Esko Safe Routes to School
Background
View the complete Draft Esko Safe Routes to School Plan Document Here


The purpose of the Esko Safe Routes to School (SRTS) plan is to identify barriers and unsafe conditions for children walking and biking to school in Esko. 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,engineer pedestrian-friendly facilities and encourage participation. These key areas of evaluation, education, enforcement, engineering 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.

ARDC will work with a local steering committee to complete the Esko Safe Routes to School plan. Input from the following people and agencies will be valuable:
  • Thompson Township supervisors, residents and students

  • Minnesota Department of Transportation

  • Carlton County

  • Esko Public Schools

  • Township Peace Officer
Enabling and encouraging children to walk and bicycle to school clearly has many benefits. These benefits include improving their safety, providing them with fresh air and exercise, reducing traffic around schools, reducing fuel consumption and pollution, increasing community involvement, and encouraging healthy, active lifestyles at an early age.

Safe Routes to School programs generally include:
  • Community- supported speed enforcement

  • Pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements

  • Special events/activities

  • Traffic diversion improvements

  • On and off-street bicycle and pedestrian facilities

  • Traffic calming measures around school zones

Meetings
A steering committee to complete the Planning Process will meet several times throughout the next several months.

Meeting 1: April 23, 2009
Agenda
Summary

Meeting 2: May 28, 2009
Parent Survey Results
Sign Inventory Map
Meeting Summary

Meeting 3: August 31, 2009
Agenda
Summary

Meeting 4: October 21, 2009
Agenda
Summary

Meeting 5: January 27, 2010
Agenda
Summary

Meeting 6: April 22, 2010
Agenda
Summary

Information Materials
Documents:
Process Timeline

Planning Scope of Work

Planning Process

Esko area map

Websites:
National Center for Bicycling and Walking
National Center for Safe Routes to School
Minnesota Safe Routes to School

Contact Information
Ellen Pillsbury
ARDC
221 West 1st Street
Duluth, MN 55802
218-529-7554

epillsbury@ardc.org