North Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission
Providing Economic Development, Geographic Information Systems, Intergovernmental Cooperation, Land Use Planning and Transportation Assistance since 1973
Safe Routes to School (SRTS) began as a European phenomenon about thirty years ago and caught on in New York City in 1997. In the 1970s, Denmark had Europe’s highest child pedestrian accident rate. Implementing the first Safe Routes to School program, planners in Denmark identified specific road dangers around the country’s schools and took steps to remedy the hazards. Since 1970, the child pedestrian crash rate has dropped by 80% in Denmark.
Safe Routes to School (SRTS) began as a European phenomenon thirty years ago and caught on in New York City in 1997. In the 1970s, Denmark had Europe’s highest child pedestrian accident rate. Implementing the first Safe Routes to School program, planners in Denmark identified specific road dangers around the country’s schools and took steps to remedy the hazards. Since 1970, the child pedestrian crash rate has dropped by 80% in Denmark.
The City of Antigo and the Unified School District of Antigo created a Safe Routes To School Task Force to apply for a planning grant. All of the public elementary schools, the middle school, the police, city administration, and local citizens were all part of the Task Force. The approved planning grant paid 100% of NCWRPC’s planning services to assist with creating a Safe Routes To School plan.
Safe Routes To School (SRTS) programs are an opportunity to make walking and bicycling to school safer for children in grades K-8, and to increase the number of children who choose to walk and bike. On a broader level, SRTS programs can enhance children’s health and well-being, ease traffic congestion near schools, and improve community members’ overall quality of life.
For questions or comments regarding the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program please contact:
| Fred Heider, AICP Planner NCWRPC 210 McClellan St, Suite 210 Wausau WI 54403-4820 715-849-5510, Extension 310 email Fred | Darryl Landeau, AICP Senior Planner NCWRPC 210 McClellan St, Suite 210 Wausau WI 54403-4820 715-849-5510, Extension 308 email Darryl |