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Woburn Becomes State's 500th 'Safe Routes' District
Mass Department of Transportation program encourages pedestrian safety and outreach programs.
Woburn is the 500th public school district to sign on with the state's 'Safe Routes to School' program.
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation announced the city's participation in the federal program yesterday. With Woburn taking part, Massachusetts becomes the first state in the country to have such a large group of districts participating in 'Safe Routes.'
“MassDOT is excited to recognize Massachusetts as the first state to recruit 500 Safe Routes to School Partners," said MassDOT Highway Administrator Frank DePaola. "This achievement is a testament to the commonwealth’s unique Safe Routes to School program structure, the efforts of program staff, and the commitment of our communities to make walking and bicycling safer and more widely used travel modes for our school children.”
Woburn has enrolled all 10 schools and its 3,351 students into the program. With those schools and students, there are approximately 230,000 students in grades kindergarten through eighth grade and 147 communities using the Safe Routes to School pedestrian safety initiatives and outreach education services.
“We are pleased to be working with Safe Routes to School as a way to promote pedestrian safety and wellness activities for our students and their families,” said Superintendent Mark Donovan.
“There is powerful research that shows a connection between physical exercise and learning, so we look forward to having Woburn students and families participate in the activities that Safe Routes to School will offer," he added. "Our community is very proud that the Woburn School District pushed the number of participating schools in Massachusetts over the 500 Partner mark.”
According to the Department of Transportation, the 'Safe Routes' schools receive year-round pedestrian and bicycle safety education instruction, engagement initiatives tailored to meet each school’s physical fitness, safety and environmental priorities; and they are eligible to receive infrastructure improvements that enable enhanced student accessibility and safety.
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Susan Keeley
9:18 am on Friday, September 21, 2012
This is terrific. I'm hoping the infrastruction improvements translates to Woburn building adequate sidewalks and, in the winter, ensuring adequate snow clearing from sidewalks. We need to get kids out of the middle of icy winter roads because currently there's no place else for them to walk after a snowstorm. It's a danger to both schoolchildren and motorists.
Carol Youngclaus
5:11 pm on Friday, September 21, 2012
I have yet to see a bike rack at any of the schools I've been to for one reason or another (and there are none throughout the city, either). It's hard to find a safe place to park a bike in Woburn. I hope this development will spur interest in changing that.
Scott Boag
8:57 pm on Thursday, February 14, 2013
Safe routes? Anyone try walking around Woburn with all the snow not cleared? 5 days after the storm? Isn't there some statute to enforce clear sidewalks?