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58 <br /> Behavioral Components of Vehicular and Pedestrian Traffic Patterns <br /> There are approximately 2 Gravelly Hill students walking or cycling to school. On-site observations <br /> noted one middle school pedestrian walking from W Ten Road to houses across the street. Field staff <br /> noted the following travel norms for Gravelly Hill: <br /> ♦ Motorist behavior was observed as good. Drivers are respectful and obey speed <br /> limits. Cars do occasionally block the crosswalk, but there are no pedestrians around. <br /> ♦ There is one entrance to the school and left and right turn exit lanes out of the <br /> school. <br /> ♦ There is light traffic along W Ten Road during the morning and light to moderate <br /> traffic in the afternoon. <br /> ♦ During the afternoon pick up, vehicles back up to W Ten Road.Traffic backs up past <br /> the right turn lane—cars do pull over on the shoulder. Traffic backs up to the end of <br /> the left turn lane. <br /> ♦ Through traffic will use the center turn lane to pass.Traffic is able to safely pass in <br /> both directions. <br /> ♦ One walker was observed in the afternoon. <br /> ♦ There are no crossing guards or sheriffs present to direct traffic. <br /> ♦ Safety concerns include limited sight distance for cars exiting left out of the school <br /> due to the vehicles backed up along W Ten Road.Additionally,vehicles must pull <br /> into the crosswalk to see around the cars in the right turn lane. <br /> Existing Infrastructure - Strengths <br /> The following observations were noted as existing system strengths: <br /> + Clear school zone and pedestrian crossing signage is found along W Ten Road. <br /> + There are on-campus sidewalks along the building front, adjacent to the carpool <br /> drop-off line. <br /> + There is sidewalk on the section of school property adjacent to W Ten Road. <br /> + There is a crosswalk at the school entrance along W Ten Road. <br /> + There is a bike rack located at the school. <br /> Existing Infrastructure - Deficiencies <br /> There are multiple issues related to infrastructure deficiency and traffic issues that <br /> warrant improvement, create safety hazards, and prevent children from walking and <br /> cycling to school safely. Key weaknesses, barriers, and obstacles include the following: <br /> — There are multiple two-lane, rural roadways that pose safety barriers for school-age cyclists <br /> and pedestrians. <br /> — W Ten Road presents a serious safety threat for pedestrians and bicyclists because of its <br /> lacking infrastructure, high speeds,traffic volume, and hilly terrain. Either side of W Ten <br /> Road presents engineering challenges for sidewalk or trails since there is no curb and <br /> gutter. <br /> — The speed limit within the school zone is 45 mph. <br /> — There are no pedestrian or bicycle facilities found on adjacent roadway, other than the <br /> sidewalk on school property.Table 2.10 summarizes key locations where insufficient <br /> infrastructure creates barriers to pedestrians and bicyclists. <br /> Safe Routes to School <br /> Orange County,North Carolina 56 <br />