TRAFFIC SAFETY GRANT CONCEPT

PROJECT TITLE: AGENCY: Santa Cruz Police Department

Comprehensive Community Traffic Safety Education and Enforcement Program

PROBLEM STATEMENT:

A summary of fatal and injury collisions in the City of Santa Cruz is:

Office of Traffic Safety rankings for the City of Santa Cruz for 1998:

For many years, the City of Santa Cruz has consistently ranked in the top 5-10% for cities of similar size (bold in tables) and in the top 20-25% throughout the State (bold in tables) in injury traffic collisions. As a result of our agency’s increased traffic efforts, we have successfully reduced daytime motor vehicle injury and fatal collisions by nearly 10% from 1996 statistics. However, nighttime collision and bicycle and pedestrian fatal and injury rates remained relatively unchanged. Over the last three years, the City has consistently ranked first or second for bicycle involved fatal and injury collisions when compared to cities of similar size. We feel there are several reasons for this continually high ranking:

1. The City and County of Santa Cruz aggressively promote and support the use of alternative means of transportation with the intent to improve traffic safety, relieve traffic congestion and address environmental concerns. These alternatives include bicycling, walking, car/van pools, and use of public transportation.

1. The City and County of Santa Cruz continue to expand as a bedroom community for the Silicon Valley (Santa Clara County area), thus leading to a steady increase in population. Major freeways and highways in the county are limited in their ability to expand and keep up with the increased traffic, thereby forcing more vehicles off the major thoroughfares and onto local streets/roadways.

1. Within the City of Santa Cruz lies the campus of the University of California, Santa Cruz. As student, faculty, and staff populations continue to grow, there is insufficient space to house them on campus. This has also caused a significant increase of traffic on local streets. Current student enrollment is 12,124, an increase of 15% from 1998. The university projects student enrollment to exceed 15,000 in the next several years.

1. The City of Santa Cruz has an elementary public school (K-12) population of approximately 7000 students (4000 in K-8) and an approximate private school population of 1000 students. Presently, there is not a comprehensive bicycle and pedestrian education program within the schools or community.

1. We currently have limited resources to develop and coordinate with community based organizations a comprehensive traffic safety program.

1. Santa Cruz is an older, established, landlocked City with minimal ability to expand existing roadways to accommodate the increase in bicycle and motor vehicle use.

1. In addition to the current population of 56,000, which is expected to increase to 60,000 by 2005, the city often experiences an influx of tourists to our seaside community in excess of 100,000 visitors.

1. The City of Santa Cruz is the County Seat for the County of Santa Cruz, thus the hub for most County Government services (courts, jail, Sheriff’s Office, etc.).

The primary goal and overall intent of this program is the reduction of fatal and injury traffic collisions. In particular, the reduction of overall nighttime injury traffic collisions and injury collisions involving bicyclists and pedestrians. The goals will be met by combining a comprehensive education and media program with an aggressive enforcement campaign targeting violations by motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians that contribute to the causes of collisions.

PERFORMANCE MEASURES:

Goal(s)

1. To reduce total fatal and injury collisions by 5% from the calendar 1998 base year total of 303 to 288 by September 30, 2002 and by an additional 5% from 288 to 274 by September 30, 2003.

1. To reduce nighttime fatal and injury collisions by 5% from the calendar 1998 base year total of 28 to 27 by September 30, 2002 and an additional 5% from 27 to 26 by September 30, 2003.

1. To reduce the total number of fatal and injury collisions involving bicyclists by 5% from the calendar 1998 base year total of 71 to 68 by September 30, 2002 and by an additional 5% from 68 to 65 by September 30, 2003.

1. To reduce the total number of fatal and injury collisions involving pedestrians by 5% from the calendar 1998 base year total of 48 to 46 by September 30, 2002 and by an additional 5% from 46 to 42 by September 30, 2003.

1. To increase bicycle helmet use by juveniles under 18 by 25% based on a 1998 Community Traffic Safety Coalition survey, from 40% to 50% by September 30, 2002 and by an additional 50% from 50% to 75% by September 30, 2003.

1. To increase the participation of community based organizations (Traffic Safety Coalition, Transportation Commissions, bicycling organizations, senior groups, service organizations, etc.) and businesses (bicycle shops, senior centers, public and private schools, etc.) in program activities by January 31, 2002 and maintain participation throughout the grant period. We will further enlist the aid of the local media to help the outreach to motorists.

Objectives

1. To conduct a press conference or other media campaign to kick off and publicize the grant and educate motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians of bicycle and pedestrian safety issues by November 1, 2001.

1. To develop, produce and begin distribution of educational and/or promotional materials, including an aggressive and continual media campaign, supporting the program activities, goals, and objectives by January 1, 2002.

