Road Safety Around Our Schools Starts Before the First Bell

Road Safety Around Our Schools Starts Before the First Bell

One of the questions I've been asking throughout this campaign is simple:

"Do you feel students can get to and from school safely?"

Over the past several months, I've been visiting schools throughout Wards 11 and 12, attending community events, and speaking directly with parents, students, grandparents, and residents.

First, I want to say thank you. I genuinely appreciate everyone who has taken the time to stop and share their experiences with me. Every conversation has helped me better understand the unique challenges facing each school community.

While every school has its own concerns, one message has remained remarkably consistent:

Families want safer routes to school.

Although many of these issues fall under municipal responsibility, School Trustees have an important role in listening, advocating, and ensuring student safety remains part of every conversation.

Road safety isn't just about traffic engineering. It's about making sure every student arrives safe each morning and returns home safe each afternoon.

Safety Begins Before Students Enter the Building

When we talk about school safety, we often focus on what happens inside our schools.

• Bullying

• Student well-being

• Mental health

• Emergency preparedness

Those are all incredibly important. But student safety begins long before the first bell rings.

It begins the moment a child leaves home.

• Walking

• Cycling

• Taking the bus

• Crossing busy intersections

• Waiting at crosswalks

• Navigating parking lots

Every part of that journey matters.

What I've Been Hearing Across Our Communities

As I've visited schools, several common concerns continue to emerge.

Parents have shared concerns about:

• speeding near schools

• heavy traffic during drop-off and pick-up

• unsafe pedestrian crossings

• missing sidewalks and pathways

• increasing congestion as our communities continue to grow

Although each school is unique, these issues are remarkably similar.

That tells me this isn't one isolated problem. It's something we need to address together.

Rousseau Elementary School, Ancaster

Residents have expressed concerns about increasing traffic volumes, speeding, missing sidewalks, and the difficulty students face crossing safely around this school during busy periods, and especially when crossing McNiven near Orton Ave & Tomahawk Cresent.

Another significant concern came from students and families living near Mohawk Road, Filman Road, Green Ravine Drive, and Lime Kiln Road. Because continuous sidewalk connections do not exist in this area, many residents feel isolated from the rest of the community. With the Lincoln M. Alexander Parkway nearby, walking along roadside ditches or attempting to cross busy roads is neighter practical nor safe.

large concern came from student and families living near Mohawk Road, off Filman Road, Green Ravine Drive, and Lime Kiln Road. This group is completely isolated from the rest of their community because no sidewalks exist, and with the Lincon Alexander highway at their doorsteps, it's not safe to cross or walk along the ditches.

As development continues, traffic naturally increases. That makes it even more important that we continually evaluate whether existing safety measures are keeping pace with our growing community.

I've met with Ward 12's current Ward Councillor, discussed the concerns with the members invoved in Hamilton's Strategic Road Safety Committee, and reached out directly to City staff responsible for transportation planning.

These conversations were encouraging.

City staff confirmed that revisions to the corridor continue to be evaluated. However, they also explained that although the original plan was start construction after 2018, the project remains under review because several environmental considerations must first be addressed before final design can move forward.

At this time, no final decision has been made.

Based on the information shared with me, if the environmental review is completed and funding is approved by the City, residents could bgin seeing progress over the next several years, subject to environmental approvals and City funding.

I appreciate the City taking these concerns seriously, and I also understand that infrastructure projects require careful planning, environmental review, public consultation, and budget approval.

That said, families deserve regular updates throughout that process.

Advocacy doesn't end after one meeting or one email. It means continuing to ask questions, following up, and ensuring student safety remains part of the conversation until improvements are delivered.

Mount Hope Elementary: Missing Sidewalks/Pathways

Another concern brought forward by residents involves Mount Hope Elementary.

The school's ongoing expansion and renovation is exciting news for our growing community, bringing additional classroom space and child care services for local families.

However, many residents have pointed out something that appears not to have been fully addressed.

The approved plans provided pedestrian connections to one existing neighbourhood, but did not appear to include complete sidewalk or pathway access from the newer subdivision to the west and south.

As a result, some students have reportedly been crossing muddy informal paths and private property simply to get to school.

No child should have to create their own route because safe infrastructure wasn't included in the original planning.

I've contacted the City seeking clarification on whether sidewalk and pathway plans have since been updated or amended following the approval process. At this time, I have not been able to locate any publicly available plans showing sidewalks or pathway connections from the newer neighbourhoods surrounding Mount Hope Elementary. I have asked the City to clarify whether these plans have since been revised.

If they have, that's great news.

If they haven't, I will continue advocating until every student has a safe way to walk to school.

Ancaster High Secondary School: Designing for How Students Actually Walk

Another issue raised by students themselves involves the pedestrian crossing near Ancaster High on Jerseyville Road, and lack thereof, on Meadowbrook Drive.

Several students have told me that although a marked crosswalk exists on Jerseyville Road, it isn't located where many students naturally travel when heading toward the Rotary Club and nearby fields. Instead, many students cross where it is most convenient for them rather than walking to the designated crossing. Transportation planners often refer to these natural walking patterns as "desire lines". This preferred path creates blind spots for motorists and students when students naturally leave the school using the most direct route, often crossing in groups where drivers may not expect them.

On Meadowbrook Drive, students in the morning and afternoons can be seen running between moving vehicles and buses to reach the school. This is unsafe and marked pedestrian crossings should be provided to ensure students can cross safely.

When infrastructure doesn't reflect how people actually move, people often create their own routes.

This isn't about blaming students.

It's about asking whether our infrastructure accurately reflects the way students actually use it. Sometimes the safest design on paper isn't necessarily the safest design in practice.

Listening to the people who use these routes every day is an important part of building safer communities.

Growth Should Include Safe Routes to School

Hamilton continues to grow.

New homes mean new families.

New families mean more students.

When new communities are planned, schools cannot be treated as isolated buildings.

• connected sidewalks.

• accessible pathways.

• protected crossings.

• traffic calming.

• safe routes to nearby schools.

These should all be considered from the very beginning, not after families have already moved in.

My Commitment

One thing I've learned throughout this campaign is that every school community has its own story.

The best solutions begin by listening.

If elected as your Trustee for Wards 11 and 12, I will continue to visit our schools, continuing to meet directly with families, students, educators, and community members to bringing your concerns forward.

A School Trustee cannot build roads or sidewalks. But a Trustee can:

• listen to students and parents

• advocate for safer school communities

• work collaboratively with municipal partners

• ask questions when concerns are raised

• ensure student safety remains part of every conversation

Because the trip to school is part of the school day.

Have I Missed Something?

I've heard from many students and families already, but I know there are more concerns I haven't seen firsthand.

Is there a traffic or pedestrian safety issue near your child's school?

Whether it's speeding, congestion, unsafe crossings, missing sidewalks, visibility concerns, or another issue, I'd like to hear from you!

Your experiences help identify patterns and strengthen the case for improvements.

The best solutions come from listening to the people who use these routes every day. Whether I'm elected or not elected, I won't stop advocating for safer routes to school. Every student deserves to arrive safely, every single day.

-Melissa