"Walk and Roll" Program and Healthy Kids – Safe Streets Action Plan

An essential function of the Thurston Regional Planning Council is the implementation of the Thurston Regional Transportation Plan.  Since 1993 that plan and TRPC members have had a keen interest in the role that trip reduction to and around schools plays in reaching plan goals for a transportation network that serves all modes of travel and functions safely and efficiently.

Goals: 

• Build a generation of safe and healthy walkers, bicycle riders, and bus riders
• Encourage regular physical activity to promote health and readiness to learn
• Reinforce good traffic safety skills

Achieving these goals will:

• Reduce the numbers of students driven to school 
• Relieve traffic around schools
• Promote safety

The Healthy Kids – Safe Streets Action Plan is the result of regional school and community stakeholder ideas and Walk and Roll demonstration project findings.  The plan identifies strategies, programs and policies that address school, transportation and community health issues.

The Healthy Kids - Safe Streets Action Plan includes:

1. A "Walk and Roll" school based encouragement and safety education project - available in 4 schools - that will expand to at least 8 schools before the end of the school year. Federal and State grants are making expansion possible thanks to the work of partners Thurston Regional Planning Council, Intercity Transit, and Thurston County Health & Social Services. The first 3 school programs reached more than 900 student and their families. By the end of 2012 that figure will more than triple.

"Did you know that walking to school is associated with higher overall physical activity throughout the day and better academic performance." Source: American Journal of Preventative Medicine and California Department of Education

2. A Healthy Kids - Safe Streets Coordination Team with representatives of each school district or jurisdiciton will:
• Serve as the point of contact to share information,
• Communicate and collaborate to maximize opportunity related to the siting and design of schools and other infrastructure improvements, and
• Work to include policies in plans that help to achieve the regional partner goals.

Action Plan Next Steps: The action plan will be reviewed by stakeholder groups including school districts and jurisdictions. Commitment by stakeholders will be sought in order to implement the strategies, programs and policies identified.