Safe Routes to School

Background

Safe Routes to School is an international movement to create safe travel opportunities for children to walk or bike to school and community members to walk and bike around their neighborhoods. The City of Saratoga is now in the process of developing a citywide Safe Routes to School Master Plan to identify improvements that could be made around schools to encourage walking or biking to school and around neighborhoods. The City has formed a multidisciplinary team comprised of Traffic Safety Commission members, Youth Commission representatives, Saratoga schools, and the Sheriff’s Office to support the Safe Routes to School effort and increase community awareness.

Over the years, the City has worked closely with the schools to improve infrastructure and facilities to make routes to school safe. The Master Plan will identify and prioritize a list of projects to implement in the future as funding becomes available, either through the City’s Capital Improvement Program or grant opportunities, and allow those projects to be construction ready when the time comes. Saratoga’s Master Plan will be based on a Safe System method developed by the Federal Highway Administration, which takes an analytical approach to improving traffic safety.

Participate 

We want to hear from students, parents, and community members!

Review the Draft

Please review the draft Safe Routes to School Master Plan (PDF) with recommend projects for each school location. 

Attend City Council Meeting

At the July 14 Traffic Safety Commission meeting, the Commission reviewed the draft Safe Routes to School Master Plan and recommended City Council approval at the September 7 Council Meeting. You can share your feedback with the Council at the meeting. Participation information will be available on the meeting agenda and shared here when available.

Subscribe to Receive Notifications

Sign up to receive notifications about Safe Routes to School and learn how you can participate in the process. 

Resources

Tentative Timeline

TimeframeActivity
Spring 2021
  • City reviews existing data and needs
Summer 2021
  • Community members to submit suggested projects/improvements 
Fall 2021
  • Draft Safe Routes to School Master Plan presented to Traffic Safety Commission at September 9 meeting
Spring 2022
  • Safe Routes to School presentation at Traffic Safety Commission meeting on March 10
Summer 2022
  • Traffic Safety Commission reviewed Draft Safe Routes to School Master Plan for recommendation to City Council on July 14
  • City Council review and consideration of Draft Safe Routes to School Master Plan on September 7