In BC, the national School Travel Planning pilot project has taken a bold new direction through the municipalities of Vernon and Surrey. These City Engineering Departments are providing the funding for a staff STP Facilitator to work with the 2009/10 pilot schools. The STP project compliments TDM work and infrastructure upgrades in Vernon, and comprehensive school site assessment surveys at 100 schools over two years that have begun in Surrey.
The Engineering Department in the City of Surrey (Tracy Sutherland) is spearheading initiatives for three elementary schools; Strawberry Hill, Bridgeview and George Greenaway, that will see support from the City (engineering, bylaws and planning), School District (transportation and business development), RCMP, and environmental organizations to help these lower income communities make a difference for safe and healthy walking and bicycling. Surveys have been distributed at schools and the first stakeholder meeting cemented the commitment to action in Surrey.
In Vernon a very keen, large and diverse STP municipal stakeholder committee is under the excellent guidance of Wendy Majewski. Walkabouts have already taken place at the three pilot schools; Ellison, Okanagan Landing and Harwood, and there are ongoing traffic observations. Everyone is involved, from classroom, families, city hall, school district and public health.
