Title
Supporting a Safe Routes to School planning assistance grant application.
Body
WHEREAS, an award of Safe Routes to School planning assistance grant funds allows area schools to partner with the City of Saint Paul to receive planning assistance from the Minnesota Department of Transportation to conduct an analysis of existing pedestrian safety conditions, conduct public outreach, and identify potential infrastructure and non-infrastructure solutions to help more children walk and bicycle safety to school; and
WHEREAS, an award of Safe Routes to School funds uses a mix of federal and state Safe Routes to School funds and does not require a local match; and
WHEREAS, the Transportation Chapter of the Saint Paul Comprehensive Plan encourages the City to partner with schools to educate people about bicycling and walking, as well as provide safe citywide connections to schools, libraries, parks, and recreation centers, with improved crossings and comfortable pedestrian environments at high demand destinations; and
WHEREAS, Saint Paul Public School District is fully supportive of the City’s Safe Routes to School planning assistance grant application, acknowledging that the District’s Wellness Policy promotes improved biking and walking plans, as well as increasing physical activity and decreasing traffic congestion; and
WHEREAS, a Safe Routes to School planning assistance grant application would further the work the City began in 2016 to complete school-specific Safe Routes to School plans; and
WHEREAS, a Safe Routes to School planning assistance grant would allow Horace Mann School, Highland Catholic School, and Highland Park Elementary to partner with the community and City prior to planned redevelopment of the Ford site to find ways to increase pedestrian safety for students who walk and bike to school and encourage other students to begin to do the same;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Saint Paul City Council fully supports the Safe Routes to School planning assistance grant application in partnership with Saint Paul Public Schools to create a multi-school Safe Routes to School plan for Horace Mann School, Highland Catholic School, and Highland Park Elementary.