Safe Walking Routes

One of the traffic safety concerns in Saratoga Springs is the safety of children as they walk and bike to and from school. Our goal is to help residents understand the various roles and responsibilities for creating and implementing Safe Walking Routes. Safe walking routes for each school are established by the Principal of the school and the School Community Council.  Once those routes have been established the school will then involve the engineering department  to assist in the needed traffic studies before the city can implement traffic control measures such as cross walks or crossing guards.  Residents with concerns about the safe walking route for their school should reach out to the principal of that school.

Getting Kids to School Safely

The first responsibility for school route safety belongs to students, parents and motorists. We all have a responsibility to walk, bicycle and drive safely to school, and those driving vehicles in areas where children walk to school need to be extra cautious. Teaching our children safe walking and bicycling skills is an important preventive measure.

Safe To School Tips

• Pay attention to school zones during your commute. These areas have slower speeds for kids frequently crossing the street.  
• Watch for crossing guards. They are there to help kids cross safely. Let’s show them respect by stopping when they enter the road and using caution as we drive through a crosswalk. 
• Be patient & respectful in school drop-off zones. The best way to keep kids safe is to wait your turn and make sure you drop off and pick them up in the schools designated areas.
• Carpool or use buses when possible. As schools deal with growth, carpools and buses can cut down on the number of vehicles coming and going from the schools.  
• Leave earlier so that you have time to deal with unexpected delays. Often we make mistakes and/or compromises when we are running late that can put kids at risk.

Bus Transportation for Students

The Alpine School District provides bus transportation for students in accordance with state-adopted standards. The State Board of Education provides funding for bus transportation for students living a certain distance from school, and occasionally for bus services for students who would otherwise cross or walk along hazardous roadways. School bus stop locations are determined by Alpine School District. Please contact Alpine School District with any concerns about school bus stop locations. 

Students Who Walk or Bike to School

For students who walk or bike to school, state law provides very specific standards on where and when to provide school crosswalks, warning lights, and/or crossing guards. In 1992, the State Legislature imposed uniform standards for school crossings in an attempt to make the rules, the warning signs, and the management of crossings predictable and uniform around Utah. Click the Utah MUTCD Part 7 link in the quick links for more information on these standards. 

Charter Schools

With the advent of charter schools in Utah, applying safety standards for school routes has become more difficult because charter schools typically have no set boundaries. Many parents drive their children to charter schools, but some children in the neighborhood may walk, and some charter schools operate their own buses.