Citation

Yee R, Parisi D, Hondorp B. ITE J. 2007; 77(9): 22-26.

Affiliation

Department of Transportation, Pasadena, CA, United States

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Institute of Transportation Engineers)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

In 2005, the city of Pasadena, CA, USA, initiated development of a comprehensive safe routes to school program. The early goals of the program were to develop suggested route maps for 19 elementary and middle schools; prepare new school are traffic control plans for all schools; and identify potential student pedestrian and mobility enhancement projects throughout the city.

This article describes how Pasadena, California, successfully created a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program that met the early goals of developing suggested route maps for 19 elementary and middle schools, preparing new school area traffic control plans for all schools, and identifying potential student pedestrian and mobility enhancement projects throughout the city. To meet these goals, an ambitious project completion schedule was set to capture school, student and parent interest and to design and construct projects so that they met funding obligations. A signage and pavement marking inventory and a parent survey were used in the creation of suggested walking route maps. Based on findings from this project, a list of recommendations was developed to address identified safety problems, including both broad program and policy recommendations and school-specific engineering improvements. In the two years since the program's inception, Pasadena has already made significant progress in improving school area safety for young walkers and cyclists.

Language: en