Safe Routes to School: Traffic Solutions and Safety

Schools across the country are grappling with significant traffic congestion during arrival and dismissal times. This issue arises because many schools were not originally designed to accommodate the high volume of traffic generated by parents choosing to drive their children to school. In 1969, nearly 50 percent of children in the United States, and almost 90 percent of those living within a mile of their school, walked or biked to school. However, today, that number has dramatically decreased to fewer than 15 percent. Consequently, driving to school now accounts for 10-14 percent of morning commute traffic. Studies have shown that Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs are effective in increasing the rates of walking and biking to school while also reducing injuries.

Bolton & Menk plays a crucial role in addressing this problem by coordinating efforts between cities, counties, and school officials to initiate discussions on developing SRTS plans and policies. These plans focus on the six E’s: evaluation, education, encouragement, engineering, enforcement, and equity. Bolton & Menk has extensive experience in assessing existing school routes, identifying new walking and biking routes, evaluating infrastructure needs, designing transportation engineering solutions, implementing changes, and securing funding.

Schools and communities gain valuable knowledge about existing infrastructure deficiencies and barriers to walking and biking. This information enables them to make informed, data-driven decisions. Preliminary engineering concepts can be used to engage the community and understand the costs and impacts associated with proposed improvements. Additionally, the gathered information can be used to apply for SRTS-specific grants and funding.

Contact us today to learn how Bolton & Menk can help your community implement effective Safe Routes to School programs.