Pedestrians

Safe Routes to Schools

DOT introduced the Safe Routes to School initiative to focus safety improvements at city schools with the highest accident rates. DOT examined accident histories around the city's 1,471 elementary and middle schools and established an initial list of 135 priority schools to be considered for traffic safety improvements. The methodology used to establish this list is explained in this detailed report (pdf) from 2003. Of the 135 schools, 25 were in the Bronx, 46 in Brooklyn, 23 in Manhattan, 33 in Queens and 8 in Staten Island. Each priority school underwent thorough study that included outreach to each principal, meetings with parents and other interested parties, collection and analysis of data concerning traffic conditions and student travel patterns and development, evaluation and approval of comprehensive short-and long-term pedestrian safety improvement measures.

In addition to the improvements at the 135 priority schools, DOT upgraded school crosswalk signs around all 1,471 school locations and created and distributed traffic safety maps for each school.

All of the short term safety improvements at the first 135 priority schools in the Safe Routes to Schools Initiative are complete. This work includes new traffic and pedestrian signals, the addition of exclusive pedestrian crossing time, speed bumps, speed boards, high visibility crosswalks and new parking regulations. Capital construction on long term improvements has begun at many of the 135 first round schools. See the reports for the first round schools.

DOT has analyzed the latest citywide crash data and school data in order to identify a new group of 135 public, private and parochial elementary and middle schools Priority Schools. Each of DOT's Priority Schools receives an individualized planning study which determines both short-term and long-term measures to improve safety.

Second Round Priority Schools Listing

A report prepared for the DOT Office of School Safety Engineering describes the mitigation measures (pdf) that can be used to advance the goals of this project.

School Safety Maps

DOT has prepared a school safety map for each school serving elementary and intermediate school students having an enrollment of 250 students or more. The map shows the roadway network, school locations and traffic safety infrastructure, including designated school crosswalks. These crosswalks are where school children are recommended to cross.

Traffic Control Guide

This guide (pdf), entitled “School Traffic Safety Map - Safety Tools in the Traffic Environment,” can help students and parents understand the meaning of the signs and markings they see everyday as well as interpret the symbols on the Traffic Safety Map.

Traffic Safety Unit of Study Curriculum Guide and School Safety Maps

The Traffic Safety Unit of Study curriculum guide (pdf), developed by the Department of Education Region 7 Local Instructional Superintendent’s Office, and the Department of Transportation Safety Education Office, teaches children to understand the importance and power of the many safety tools available to all of us. By reviewing the important safety tips covered in the guide in conjunction with the school's Traffic Safety Map, teachers can assist their students in discovering how their personal tools, as well as tools in the traffic environment, will help them stay safer. They can use the activities suggested, or create their own, to reinforce their students’ safety knowledge and strengthen their vocabulary, reading, and math.

DOT educators are available to conduct training workshops for teachers on using the curriculum and maps with their students. For information on the workshops and DOT traffic safety education programs for students, please contact DOT at schoolsafetyed@dot.nyc.gov

First Round Priority School Reports

Portions of these reports have been removed due to safety and security concerns by the Department of Education.

As we move forward implementing the recommendations of these reports, the measures we implement will evolve. Engineering and infrastructure constraints will render some suggestions infeasible. Nevertheless, we will work to find alternate solutions to all the issues and concerns the reports present.