Resources for Community Councils
As a member of the school Community Council, you serve as the vital link between school administration, local families, and municipal planners, making your role in the Safe Routes Utah planning process both strategic and transformative. While teachers focus on the classroom, the Council has the unique oversight to evaluate the external environment that dictates how students arrive at those desks. Your input is the primary driver for identifying physical hazards, such as missing sidewalks, high-speed crossings, or inadequate lighting, that might otherwise go unnoticed. By championing a robust Safe Routes Utah plan, you aren’t just fulfilling a state mandate, you are actively advocating for the infrastructure investments and safety policies that protect your neighborhood’s most vulnerable pedestrians. Your local expertise ensures that the maps provided to parents are not just lines on a page, but vetted, reliable paths that build community trust and encourage healthy, active lifestyles.
Requirements Under Utah State Code
State code provides additional detail on Safe Routes Utah programming requirements as they apply to local schools (41.6a.303), which includes specific tasks to be completed by the Community Council (You). These requirements are outlined below.
- School Community Councils are required to advise and make recommendations to the school and district administrators regarding their school’s Safe Routes Utah plan for each elementary, middle, and junior high school within the district. The Community Council should meet annually, at a minimum (7A.02.10).
- Concerns or recommendations from the public regarding school traffic safety shall be submitted to the School Community Council for consideration and recommendation to the school administrator (7A.02.10).
- The school administrator is responsible for preparing and submitting the Safe Routes Utah plans to the District School Traffic Safety Committee (in accordance with UCA 53A-3-402).
- The School Traffic Safety Committee shall review and submit a Safe Routes Utah plan annually to the UDOT Behavioral Safety Program Manager and affected municipalities and counties for each elementary, middle, and junior high school within the district (7A.02.11).
Safe Routes Utah Responsibilities
| Requirement | Responsible Party |
|---|---|
| Create a Traffic Safety Committee | Local School Board |
| Establish a Community Council | Local schools with assistance from the local school board |
| Identify recommendations and create the Safe Routes Utah plan | School Community Council/School Administrator |
| Submit the finalized plan to the District Traffic Safety Committee, affected municipality, and county. | School Administrator |
| Submit approved plan to the UDOT Behavioral Safety Program Manager | District Traffic Safety Committee |
| Present and distribute the school traffic safety program (Safe Routes plan) annually to students and parents | Individual Schools/School Administrator |
| Provide training for all students grades K-6 on school crossing safety | District Traffic Safety Committee *Can appoint sub-committees to assist |
| Ensure compliance for reduced speed school zones | District Traffic Safety Committee (working with the local transportation agency) |
Creating your Safe Routes Utah Plan
To ensure your school’s plan is as effective as possible, consider these specific contributions your council can make:
- Conduct an Annual Route Audit: Organize a “walkabout” with parents and local officials to experience the routes firsthand and identify real-world obstacles.
- Analyze Traffic Data: Review local traffic patterns and “near-miss” reports to advocate for lower speed limits or additional stop signs in school zones.
- Solicit Parent Feedback: Use your position to gather diverse perspectives from families across different neighborhoods to ensure the plan serves everyone, regardless of where they live.
- Coordinate with Local Government: Act as the official voice of the school when meeting with city engineers or county commissioners to enhance awareness of hazards and request long-term infrastructure funding.
- Promote the “Safe Routes” Map: Ensure the finalized plan is prominently displayed in school communications, during registration, and at community events.