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.

100% 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.

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.

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's Safety Education division at (212) 839-2200 or at schoolsafetyed@dot.nyc.gov

The following reports are in pdf format.