National Center Releases “Getting Results” Resources
Three-part Series Shows Communities Are Seeing Benefits of SRTS Programs
Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs are impacting communities across the country in measurable ways. Local SRTS programs can: help reduce traffic congestion in neighborhoods and around schools, improve driver behavior, and increase bicycling and walking to school. To highlight the visible results gained by communities and to provide examples of how successful SRTS programs tracked their progress, the National Center for Safe Routes to School has developed a series of “Getting Results” resources.
“These new resources are designed to help communities think ahead about how to identify desired outcomes and measure a program’s impact, and to highlight how SRTS programs have helped address problems that impact entire communities,” said Associate Director Nancy Pullen-Seufert. “Measuring the impact of SRTS activities can help a local SRTS program evaluate its progress, pursue additional funding or even market its efforts.”
The three-part “Getting Results” series will highlight SRTS programs that have helped achieve:
- Traffic reduction
- Changes in driver behavior that improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists, and
- Increased student participation in walking and bicycling.
The first piece, “Getting Results: SRTS Programs That Reduce Traffic,” shows that specific schools in Utah, Colorado, Georgia, North Carolina, Vermont and California measured success after using a variety of traffic reduction strategies. For schools that seek to develop programs that reduce the number of vehicles near the school during arrival and dismissal times, they should take a baseline measurement of traffic before starting any strategies so that it can be compared to traffic once reduction efforts are underway or complete.
The next two “Getting Results” resources will be released in the following months, so check the Safe Routes to School website www.saferoutesinfo.org for examples of programs that have influenced driver behavior to improve safety for pedestrians and bicyclists and also for tracking increased walking and bicycling.
Access "Getting Results: SRTS Programs That Reduce Traffic"
In the news
"Getting Results: SRTS Programs That Reduce Speeding and Distracted Driving" focuses on how SRTS programs in across the country measured success in reducing speeding and distracted driving.
Many Safe Routes to School Programs are put on hold due to the challenges of winter walking and cycling. This webinar explores ideas and tactics to help make the cold cool for safe routes to school.
View the archived recording of a 60-minute webinar that addressed the problem of traffic congestion as it relates to safe routes to school.
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