Amherst Safe Routes to School

What is Safe Routes to School?

SRTS is a federal program administered by the N.H. Department of Transportation Nashua Regional Planning Commission (NRPC) provides technical assistance to communities who seek funding The intent of the program is to increase the # of PK -8th grade children who walk or bike to school, by, Funding projects that remove the barriers that prevent them from doing so o 100% reimbursement for local projects o No local match required

Amherst Safe Routes to School

Why is SRTS Important?

40 years ago, 60% of children within a 2mile radius of school walked or biked to school Today, that # has dropped to less than 15% Despite the benefits of physical activity the majority of kids dont participate in any organized physical activity

As a result kids are increasingly at risk for heart disease, diabetes, hypertension and depression
Less motorized trips means less wear and tear on roads and cleaner air

Amherst Safe Routes to School

SRTS in Amherst
Local effort to address issues related to children walking & biking Guided by a local steering committee Successfully applied (w/NRPC assistance) for a planning grant through the NH DOT SRTS program

Planning process began last fall (2012) and was completed in May

Amherst Safe Routes to School

Planning Process
Gathered information about the trip to and from C-W & AMS
o Student surveys, parent surveys, mapping, traffic data, sidewalk inventory..

Reviewed data @ regular steering committee meetings Identified issues & concerns of students & parents o Developed recommendations and an action plan for increasing biking & walking o Summarized in Travel Plan document

Amherst Safe Routes to School

STUDENT SURVEY - FINDINGS

Amherst Safe Routes to School

STUDENT SURVEY - FINDINGS

Amherst Safe Routes to School

STUDENT SURVEY - FINDINGS

Amherst Safe Routes to School

STUDENT SURVEY - FINDINGS

Amherst Safe Routes to School

STUDENT SURVEY - FINDINGS

Amherst Safe Routes to School

STUDENT SURVEY - FINDINGS

Amherst Safe Routes to School

PARENT SURVEY - FINDINGS

Amherst Safe Routes to School

PARENT SURVEY - FINDINGS

Amherst Safe Routes to School

PARENT SURVEY - FINDINGS

Amherst Safe Routes to School

PARENT SURVEY - FINDINGS

Amherst Safe Routes to School

PARENT SURVEY - FINDINGS

SUMMARY OF SURVEY DATA

Approximately 5% of students currently walk or ride bikes to school 31% of children say they would prefer to walk or ride their bikes to school. Reasons for not walking include traffic, distance, concerns about sidewalks & crosswalks and other issues. Approximately 70% of parents cited fixable (infrastructure & speeding traffic) issues as the reason for not allowing child to walk to school

91% of parents either agree or strongly agree that walking & biking @ an early age increases the chance of long term healthy life style
60% of parents say their children would walk or ride bikes to school in a an ideal Amherst.

67% would be in favor of an encouragement program.

KEY INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES

Lack of sidewalk connectivity: o On Middle Street between Main Street and Church Street o On Boston Post Road between Main Street and Foundry Street o Poor drainage o No sidewalks near Middle School

INFRASTRUCTURE RECOMMENDATIONS
Amherst Middle School

o Add path through Bean fields b/t Middle School & Boston Post Road o Add sidewalk on east side of Boston Post Road b/t Bean field & Homestead Road

INFRASTRUCTURE RECOMMENDATIONS
Amherst Village

o Upgrade existing sidewalks that are narrow, uneven or have poor drainage o Add sidewalk on Middle Street b/t Main & Church Streets o Add sidewalk on west side of Boston Post Road b/t Cross & Main Streets o Add sidewalk on Foundry Street b/t C-W School & Davis Lane o Add signage to direct children toward designated safe routes.

BENEFITS TO AMHERST
Improved health & safety for children. Improved walkability for the whole community. Improved quality of life. Opportunity to improve sidewalk system at lower cost to community: o Amherst can apply for $250k in infrastructure funding per project with no local match required.

NEXT STEPS
Next round of funding this Fall Verify priority infrastructure projects Develop letter of intent to apply for funding Develop application for funding

NRPC ~ Matt Waitkins, mattw@nashuarpc.org