Safe Routes to School (SRTS)

Overview

Safe Routes to School (SRTS) is a new program created by the federal transportation bill, SAFETEA-LU. The Program's goal is to increase the number of children in grades K-8 who bicycle and walk to school. The Program's enabling legislation guides how this will be implemented: 1) by increasing awareness; 2) developing locally-driven and supported programs; 3) improving bicycling and walking conditions near the qualifying schools; and 4) evaluating at the project and Program levels. Benefits of the Program include: reduced congestion and increased safety near participating schools; reduced air pollution in route to and near participating schools; and increased physical activity of children.

SRTS Updates

The top scoring project from each Congressional District was selected for funding the 1st Round of SRTS Infrastructure Projects. For information regarding the awarded projects, please visit the SRTS Program Application website for the Project Award List. In addition, GDOT will notify all applicants of their application status via an official hardcopy letter.

View other news regarding the SRTS program

The 5 Es

Safe Routes to School is a comprehensive program that includes the 5 Es:

Evaluation - Monitoring and researching outcomes and trends through the collection of data, including the collection of mode share before and after the program intervention(s)
Encouragement - Using events and activities to promote walking and bicycling
Education - Teaching the school community about the broad range of transportation choices, instructing them in important life-long safety skills and offering school-bound and school area driver safety campaigns
Engineering - Creating operational and physical improvements to the infrastructure surrounding schools that reduce speeds and establishing safer crosswalks, walkways, trails and bikeways
Enforcement - Partnering with local law enforcement to ensure drivers obey traffic laws, initiating community enforcement such as crossing guard programs and ensuring that policies are enforced