Opening of Proposal - Safe Routes to School - Our Lady of Hungary Neighborhood Proj No. 122-007 - VS Engineering

Home Browse Search

CIT Y OF SOUTH BEND PE Ser vices for Safe Routes to School Our Lady of Hungary Neighborhood Sidew alks and ADA Ra m ps VS Engineering, Inc. | Letter of Interest 3 Weather – Although SRTS Plans can be successful in locations that frequently experience adverse weather, parents still noted poor weather conditions as a reason for not allowing their children to walk or bike to school. Crime - Kidnapping and assault were the two largest concerns of crime among parents for the children who walk or bike to school. The above factors are likely contributing to the decline of those who walk or bike to school within the City of South Bend as well. VS has a clear understanding of the limiting factors for those walking or biking to school, which is important to ensuring that the design of improvements meet the needs of the community and provides the best opportunity for the overall SRTS Plan’s success. Specific to the City of South Bend, there are locations with gaps in the existing sidewalks, or no sidewalks at all. The missing sidewalks cause children who are walking or riding bicycles to school to traverse through grassy areas, or move to the edge of the roadway. Walking or riding in the grassy area becomes a difficult task when the ground is wet, muddy or snow covered. When pedestrian traffic is in the roadway, it causes a higher probability for a vehicle/pedestrian accident. It is critical that the City maintain its partnership with school staff, parents, local residents and businesses to continue to create enthusiasm for the SRTS program. A successful SRTS Plan will not only address the project need to stop the declining number of students who walk or bike to school, but will also result in additional positive impacts on the community such as: Decreased traffic congestion around schools Improved air quality Improved childhood health Increased community involvement Enhanced accessibility within the community Increased safety within the community The VS Team has the knowledge and experience to assist the City of South Bend in designing the improvements necessary to address community concerns that are critical to the SRTS plan’s overall success in achieving maximum participation. VS ENGINEERING QUALIFICATIONS VS was founded in March 1980 and provides planning, design, surveying, construction inspection and contract administration services for transportation projects. To date, the firm has completed over 600 transportation projects, all within budget and schedule restraints. VS President Sanjay B. Patel, PE, Transportation Director Chris Waidner, PE, and Northern Region Director Mark Herald, PE, are actively involved with management of the firm’s transportation projects – including SRTS, INDOT and municipal projects very similar in nature to the proposed project. VS has significant experience with SRTS infrastructure design projects and our service is comprehensive—from review and modification of the scope as necessary to delivering a high quality, functional design which will benefit the community. VS currently is assisting LaPorte County and City of Fort Wayne to provide ADA compliant sidewalks, curb ramps, and recreational trail projects in order to ensure each community receives the maximum value from the planned improvements. Our experience in completing these modifications through working directly with INDOT’s District Offices will prove beneficial to South Bend. In addition, our prior SRTS projects at Perley Fine Arts Academy and Lincoln Primary have proven to be a success for both schools and adjacent neighborhoods.