Engineering improvements focus on making changes to streets, trails, and sidewalks to improve walking and biking conditions. They generally aim to reduce vehicle speeds, address conflicts points, and provide fully accessible sidewalks and crossings near schools.
Many communities were not designed to be safe and comfortable for people walking and bicycling. Walkability and bikeability audits can help identify areas around your school in need of improvements such as crosswalks, signals or bike facilities. Once problem areas are identified, communities work with local governments to identify funding sources for construction. One potential funding source are MnDOT Safe Routes to School grants.
Because the purpose of Safe Routes to School is “to enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk, roll and bicycle to school,” engineering solutions should be focused on calming traffic and providing continuous facilities for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Other guiding principles for Safe Routes to School Engineering solutions from the National Center for Safe Routes to School include:
The City of Alexandria completed infrastructure improvements around Lincoln Elementary, including sidewalk, street light and crosswalk improvements that are making it easier for students to walk to and from Lincoln Elementary and nearby parks. The project was identified in the school’s Safe Routes to School plan, which was completed the year the project was implemented. The Safe Routes to School program at Lincoln Elementary is a partnership between the schools, city and local public health. The project used $268,432 in federal funding.
In 2009, the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission worked with the Fond du Lac Reservation and the Ojibwe School to develop a Safe Routes to School Travel Plan. In 2010, The Fond du Lac Reservation incorporated the travel plan into their comprehensive plan and secured funding for a multi-use path in 2013. According to Jason Hollinday, director of Planning at ARDC, the Safe Routes to School planning process was an important factor in being awarded the Transportation Enhancement funds to implement the trail project. Learn more about the Safe Routes to School plan for the Ojibwe School and the work between the ARDC and the Fond du Lac Reservation.
In 2012, the city of Brooklyn Center received a grant to create a Safe Routes to School Plan. The plan established prioritized routes and engineering recommendations. The city incorporated some of the upgrades and improvements into plans for reconstruction projects. Public Works Director and City Engineer Steve Lillehaug since successfully used the plan to receive Transportation Alternatives Program funding from the Metropolitan Council.
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