Austin Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Plan and Engineering

Austin, TX

Project Summary

Logo of the City of Austin Public Works' Safe Routes to School program, featuring a green figure walking with a backpack and an orange figure riding a bicycle.

Since 2017, Toole Design has partnered with the City of Austin Public Works Department to create safer active transportation options for students to get to and from school. Our work began with the Austin Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Infrastructure Plan and has progressed to the design and implementation of priority projects identified within the Plan. Learn more about the two key phases of our SRTS work in Austin, TX.

Expertise Applied

1. Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Infrastructure Plan

From November 2017 to July 2019, we engaged extensively with the community to understand the challenges faced by students on their journeys to and from school. Our public engagement efforts included reaching out to parents, neighbors, and schools, conducting over 60 pop-up events, and utilizing an online interactive WikiMap available in both Spanish and English.

Elementary-age students participate in public engagement efforts for the Austin Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Plan.

WikiMap for the Austin Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Plan, showing routes and barriers for children who walk and bike to school.

Children and adults use a crosswalk on a busy street near a school, with cars waiting as they cross.

The Plan was grounded in infrastructure audits conducted at the 137 middle and elementary schools located across Austin. This effort resulted in a prioritized list of engineering solutions tailored for each school, the City Council districts, and the City as a whole. The prioritization was based on demand, safety data, equity, and cost-benefit analysis, along with the valuable community input. The final 2019 Austin SRTS Infrastructure reports presented a comprehensive list of recommendations grouped into Street/Bike, Sidewalks, Trails, and Intersection improvements.

By phasing the entire approach, we ensured that priority projects could seamlessly transition into the engineering and construction phases.

2. Staff Augmentation Engineering Services for SRTS

Currently, our on-site augmentation staff with the City of Austin are actively implementing the priority improvements outlined in the SRTS Infrastructure Plan. To date, we have designed and overseen construction of 468 SRTS infrastructure projects across the city, including crossing islands, curb extensions, shared use paths, sidewalks, signalized crossings, and protected intersections.

This ongoing work aims to improve pedestrian and bicycle routes to schools through Austin, making the daily commute safer and more enjoyable for students and their families.

Families with children use a dedicated bike lane on a busy street in Austin, Texas.

A pedestrian refuge island with signs indicating "State Law: Stop for Pedestrians," implemented as part of an infrastructure improvement for the Austin Safe Routes to School program in a residential neighborhood.

A mother with children uses a crosswalk with a dedicated bike lane and pedestrian signals, implemented as part of infrastructure improvements for the Austin Safe Routes to School program.

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