Creating safe routes to schools often requires improvements to the walking and bicycling facilities or infrastructure. Such improvements may include installing traffic lights or signs, designing traffic calming measures to reducing speeds, and establishing safer crosswalks around a school or in a neighborhood.
Engineering efforts require coordination between Public Works departments, schools, and an interested public. Often these efforts are preceded by the development of transportation, bicycle and/or pedestrian plans that contain needs assessments, policy guidance, and project priorities. Additionally, all jurisdictions are required to have a General Plan, which contains a ‘Circulation Element' addressing transportation policies. These plans may already identify the SR2S needs in your community - which will provide support for SR2S grant proposals - or there will be an opportunity to suggest including such projects in the next plan update.
A few examples of local plans include:
Tools for creating a School Travel Plan
School travel plans are a critical component of Safe Routes planning. See the complete step-by-step guide , an example travel plan, and create one for your school based on this template. (Materials produced by the Tranposrtation and Land Use Coalition and are PDFs.)
Skip to the Educate and Encourage section for student mapping exercises that can help students identify deficiencies around their school. Also check out for ways for community members to assess areas for infrastructure improvements.
Planning efforts frequently utilize data gathered through Safe Routes surveys.
The National Center for Safe Routes to School website details Engineering strategies such as slowing down traffic around the school and in the school zone, among others.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration offers a "Safe Streets" toolkit that has descriptions of common SR2S engineering projects and general suggestions on funding options for infrastructure improvements.
Local Contacts
Contact the Humboldt County Department of Public Works (Word) or the Public Works Department of individual cities for more information on engineering projects and who can help bring improvements to your neighborhoods and schools.
Some cities, including Arcata (click for the Arcata TSC flowchart (Word) and Eureka, have transportation safety commissions. Contact City Hall or visit a city's website for information about the membership and meeting schedule for these committees.
Some school districts, for example Fortuna Union Elementary District, have designated transportation safety committees. Call the district office for information.