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PEDESTRIAN SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS

MAPLE SHADE TOWNSHIP, NJ

Through a Safe Routes to School grant, McCormick Taylor filled crucial sidewalk gaps for two Schools’ walking paths so students could safely walk and bike to and from school.

DESIGN , COMMUNITY, MUNICIPAL

THE CHALLENGE

Approximately 850 students from grades 7th to 12th of Maple Shade High School and approximately 9% of students from grades Pre-K to 4th of Maude Wilkins Elementary School in Maple Shade Township could walk to their schools. The primary obstacle preventing students from walking or biking to school was missing sections of sidewalk in residential areas surrounding the school. The existing incomplete connections through missing sections of sidewalk contributed to real and perceived risks for children walking or bicycling in the area. Recognizing this gap, Maple Shade Township acquired a Safe Routes to School federal grant to remedy these missing gaps with McCormick Taylor leading the design.

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HOW WE HELPED

McCormick Taylor focused their design on improving Frederick Avenue and its surrounding streets. Frederick Avenue is a major component of the pedestrian circulation network, connecting residential areas with both Maude Wilkins Elementary School and Maple Shade High School. McCormick Taylor evaluated the existing pedestrian facilities of the project and identified the major deficiencies in this pathway. Their design included new sidewalk along South Clinton Avenue and Federick Avenue; installing ADA-compliant curb ramps, which included the replacement of residential driveways to maintain the ADA-compliant cross slope; new high-visibility crosswalk striping at intersections; new pedestrian crossing signs at new crosswalk locations; and landscape design.

RESULTS

This project enhanced the pedestrian walkability of the neighborhood, installed missing sections of sidewalk, and provided ADA-compliant curb ramps and new crosswalks. Students at Maude Wilkins Elementary School and Maple Shade High School are now able to safely walk to school. Construction of this project was substantially complete in fall 2023.

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