Abstract Manager

The safety of school surroundings is a crucial concern for boroughs and municipalities. In addition to providing safe travel, improving the infrastructure around schools encourages the use of alternative modes of transportation, such as walking or cycling, enhancing the well-being of users. The school context is unique due to the presence of vulnerable users and high traffic volumes during peak hours. Therefore, it is important to develop an integrated approach to prioritize interventions and plan the necessary adjustments around educational institutions using practices suited to the school environment.

Intervia has had the opportunity to work on various projects around schools with the boroughs of the city of Montreal and external municipalities. As part of a project affecting 150,000 residents, aligned with the principles of Vision Zero and based on the framework of a Montreal city grant program, we developed a set of criteria and indicators necessary for designing a classification tool for over 40 educational institutions. The systematic observation and analysis of each site based on the developed criteria enabled the identification of intervention needs in terms of infrastructure and allowed these needs to be qualified for relative prioritization. The resulting classification of each studied site thus allowed the targeted borough to identify priority areas for securing travel for school users. It is essential to question the tools necessary for the safe design of these spaces.

The implementation of participatory planning, the development of a design guide for school zones, and the analysis of the installation of various types of streets, such as school streets, are important areas of reflection to promote friendliness and increased safety in circulation spaces around schools.

This project is part of a proactive approach to sustainable urban development, aiming to enhance the safety of children while improving the quality of public space. Ultimately, we hope to provide a proactive and reproducible framework for other communities, contributing to a safer future for our youth.