School Travel Planning brings community together to develop the best active routes to and from school. Benefits are:
- Increased physical activity for good health
- Reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality
- Safer Neighbourhoods
City of Vernon has completed five School Travel Plans for Ecole Beairsto, Ellison, Harwood, Silver Star and OKL elementary schools and currently working on Mission Hill Elementary School.
Part of the process of developing a STP is determining what barriers there are to prevent children from walking and biking to school. With the parent surveys, walkabout, traffic observations and discussion groups, the STP Committee identifies the hot spots of the school neighbourhood. City engineering staff then determines what infrastructure suits the neighbourhoods and plans for upgrades in the school neighbourhood that will help to increase safer intersections, walking and cycling routes. These plans are then given to City Council for budget review and implementation.
