Safe Routes to School
“In 1969, approximately 50% of children walked or bicycled to school, with approximately 87% of children living within one mile of school walking or bicycling. Today, fewer than 15% of schoolchildren walk or bicycle to school.”
– National Safe Routes to School Partnership
Safe Routes to School is an internationally recognized program dedicated to providing safer routes for students to walk and bike to school. Research has shown that students who walk or bike to school get more daily physical activity, have lower rates of obesity and improves students self-confidence and academic performance. Safe Routes to School Programming has been successfully implemented across the U.S. and globally. Every Safe Routes to School program aims to meet the core goals or "6Es" of Safe Routes to School.

Evaluation
Evaluation methods are critical to identifying the needs for establishing a Safe Routes to School program and long-term success.
Engineering
Community assessments in road infrastructure around schools help identify needed improvements to support SRTS programs.
education
Multi-disciplinary programs are a key focus of SRTS. Kids are not only encouraged to walk and bike outside of school but learn valuable lessons and tactics in the classroom as well.
encouragement
Holding school wide events help provide motivation to establishing programs long term. Bike to School Day and Walk to School Day events support a broader initiative for community-wide support for SRTS.
enforcement
Partnerships with Law enforcement help increase awareness of traffic safety laws and reduces the presence of crime near schools.
equity
Equity concerns of safe, active, and healthy opportunities for children and adults in disadvantaged communities are integrated and addressed through the first 5Es to make SRTS programs safe, accessible, and successful.
Funding

Safe Routes to School programs have been funded through a number of different sources over the years. At the Federal Level, between 2005 and 2012, Safe Routes to School initiatives were funded through a standalone federal Safe Routes to School program. This program provided more than $1 billion in funding in all states to support infrastructure improvements and programming to make it safer for children to walk and bicycle to and from school.
In 2012, Congress passed Map-21, a new transportation bill which removed the set aside funding for Safe Routes to School programs. This meant that SRTS programs now had to find other sources of funding at the state, regional, and local levels to continue to be successful. Additionally, because set aside funds were eliminated, Safe Routes to school programs like education and encouragement activities often compete against traditional planning efforts and infrastructure projects. The following list includes eligible Federal, statewide, regional, and local funding opportunities specifically for SRTS non-infrastructure programs:
- CDC
- Grants and contracts are available for programs and projects that support the mission of promoting health and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease, injury, and disability. (Only non-infrastructure projects are eligible.)
- EPA
- Grants are available for environmental education projects that enhance the public's awareness, knowledge, and skills to help people make informed decisions that affect environmental quality. (Non- Infrastructure Only)
- History of Federal Funding Infographic
Programs
Sacramento County 5 Es
The County Five E’s was a three-year (2008-2011) grant program sponsored by the Sacramento County Department of Transportation (SacDOT), funded by a $500,000 federal SRTS grant. The purpose of the project is to provide support for increasing walking and biking to elementary and middle schools throughout the unincorporated county. To assist with implementing the scope of the grant, SacDOT contracted the services of WALKSacramento in June 2008.
Sacramento City Unified School District
Safe Routes to School Programs in SCUSD began in 2017 and is a grant program funded by The California Endowment, BHC. Each program works to include community members and key stakeholders involved in students safety, community engagement.
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Washington Unified School District
In partnership with the City of West Sacramento, WALKSacramento was contracted in 2012 to oversee Safe Routes to School funding. The program has grown to be a key focus of the City's to help acheive active transportation goals.
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Neighborhood Planning for SRTS in Rancho Cordova
“Neighborhood Planning for Safe Routes to School in Rancho Cordova,” seeks to reduce injuries and fatalities by increasing the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and motorists around two schools in the Sacramento City Unified School District: A. M. Winn Elementary and Abraham Lincoln Elementary.
An additional complementary goal of the project is to improve accessibility and livability within the neighborhoods around these schools.
The project is funded through an Environmental Justice: Context Sensitive Planning grant from the California Department of Transportation. Lead partners include Alta Planning + Design, Local Government Commission, Walkable Communities, WALKSacramento,and Sacramento Area Council of Governments.
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Neighborhood Planning for SRTS in Natomas
This project, “Neighborhood Planning for Safe Routes to School in Natomas,” seeks to reduce injuries and fatalities by increasing the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and motorists around three schools in the Natomas Unified School District: Natomas Park Elementary, Jefferson Elementary and Bannon Creek Elementary.
An additional complementary goal of the project is to improve accessibility and livability within the neighborhoods around these schools.
The project is funded through an Environmental Justice: Context Sensitive Planning grant from the California Department of Transportation. Lead partners include the Local Government Commission, Walkable Communities, WALKSacramento, Alta Planning + Design, and the Sacramento Area Council of Governments.
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Neighborhood Planning for SRTS at Pacific Elementary
“Neighborhood Planning for Safe Routes to School at Pacific Elementary,” seeks to reduce injuries and fatalities by increasing the safety of pedestrians, cyclists and motorists around Pacific Elementary in the Sacramento City Unified School District: A. M. Winn Elementary and Abraham Lincoln Elementary.
An additional complementary goal of the project is to improve accessibility and livability within the neighborhoods around these schools.
The project is funded through an Environmental Justice: Context Sensitive Planning grant from the California Department of Transportation. Lead partners include Alta Planning + Design, Local Government Commission, Walkable Communities, WALKSacramento,and Sacramento Area Council of Governments.
Download Report