School Zone Analysis

School Zone Analysis assesses the transportation safety environment and accessibility conditions surrounding schools, focusing on the routes children use to walk, bike, or be driven to campus. Since children are particularly vulnerable road users, school zones require heightened attention to speed managementSpeed ManagementSpeed Management encompasses the policies, engineering measures, and enforcement strategies used to set and maintain ..., crossing safety, sidewalk connectivity, and traffic operations during arrival and dismissal periods. GISGISGeographic Information Systems (GIS) enable users to analyze and visualize spatial data to uncover patterns, relation...-based analysis maps school walk zones, typically a one-mile radius for elementary and two miles for secondary schools, and evaluates the pedestrian infrastructure within those boundaries. Walk audit data identifies hazards like missing sidewalks, uncontrolled crossings, high-speed roads, and sight-line obstructions. Traffic studies measure vehicle speeds, volumes, and queuing during school hours. Crash data analysis identifies collision patterns near schools involving child pedestrians and cyclists. Applications include Safe Routes to School (SRTS) infrastructure improvement programs funded by federal and state transportation dollars, school siting decisions that consider transportation impacts and walkability, crossing guard placement optimization, school bus route planning, and parent drop-off traffic management. Studies consistently show that school zone improvements increase walking and biking rates, improve physical activity, reduce traffic congestion, and decrease crash risk for children traveling to school.