How Independent Schools Can Address Their Unique Transportation Challenges

At Wells + Associates, we understand that independent elementary, middle, and high schools have special transportation needs that differ from many public schools.

Unlike most public schools, private schools draw students from a wide geographic area that may cross jurisdictional boundaries. Walking or bicycling to school is a limited option given the wide geographic draw. Some private schools offer private bus service; however, many do not. Most students are driven to school by their parents or guardians.

During most times of day, schools have few transportation impacts. During short periods of time, however, schools typically generate intense traffic impacts, as students are dropped off in the morning and picked up in the afternoon. Student safety is of paramount importance.

Transportation Planning + Engineering Services for Schools: From Early Planning to Construction and Beyond

Wells + Associates (W+A) works with independent schools from the early planning stages through permitting and construction and beyond. During the site planning process, W+A works with the school, architects, and civil engineers to develop a plan with the following key attributes:

• Safe, efficient, vehicular access, egress, and on-site circulation systems.
• Direct connections to principal neighborhood, collector, or arterial streets.
• Safe, secure, direct pedestrian and bicycle connections.
• Adequate capacity for the pick-up/drop-off operation.
• No significant vehicle-pedestrian conflicts.
• Adequate, well-organized, well-managed parking for faculty, staff, students, and visitors.
• Segregated pedestrian, bus, auto, and service/delivery vehicle systems.
• Good emergency vehicle access.

During the entitlement phase, W+A prepares the necessary traffic studies based on jurisdictional requirements. Our team works with state and local departments of transportation as well as the broader community to ensure concerns are addressed and the school’s transportation impacts are mitigated.

We draw upon a comprehensive package of transportation improvements to ensure not only that the school’s impacts on the surrounding neighborhood are minimized but also that the transportation plan works for the school. Such improvements may include physical roadway improvements, traffic signal improvements, Transportation Demand Management Plans, Operational Management Plans, Monitoring Plans, and/or Event Management Plans.

During the permitting and construction phase, W+A provides the following services:

• Traffic signal design.
• Signing and Pavement Marking Plans.
• Traffic Control Plans.

Schools Served by Wells + Associates

Over the years, we have become a trusted source for solving the transportation challenges faced by schools. Some of our independent school clients include:

• St. Patrick’s Episcopal Day School, Washington, DC
• Sidwell Friends School, Washington, DC
• The Field School, Washington, DC
• Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School, Washington, DC
• The Lab School of Washington, Washington, DC
• St. Peter School, Washington, DC
• The River School, Washington, DC
• Georgetown Day School, Washington, DC
• The British School of Washington, Washington, DC
• Edmund Burke School, Washington, DC
• The Sheridan School, Washington, DC
• The Langley School, McLean, VA
• The Potomac School, McLean, VA
• Oakcrest School, Vienna, VA
• The French School, Montgomery County, MD

Contact our School Transportation Team

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