San Lorenzo High School Students Advocate for Transportation Solutions
San Lorenzo High School Students Advocate for Transportation Solutions
“WALKtober” Celebrates Safe Routes to Schools Transportation Projects and New Ones Underway
Students at San Lorenzo High School are giving a whole new meaning to the term “active transportation.”
Not only are they walking, bicycling, and taking public transit to school, but they are also actively advocating for better transportation solutions for their school and surrounding communities.
With the support of teachers and school administrators, the students are undertaking projects to improve the walkability of their neighborhoods and effectiveness of public transit. These efforts, funded in part by the Alameda County Transportation Commission (Alameda CTC) with Measure B funding through the Alameda County Safe Routes to Schools Program (SR2S), are being developed in collaboration with the Green Engineering and Technology program at San Lorenzo High, which seeks to empower students to analyze environmental issues and design sustainable solutions.
As part of last year’s Green Urban Design class, students focused on shifting the AC Transit bus schedule so that the primary bus line that serves their school would be more functional for students. They carried out a survey to identify what bus lines students took and the key service issues. They then communicated their concerns and suggestions to AC Transit and met with AC Transit Transportation Planners. As a result, AC Transit changed the bus schedule as requested – effective August, 2014.
In the past year, students also worked with Alameda County Public Works Planners to propose modifications to the Ashland Underpass to improve access for walking and bicycling. Students performed a walk audit of the area, developed a preliminary design, and assisted with a funding proposal that was submitted to the statewide Active Transportation Program.
Although their first grant proposal was not funded, there are plans to pursue additional funding opportunities.
For this year’s students, a major focus will be the design and construction of a new parking area for bikes at the school. Students taking the Introduction to Engineering Design class are designing the larger, improved bike parking area. Students in the Garden Club are joining the action by designing and landscaping the area with native plants. Their goal is to finish the design by January, and construction will occur during the second semester.
To kick off the new bike area, San Lorenzo High School will receive a brand new bike rack from Alameda CTC and the Alameda County Safe Routes to Schools Program on October 22 during the school’s International Walk and Roll to School event. This bike rack is one of four awarded to schools throughout the county this month based on demonstrated need and SR2S program participation. The San Lorenzo students will also create a new funding proposal for additional bike racks, which they will submit to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.
This year, 127 Alameda County schools are participating in a variety of Walk and Roll to School activities and events throughout the entire month of October. "WALKtober" encourages parents to leave the car at home and enable kids to walk, bike, or roll to school.
About the Alameda County Transportation Commission:
Alameda CTC plans, funds, and delivers transportation programs and projects that expand access and improve mobility to foster a vibrant and livable Alameda County. Alameda CTC coordinates countywide transportation planning and delivers the expenditure plan for the half-cent sales tax approved by 81.5 percent of county voters in 2000. The 2014 Transportation Expenditure Plan and Measure BB will be on the Alameda County ballot in November 2014 to fund essential future transportation improvements in every city and throughout the county. Visit www.alamedactc.org/2014Planto learn more, and be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter.
About Alameda County Safe Routes to Schools:
Safe Routes to Schools is a comprehensive, proven approach to getting more kids walking and biking safely to school. It provides kids and their parents with skills, encouragement, and inspiration through a range of activities, events and lessons, while also addressing local pedestrian, bicycle and personal safety concerns. Operating since 2006, the Alameda County Safe Routes to Schools Program is currently funded by Alameda CTC, with Alameda County's local Measure B sales tax, and regional, state and federal funds, and serves over more than 130 schools around throughout the county. Visit www.alamedacountysr2s.org to learn more. Watch and download Alameda County Safe Routes PSAs in English and Spanish.