Data-Driven Approach to Develop a Master Plan to Prioritize Schools for the Safe Routes to School Program

Abstract

Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs, initiated by the U.S. Department of Transportation, aim to promote active modes of transportation (walking and cycling) among students commuting to school through several means, including infrastructure improvements and educational programs. A review of SRTS programs at the state level reveals that there is no standard framework to quantify and prioritize the needs of school districts or communities. The primary objective of the study is to develop a systematic and data-driven framework to identify site-specific infrastructure improvements that have the potential to positively affect student safety and mobility. There is limited literature on risk factors associated with bike and pedestrian crashes around schools. This study investigates roadway infrastructure and socioeconomic, demographic, and land use characteristics to identify risk factors affecting the safety of bicyclists and pedestrians around schools. The study encompasses an analysis of around 3,000 schools in the State of Florida and tests over 20 potential independent variables to develop safety performance functions assessing the safety of bicyclists and pedestrians near schools. The research reveals significant factors influencing the risk of school-related bike and pedestrian crashes, including school location, the number of schools in the service area, intersections with stop signs, retail land uses, the median age of the population in the service area, median household income, and the proportion of the white population. Practitioners can adopt the models to prioritize schools for SRTS infrastructure investments.