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Safe Routes making progress PDF Print E-mail
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Written by Kristen Waggener   
Wednesday, 24 June 2009 08:00
\The pieces of Louisburg’s Safe Routes to School program are finally falling into place.

Several Louisburg High School students and a few parents have expressed interest in helping with the walking school bus program. Kansas City, Mo.-based Bridging The Gap has been hired to coordinate the education efforts of the SRTS grant in Louisburg, and plans for constructing sidewalks on major routes to the city’s schools are under way.

City Engineer Rita Cassida said parents consistently have expressed concerns about getting their children across Kansas Highway 68 and Metcalf Road from the older neighborhoods in Louisburg, and educational components, such as Bridging The Gap’s walking school bus program, walking and bicycling to school may be safer in the future.

“I think the high-schoolers are probably going to be the driving force (for the walking school buses),” Cassida said. “They’re excited about it.”

Bridging The Gap representatives Sadie Gardner and Steve Petrehn said they plan to conduct several events to help raise awareness about Louisburg’s SRTS efforts, including a possible bicycle rodeo at the Louisburg Farmers’ Market or an information booth at the city’s National Night Out Against Crime event in August.

Bridging The Gap has been looking for a volunteer training coordinator, who, for a small stipend, would organize the volunteers needed to effectively implement the walking school buses. A coordinator training session is set for 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. July 7, and a walking school bus driver training session is scheduled for July 8.

The other portion of the SRTS grant, which focuses on improving the routes from neighborhoods to schools, is also on its way.

Cassida said the plans for sidewalks along South Fifth Street have been sent to the Kansas Department of Transportation for review, and once the agency’s comments are received, the projects can be sent out for bids.

“Hopefully, early fall, they’ll be constructing sidewalks, if all goes well,” Cassida said.

The SRTS grant states that the programs must be completed by March 2010.

Anyone with questions about the SRTS program or with an interest in learning more about the walking school buses can contact Cassida at 837-5371.
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