Is Your Child’s Route to School Safe? Let the City Know

The Billings-Yellowstone County Metropolitan Planning Organization is seeking local, public input on the organization’s Safe Routes to School Plan, Phase 2 (SRTS). The purpose of the SRTS Plan’s Phase 2 call for public input is to utilize the provided input to “identify safety concerns and opportunities on routes where children walk or bike, recommend safety improvement projects, and position schools to secure funding to make these improvements,” as stated in a March 13^th press release. Public input from families, students, school staff, and residents is needed to ensure that the Safe Routes to School Plan, Phase 2 meets its goals.

Participants in the feedback survey will also have an opportunity to sign up for additional participation in “walk audits” at their respective schools. Walk audits are guided, by project consultant Sanderson Stewart, group walks during which attendees are encouraged to point out elements around their school that create support for biking, walking, and rolling, as well as the elements that could be improved to make children safer.

Through a brief survey and the availability and use of an interactive map by which residents can drop a pin in a location to identify a Safe Routes to School challenge and suggest improvements for that location, residents can easily share their input for the Safe Routes to School Plan, Phase 2 as well as sign up for a walk audit online. To access the survey, interactive map, and further information about the SRTS Plan, visit this link.

Schools in the Billings Urban Area that are covered by the SRTS Plan, Phase 2 include:

• Ben Steele Middle School

• Billings Central Catholic High School

• Billings Christian School Elementary Campus

• Billings Christian School High School Campus

• Castle Rock Middle School

• Elysian School

• Grace Montessori Academy

• Independent Elementary School

• Lewis & Clark Middle School

• Lockwood Elementary School

• Lockwood Middle School