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Safe Routes to School Strategic Action Plan Update
PURPOSE: This agenda item is designed to provide the Town Council with an overview of the Safe Routes to School Strategic Action Plan update in an informal setting. A representative from Three Oaks Engineering, the consultant preparing the new plan, will make the presentation and be available for questions.
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Department
DEPARTMENT: Planning, Zoning and Inspections
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Council Direction
COUNCIL DIRECTION:
_X__ Race/Equity __X__ Climate __X__ Comprehensive Plan __X__Other
Council Direction Statement
The Carrboro 2022-2042 Comprehensive Plan, Carrboro Connects, speaks to the Safe Routes to School program in Goal 2 of the Transportation and Mobility Chapter, as project H, “Continue to implement the Safe Route to School Action Plan in coordination with schools.” Pocket questions addressing possible impacts on Climate Action and Race and Equity have been provided as attachments A and B.
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Information
INFORMATION: In April 2023, Planning staff received notification that the Town’s application for a FY23 Safe Routes to School Non-Infrastructure grant had been selected for funding. The project scope of work included three main components: updating the 2012 Safe Routes to School Strategic Action Plan <https://www.carrboronc.gov/741/Safe-Routes-to-School>, collecting current demographic data, and working collaboratively with the Town of Chapel Hill and the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (CHCCS) system toward the development of a district-wide Safe Routes to School program with an associated staff position.
In August 2025, the Town executed a contract with Three Oaks Engineering to prepare the updated Action Plan. It should be noted that when the original plan was prepared, the national Safe Routes to School program focused on younger students, so only two local schools were eligible for inclusion: Carrboro Elementary School and McDougle Elementary School; Morris Grove Elementary School was not yet fully operational. The award of the grant has provided the Town with the opportunity to include all five Carrboro public schools in the new Action Plan: the three elementary schools, McDougle Middle School and Carrboro High School.
Work on the new Action Plan is well underway with initial engagement and walk audits completed and draft chapters under review. The worksession presentation will provide a detailed update on the status of the project and draft recommendations for infrastructure projects and programming, including recommendations for addressing the areas along the edge of the town limits where Carrboro students travel to schools located in Chapel Hill, and vice versa. Collaboration with the Town of Chapel Hill and the CHCCS District continues to be an important part of the project for infrastructure and programming recommendations to ensure consistency throughout the district. Additional information can be found on the Engage Carrboro webpage here: Safe Routes to School | Engage Carrboro <https://engage.carrboronc.gov/srts>.
The funding period for the grant is June 2023 through December 2026. Staff anticipates bringing a draft Action Plan to the Council for public hearing in early fall 2026 to allow for revisions, and plan adoption by the end of the calendar year.
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Fiscal and Staff Impact
FISCAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact associated with the discussion of this item. The project is being funded by a Safe Routes to School Non-Infrastructure grant administered by the N. C. Department of Transportation Integrated Mobility Division (IMD). The total project budget is $249,349: $217,349 (grant funds) and $32,000 (local match).
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Recommendation
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Town Council receive the presentation, ask questions and provide input as desired.
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