walking School Bus”; improve signage

+Where Do Students Who Attend Berea Independent School Live?

+Recommendations From Training

City & School Improvements to Promote Safe Walking & Biking to School

1.Repaint the school parking lot

2.Choke down to narrow the entrance onto the school campus

3.Improve intersections around the school & other locations around town

4.Provide additional bike racks

5.Improve sidewalks conditions

+Intersection Suggestions

Increase time allotted for pedestrians

Add no turn on red signs – could use electronic signs that are times to show only during “School Zone Times”

Use of “Ladder” style crosswalks

+Ellipse/ Highway 595 Intersection Before…

+After…

Laddering = Greater Visibility

+Berea Independent

School

+Berea Designated Bike

Lanes

+Actions Taken

Presented SRTS Training Recommendations to: The Berea City Council The Berea Bikeway Committee (Mayor

appointed committee) Transportation Engineering Branch Manager,

KY Transportation Cabinet, Dist. 7- to discuss proposed recommendations for state roads

Purchased bicycle racks

Selected signage to be placed around school & town

+Up-coming Events

Reinforce youth & parent education on SRTS

Place bicycle racks on school campus

Display additional “Share the Road” signs

Promote SRTS in the school newsletter @ school year end and fall start-up and throughout summer events

Monitor progress & conduct evaluation