Creating a programme of school streets across the Borough.
Background
Barnet Council commissioned us to assess and support the delivery school streets throughout the Borough. We conducted a feasibility study to investigate and assess potential School Streets. After the initial research, we chose 139 out of 171 schools for further research. We produced a deliverability assessment using several factors to determine if a School Street would be appropriate.
In addition, six schools had received prior approval to introduce a School Street and we were further commissioned to produce technical design drawings for each school.
Process
- Our team did desktop research and site visits to understand the suitability of each school for future School Street restrictions. This would feed into the recommendations for the Council.
- Key criteria to collate within the Deliverability Matrix included:
- Road classification – Types of roads each school was located on and next to (i.e. residential, private, Transport for London Road Network, strategic road network or along a bus route).
- Number of road closures required – We assessed how many road closure points we needed to successfully implement a school street and where these would need to be located. Furthermore, this required a further assessment of the access and exit points for each school.
- Identified schools interested or disinterested in School Streets.
- Highlighted schools where we required traffic surveys to understand peak hour traffic flows.
- Undertook design work for six schools with prior approval for School Streets.
School Streets Outcome
The detailed deliverability matrix evaluated each school against the key criteria, including road type and traffic restriction feasibility. As a result, this matrix provided the Council with a deliverability level between 1 and 3 for each school. 68 schools were assigned a level 1 or 2 and taken forward. We produced maps showing the likely location of road closures. This was important for each school street to operate safely.
Using CAD we created detailed designs for the six pre-approved schools. Drawings included technical detail on the location and type of restrictions necessary to enforce the School Street. In addition, we added necessary revisions to signs and road markings.
“[Project Centre team] worked extremely hard on our School Streets programme to deliver the key initial feasibility designs and technical note for the programme. The quality of the work was great and they were always very communicative.”
– Barnet Council.
