Latest / Kendall County News - Shaw Local / Yorkville launches program to make walking, biking to school safer and easier; wants parent feedback

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Yorkville launches program to make walking, biking to school safer and easier; wants parent feedback · Kendall County News - Shaw Local

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  Speaker 1: Yorkville launches program to make walking, biking to school safer
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  Speaker 1: and easier. Wants parent feedback. Written by Joey Waslow. This
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  Speaker 1: article is being read by an automated voice brought to
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  Speaker 1: you by Everlit. The city of Yorkville is engaging in
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  Speaker 1: a transformative community travel plan to improve safe walkability and
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  Speaker 1: accessible routes for parents and students to their local schools.
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  Speaker 1: The initiative is in collaboration with the Illinois Department of
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  Speaker 1: Transportation's Safe Routes to School Program, Yorkville School District 115,
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  Speaker 1: and select private schools in Yorkville. The program is designed
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  Speaker 1: to highlight specific transportation and infrastructure improvements the community would
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  Speaker 1: like to see around schools. The community is being asked
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  Speaker 1: to provide their own input by completing an online survey
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  Speaker 1: and attending an in-person engagement event. An online interactive map
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  Speaker 1: has been designed for residents to highlight areas where transportation
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  Speaker 1: and safety improvements could be proposed. Residents are specifically encouraged
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  Speaker 1: to provide input on what would help make walking and
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  Speaker 1: bicycling conditions to and from their schools safer and easier.
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  Speaker 1: The plan will result in recommendations to expand and enhance
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  Speaker 1: bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and encourage more students to safely walk, bike,
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  Speaker 1: and roll to school, the city said on its website.
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  Speaker 1: In addition, the completed plan will set Yorkville up as
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  Speaker 1: a strong candidate for future grant applications, including those funded
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  Speaker 1: by IDOT to implement recommendations. Walk audits will be conducted
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  Speaker 1: by the project team, led by Epstein, a consultant team,
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  Speaker 1: at each participating school during the fall semester. The consultant
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  Speaker 1: team will also attend the in-person event and engage with
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  Speaker 1: community members. According to IDOT, the programs have led to
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  Speaker 1: a 35-45% increase in students walking and bicycling to school.
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  Speaker 1: It has also resulted in a 45-75% decrease in pedestrian
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  Speaker 1: injuries near schools. More opportunities for residents to engage with
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  Speaker 1: the initiative will be posted on the city's webpage. To
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  Speaker 1: learn more, you can also reach out to Kelsey Zlever
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  Speaker 1: at cuzlever at epsteinglobal.com.