From obtaining the initial funding to completing an in-depth planning study of schools and identifying improvements to promote safe walking and bicycling for students, SRF’s team of safety experts have worked with over 100 schools and fully understands how to develop solutions that make communities safer for children to walk and bike to school. SRF has extensive experience with MnDOT’s Safe Routes to School Program and has assisted many clients, including the Cities of Fergus Falls, Northfield, Lakeville, Richfield, Plymouth, and Fargo, North Dakota, in completing comprehensive SRTS plans. SRF has completed SRTS related work for additional cities including:
- City of Carver, Minnesota (56 schools)
- City of Chanhassen, Minnesota (1 school)
- City of Excelsior, Minnesota (1 school)
- City of Fridley, Minnesota (1 school)
- City of Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota (1 school)
- City of Maple Grove, Minnesota (1 school)
- City of Osseo, Minnesota (1 school)
- City of Rogers, Minnesota (1 school)
- City of St. Louis Park, Minnesota (1 school)
- City of St. Michael, Minnesota (1 school)
- City of Stillwater, Minnesota (2 schools)
- City of Underwood, Minnesota (1 school)
- City of Wadena/Wadena County, Minnesota (2 schools)
- City of Wayzata, Minnesota (1 school)
- City of Woodbury, Minnesota (1 school)
- City of Grand Forks, North Dakota (1 school)
- City of Fargo, North Dakota (17 schools)
- City of Killdeer, North Dakota (1 schools)
The studies included an evaluation of existing conditions; GIS mapping of school boundaries and walking areas; walking and biking audits and school assessments; and most notably public involvement, including a community open house and parent surveys. The evaluations also included the assessment of vehicle volumes and speeds impacting the safety and operations of pedestrians and bicyclists along major school routes and at key intersections.
Historically, the SRTS program has been very competitive, with many communities applying for grants and limited funding. In addition to the development of SRTS Plans for each school, SRF has assisted a number of communities with obtaining the funding necessary to implement infrastructure improvements, such as the Cities of Plymouth, Lakeville, and Wadena in Minnesota and the City of Killdeer in North Dakota.
