Safe School Streets

Update December 2022

The Safe School Streets is a pilot programme that Auckland Transport (AT) is trialling with a number of schools around Auckland. The programme sees temporary measures introduced around a school before any long-term solutions are implemented. The changes are designed to increase safety outside schools, reduce the number of vehicles during peak times and encourage more students and their families to walk and cycle to and from school each day.

During the 2021 April school holiday period, AT installed some changes that align with feedback received from the one-day trial and co-design sessions with Willow Park School and the community.

In March this year, we received feedback on the interim safety improvements around Willow Park School as part of our Safe School Streets Trial. Based on a review of the feedback received, changes made to the design during the trial, and the data collected earlier this year, we have decided to proceed toward a permanent solution.

What data informed our decision?

AT undertook a significant evaluation of the interim safety improvements’ which included perception surveys, site observations, speed recordings and video analysis. This data was compared to a baseline collected prior to interim improvements being installed.

  • There was a large reduction in the total number of risky road user behaviour and interaction events observed

  • For almost all vehicle speed measures, locations, and direction, speed was lower. In some cases, the reduction was significant

  • 52% of respondents reported walking, cycling or scootering as the mode used most often by their children for the greatest part of their school journey. A further 19% reported using designated park and walk zones which were created as part of this trial

  • There were significant reductions in the proportion of respondents reporting they had seen unsafe parking or drop-off/pick-up practices outside the school

  • At the time of follow-up, about 60% or more of the school community and resident respondents aware of the changes rated the intervention as either effective or very effective at achieving the intended safety outcomes. More common areas of concern raised were not agreeing with or seeing breaches of the one-way system and speed bumps, including vehicle acceleration between the bumps, and unsafe or illegal parking and driving behaviour.

Next Steps:

Based on a review of this feedback and observations, we have decided to proceed towards a permanent solution. For a detailed report regarding the trial please see attachment

Auckland Transport will engage with the community before any permanent changes are implemented, through mail outs, drop-in sessions, and site meetings

Please provide feedback on this project by emailing atengagement@at.govt.nz