Title
Special Recognition - Proclamation Recognizing October as Walk to School Month
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to proclaim October as Walk to School Month.
Report
Issue:
Whether to proclaim October as Walk to School Month.
Staff Contact:
Kristin Gilkerson, Program Specialist, Public Works | Transportation, 360.709.2731
Presenter(s):
Kerri Wilson, Walk N Roll Supervisor, Intercity Transit
Patrick Murphy, Superintendent, Olympia School District
Background and Analysis:
Olympia partners with other public agencies and schools to promote walking and biking to school. Students who walk and use other forms of active transportation to school also benefit from the increased exercise and interaction with their surroundings, which results in improved school performance.
More students walking and using active transportation results in less traffic congestion and air pollution around schools. In Thurston County, the transportation sector is the second largest producer of greenhouse gas emissions. Making it easier to walk and roll is an important strategy for reaching our emissions reduction goals in the Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan.
Led by Intercity Transit's Walk N Roll program, the Cities of Lacey, Tumwater, and Olympia, as well as Thurston County, are passing similar resolutions recognizing October as Walk to School Month. Throughout the school year, many community schools participate in monthly Walk N Roll events, which encourage students to walk, bike, or roll to school. In Olympia, police officers and firefighters frequently join students for the events.
The City is also changing some streets to make it easier for students to walk to school. We recently installed a high visibility crosswalk on Morse Merryman Road near Margaret McKenny Elementary School, and we required that new development add an enhanced crosswalk on Boulevard Road near Washington Middle School.
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