1. To enlist the participation of at least 5 community based organizations and 5 local businesses by January 31, 2002.

1. To conduct at least 6 highly visible, publicized, special enforcement details directed at motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians who commit collision causing violations by September 30, 2002 and at least 6 additional special enforcement details by September 30, 2003.

1. With the assistance of a contractual service provider, conduct at least 4 community based bicycle and pedestrian rodeos with a traffic simulation course by September 30, 2002 and at least 4 additional community based rodeos by September 30, 2003

2. With the assistance of a contractual service provider, conduct 236 classroom workshops/assemblies on bicycle and pedestrian safety in public elementary schools (K-6) by September 30, 2002 and additional 236 workshops/assemblies in public schools by September 30, 2003.

1. With the assistance of a contractual service provider, conduct 72 classroom workshops/assemblies on bicycle and pedestrian safety in public middle schools (7-8) by September 30, 2002 and additional 72 workshops/assemblies by September 30, 2003.

1. With the assistance of a contractual service provider, conduct18 bicycle and pedestrian safety rodeos using a traffic simulation course in public elementary schools (K-6) by September 30, 2002 and additional 18 bicycle and pedestrian safety rodeos by September 30, 2003.

1. With the assistance of a contractual service provider, conduct 6 bicycle and pedestrian safety rodeos using a traffic simulation course in public middle schools (7-8) by September 30, 2002 and additional 6 bicycle and pedestrian safety rodeos by September 30, 2003.

1. To contract with local bicycle advocate group(s) to assist with community outreach and education (e.g., adult and motorist safety courses and outreach, bicycle safety hotline, etc.) by January 31, 2002.

1. To assist the 10 K-12 Santa Cruz City School District schools in the City with review and implementation of policies regarding bicycle, bicycle helmet, and scooter use.

1. To properly fit, distribute, or install at least 800 bicycle helmets, lighting systems, and/or other safety equipment items to the public by September 30, 2002 and at least another 800 bicycle helmets, lighting systems, and/ or other safety equipment items by September 30, 2003.

1. To establish a positive enforcement program, in cooperation with community based organizations and local business, to reward bicyclists wearing helmets and demonstrating safe operating practices on the roadway.

1. To work with the local judicial system to establish methods of adjudicating first time bicycle traffic law offenders.

1. To conduct bicycle and bicycle helmet inspections and adjustment on all participants at bicycle rodeos we conduct.

1. To notify OTS of all “saved by” events involving the use of bicycle helmets.

1. To include “Funding for this program was provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety through the Business, Transportation & Housing Agency” in all press related materials and statements.

1. To submit print clips by 9 a.m. to our Regional Coordinator AND Janet Lane, via e-mail at jlane@ots.ca.gov or by fax at (916) 262-2960. All clips should include publication name and date of publication.

1. To fax, (916) 262-2960, a short description of any new traffic safety event or program and associated press release to the OTS Public Information Officer (PIO) and our Regional Coordinator at least two weeks in advance.

PROPOSED SOLUTION:

The City of Santa Cruz is proposing a comprehensive community traffic safety education and enforcement program that focuses on and includes: educating the public (motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians, adults and children alike) on traffic safety issues; use of traffic simulation courses in rodeos; issuance and proper use of bicycle helmets and other safety devices; development and distribution of public awareness and education materials in support of the program; proactive, high visibility enforcement details; and increased participation of and working closely with community based organizations. Contractual service providers will assist in meeting the objectives for education in the schools and outreach to other community based organizations.

The grant funds will provide additional personnel to supplement the Department’s Traffic Section. Currently, the 7 officers assigned to the Traffic Section are responsible for investigation of all traffic collisions, follow up on hit and run cases, response to calls for service related to traffic issues, and enforcement of state and local laws pertaining to traffic safety. The proposed Police Traffic Officer will be assigned to work primarily a nighttime shift, with the responsibility for meeting the goals and objectives related to reducing nighttime injury traffic collisions. The Community Service Officer (CSO) positions will be assigned to the Traffic Section and work primarily during the day and early evening hours. The CSO’s will receive advanced traffic collision investigation training in order to relieve current traffic officers of the responsibility of responding to and investigating traffic collisions and other minor traffic related calls for service which are very time consuming. This will free up the current traffic officers to dedicate more time to enforcement of collision causing violations at high collision locations. The CSO’s, along with assistance from other officers in the Traffic Section, will also assist in the education element of the program and promote and coordinate the participation of community based organizations.

PROPOSED BEGINNING DATE: October 1, 2001 PROPOSED ENDING DATE: September 30, 2003

PROPOSED BUDGET