Cooner, S. A., Wooldridge, M. D., Fitzpatrick, K., & Ford, G. L. (2004). (0-4286-S)
The State of Texas, particularly in the large urban areas, has recently experienced considerable population growth. This growth has produced new schools on sites near highways originally designed for low volumes and high speeds. Another trend is the higher proportion of children being transported to schools in private vehicles. These realities make it important to consider the design of roadways within and around schools. Equally important is the consideration of the location and design of the school site, preferably during the planning stages, in order to establish safe and efficient operations. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has focused attention on these issues through its Precious Cargo Program. Precious Cargo allows TxDOT to review school site plans and make recommendations prior to construction. TxDOT has assisted independent school districts (ISDs) through application of transportation principles and fundamentals, but its efforts have sometimes been limited by the lack of knowledge of the specific problems associated with school transportation needs and the lack of acceptable guidelines. This research addressed these limitations and provided an opportunity to enhance Precious Cargo by providing TxDOT staff, ISD personnel, and the other stakeholders with guidelines and good examples for the design and operation of roadway facilities around schools.