The Sun Corridor Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) in partnership with the City of Coolidge was awarded an Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) Transportation Alternatives Program grant to fund the City of Coolidge Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Study to promote safe walking and biking to schools in Coolidge for the following schools:
- Coolidge Alternative Program (CAP)
- Coolidge High School
- Central Arizona Valley Institute of Technology (CAVIT)
- Imagine Prep Coolidge
- Imagine Coolidge Elementary School
- Heartland Ranch Elementary School
- West Elementary School
- Coolidge Junior High School
This SRTS study was conducted as a proactive approach to identifying safety improvements for students walking and biking to/from school. The study team examined and assessed each school area to make recommendations and develop effective solutions to address issues unique to each school and community. The recommendations from this study have been prioritized into near-term and long-term implementation timeframes and will be used as a tool by the City of Coolidge, the Coolidge Unified School District, and other schools in Coolidge to leverage local, state, or federal aid funding.
The purpose of this SRTS study was to:
- Encourage walking and biking to school
- Prioritize improvements
- Leverage funding
- Promote partnerships
- Identify effective solutions unique to each school
- Streamline and expedite the improvement process
The following tasks, consistent with other SRTS guidelines, are completed for each school included in this study and the City of Coolidge overall:
- Complete an inventory of existing conditions: transportation system, traffic counts, and crash data
- Conduct parent and student surveys related to walking and biking to school
- Assess issues and barriers associated with pedestrian and bike facilities
- Conduct drop-off and pick-up observations
- Conduct a walking/biking assessment
- Coordinate and facilitate meetings with the SRTS team
- Develop an action plan and walking/biking route maps for the school in conjunction with the SRTS team
- Develop design plans consistent with ADOT requirements for Transportation Alternative (TA) funding applications
- Prepare a SRTS Report documenting the process, recommendations, and action plan