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West Central Wisconsin Safe routes to School

West Central Wisconsin Safe Routes to School is a multi-county program housed by the West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission (WCWRPC). The counties served are: Barron, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Polk, and St. Croix. This program is federally funded through the US Department of Transportation Transportation Alternatives Program.

Our Goals

  1. Make walking and biking to school both safer and easier.

  2. Encourage and increase more students to walk and bike to school.

  3. Continue to grow and show support regional SRTS efforts

The 6 E's Framework

Engagement

All SRTS initiatives should begin by listening to students, families, teachers, and school leaders and working with existing community organizations, and build intentional, ongoing engagement opportunities into the program structure

Equity

It is important that work supports safe, active, and healthy opportunities for children and adults in lower-income neighborhoods, people with disabilities, minorities, and beyond. 

Engineering

Problems with the physical environment around schools such as damaged or missing sidewalks, high traffic speeds, or unsafe crosswalks prevent children from walking and biking safely and easily to and from school. Improving the physical environment near schools is necessary for a successful SRTS program. 

Encouragement

Convincing children as well as parents and guardians, that walking and biking to school is safe, fun, and healthy can be a difficult task, especially since changing habits may challenge a parent's already busy schedule or established routine. 

Education

Children and parents need to learn about biking and walking safety and about the benefits of walking and biking to school. Equally important is educating drivers about safe driving around schools. These programs help everyone think about safety first.

Evaluation

Assessing which approaches are more or less successful, ensuring that programs and initiatives are supporting equitable outcomes, and identifying unintended consequences or opportunities to improve the effectiveness of each approach are essential in implementing an effective SRTS plan. 

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