Safe Routes to School starts with School Travel Planning!

Do the children in your community have access to safe walking and biking routes to travel between their homes and their school, library, recreation center, park, and other important places?

A School Travel Plan helps communities identify important transportation routes and any barriers to safe walking and biking access.  School Travel Plans help communities set goals for addressing safety issues, and can help coordinate the transportation goals of schools and municipal agencies.  Coordinated plans for safe transportation routes help both schools and communites set priorities and gain funding for projects that ultimately increase safety for the entire community.

With the help of a Community Transformation Grant, the Washington County Council of Goverments partnered with Healthy Acadia and others to help communities provide safe transportation routes for children.  Based upon their walkability, need, and interes, four schools were invited to participate in the creation of a School Travel Plan - two of the four schools completed plans.

Cherryfield Elementary School Travel Plan (PDF - 1.4MB)

Eastport Elementary School Travel Plan (PDF - 1.9MB)

If you would like assistance in creating a Travel Plan for your school, or would like assistance in finding and applying for Safe Routes to School grants, please contact Crystal Hitchings of Washington County Council of Goverments. 

School Travel Planning documents, models, and guides can be viewed at the links provided below:

School Travel Plan Documents

School Travel Plan Info Summary          Parent Survey          Classroom Survey        

Model School Travel Plans         

Brooklyn, ME          Portland, ME

Safe Routes Activites Guides

Possibilities!          Walk and Bike to School Day          Walking School Bus Guide          Finding the Right Helmet

Bike Rodeo Guide (Short)          Bike Rodeo Guide (Long)

Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning for Community Enhancement

Community Planning Process

Healthy Places factsheets (Center for Disease Control)

Funding

Lowe's Toolbox for Education Grant Program          Funding Portal