Survey to focus on safe school routes

Published 10:23 am Thursday, May 1, 2014

Vision 2020 volunteers hope to get a little feedback from area parents about the ways their children get to school.

Vision 2020 is asking parents and students to fill out surveys on school transportation as part of the Bike/Walk Trails Committee’s efforts to partner with the state Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to Schools to make it easier to bike and walk to area schools.

“It will ask them how you get your kids to school and what age you think it’s appropriate for kids to walk by themselves,” volunteer Robin Krueger said.

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Volunteers held a forum last month discussing potential recommendations by MnDOT engineers to improve intersections and create safer paths to schools, and MnDOT will issue a preliminary report on its findings next month, followed by a final report in June.

That could mean more visible signage and a few new trails. Experts recommended new signs or flashing beacons for every elementary school, as well as Ellis Middle School and Holton.

In addition, the city could finish sidewalks near some schools, such as 15th Street Southwest between Third and Fourth Avenue near Banfield Elementary School or 16th Avenue Southwest between 16th and 18th streets near Southgate Elementary School.

None of the recommendations are final, however. Volunteers hope to gather more information from residents on issues they see involving their children’s transportation needs.

For example, some students may not walk to school because of traffic concerns. Students who live near Ellis Middle School and I.J. Holton Intermediate School often struggle to cross the street when cars and buses fill the roadway in the morning, according to Krueger. Others may not have adequate sidewalks or may not want to walk near bullies.

“There are some other determining factors as to why the kids don’t walk to school,” Krueger said.

Krueger said volunteers also want parents who drive their children to school to fill out the survey, to inform Vision 2020 and MnDOT engineers where potential traffic blind spots are.

Students will answer survey questions this week as well from teachers who will ask a few questions on how students came to school and how they plan to go home.

Parents can fill out the online surveys by school until May 10. The preliminary plan for Austin’s Safe Routes to Schools program will be unveiled on May 18, during a planned Bike Safety Bash.

Laura Helle, Vision 2020’s Director of Vision Creation, said the city of Austin could implement some of the recommendations this fall and Austin could apply for grant money from the state for Safe Routes to Schools projects starting in February 2015.