The purpose of the Ely Safe Routes to School (SRTS) plan is to identify barriers and unsafe conditions for children walking and biking to school in Ely. The SRTS program is designed to work with school staff, students, and parents to evaluate the school’s surrounding, educate on the SRTS concept, enforce safety-related policies, and encourage participation. These key areas of evaluation, education, enforcement and encouragement help create a community where students can travel to school on their own and parents and school staff feel comfortable about their safety.
Evaluation provides the core element of the SRTS program by evaluating existing conditions around the schools in Ely, and determining design elements necessary to remedy the problems the evaluation uncovers. The education component includes identifying safe routes, teaching students to look both ways at intersections, and how to handle potentially dangerous situations. Enforcement includes policies that address pedestrian safety issues such as speeding or illegal turning. Encouragement is the final element of the SRTS program. It combines the results of the other areas to improve knowledge, facilities and enforcement to encourage more students to walk or ride safely to school.
The project is expected to be complete by June 30, 2009.
For a detailed timeline and scope of work click HERE.
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