Resources for Principals
The Safe Routes Utah program is mandated by State law to promote safe walking and bicycling to school for children. This is accomplished in two ways. First the program provides funding for physical improvements for sidewalks, crosswalks, and bike paths through the Safe Routes to School Grants and the Utah Safe Sidewalk Program.Second, Safe Routes Utah provides educational programs, safety awareness campaigns, and encouragement activities to support local efforts and promote safe walking and biking to school.
Requirements Under Utah State Code
State code provides additional detail on Safe Routes Utah programming requirements as they apply to local school boards (41.6a.303), which includes specific tasks to be completed by local school administrators (You). These requirements are outlined below.
- A Safe Routes Utah Plan is required to be created for each elementary, middle, junior high school, or any other facility including grades kindergarten through eighth within the district (UCA 53A-1a-108).
- A Safe Routes Utah Plan for each school serving elementary to high school students should be prepared in order to develop uniformity in the use of school area traffic controls and to serve as the basis for a school traffic control plan for each school (7A.02.03).
- Private schools shall be required to meet these requirements when requesting any feature described herein (reduced speed school zone, school crosswalk, etc.) to be installed on a public right-of-way, using the same age group classifications that public schools use (7A.03.01). Charter schools are public schools (7A.03.04).
- 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)
- Each elementary school shall, as a minimum, present a traffic safety program to its students annually. The program shall include instruction on safe pedestrian and bicycle behavior and the limitations of drivers and traffic control devices (FHWA MUTCD, 2023).
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
As a school principal, your Safe Routes Plan is more than a regulatory requirement, it is a foundational component of your school’s daily operations and student safety strategy. A well-executed plan does more than just map out a path, it actively reduces the chaotic congestion of the morning “drop-off” loop, minimizes the risk of pedestrian-vehicle conflicts, and ensures that your students arrive at the bell alert, active, and ready to learn. By taking an intentional approach to your school’s routing, you provide parents with the confidence to let their children walk or bike, while creating a clear, documented standard for local law enforcement and city engineers to support your school’s unique traffic needs. Under Utah law, this annual update is your opportunity to advocate for the infrastructure improvements and crossing guard placements that keep your students safe from the moment they leave their front door.
Principal’s Safe Routes Checklist
Use this checklist during your annual Community Council review to ensure your Safe Routes Plan is accurate, effective, and compliant:
- Review Current Infrastructure: Are there any new construction projects, damaged sidewalks, or faded crosswalks that have appeared since last year?
- Evaluate Crossing Guard Placement: Are your crossing guards positioned at the highest-impact intersections? Do their hours align with current bell schedules?
- Audit "Walking School Bus" Paths: Are the designated safe paths still the most direct and well-lit options for students entering from different neighborhoods?
- Identify "Gap" Areas: Note any areas where sidewalks abruptly end or where high-speed traffic lacks adequate buffering from pedestrians.
- Coordinate with City/County Engineers: Have you shared your updated map with local municipalities to ensure they are aware of needed signage or striping updates?
- Check Loading Zone Efficiency: Is your on-site "Stop and Drop" zone clearly marked to separate vehicular traffic from students walking or biking onto campus?
- Verify Compliance: Ensure your updated map is uploaded to the Safe Routes Utah portal and is easily accessible to parents on your school’s website.
Safe Routes Mapping
Each month you should receive an e-mail from your District Transportation Safety Administrator. This email will contain important deadlines and information for your Safe Routes Utah plan, helpful tips, and content for your school newsletter, website, and social media pages to promote safe walking and biking. If you are not currently receiving this email, please reach out to your District contact.