Winter months are too cold for biking, but just the right time to plan for infrastructure to encourage biking and walking in Austin neighborhoods. The Vision 2020 Trails Committee is focusing on improvements to six schools — Banfield, Ellis, Holton, Neveln, Southgate and Sumner.

In May 2014, our community completed the Minnesota Department of Transportation planning process for Safe Routes to Schools. We now have a report on file that documents current conditions and school travel patterns. It shows that only about 25 percent of students walk or bike to school. At some schools, only 10 percent of students walk or bike.

The report also contains detailed recommendations, created by experts in community planning, to improve safety at each school site. Because we have gone through this planning process, Austin is more likely to receive grant funds from MnDOT for these infrastructure items.

Two of the recommended infrastructure improvements will be completed by the City of Austin. City Engineer Steven Lang was integral in the Safe Routes to Schools planning process and has determined that the city can update crosswalks at all six school sites to the recommended ‘high visibility’ design. This can be done as the city routinely repaints the crosswalks each year. The City of Austin will also be able to update signage and pavement markings at Banfield, Neveln, Southgate and Sumner to reflect current best-practices for pedestrian and bicyclist safety.

The City of Austin will also use their speed trailer, which shows a driver their current speed as they approach, at Sumner as school starts this summer. Sumner’s alternative calendar generates student traffic in July and August when drivers may not be expecting it.

We will be applying to MnDOT for funds for a Rapid Flash Beacon to be installed at a challenging intersection near Ellis/Holton. A pedestrian can turn on the beacon so that lights will flash, drawing driver attention to the pedestrian traffic. These are especially useful at intersections where student traffic is heavy only a few times a day. One is currently in use on West Oakland, near Banfield Elementary.

The Safe Routes to Schools report for Austin also recommends a variety of programs to encourage students to walk or bike to school. Some of those are already in place. Parents and students can find maps recommending the best routes to bike or walk to school in their neighborhood. The maps are available at each school or on the parent portal.

We will also continue to host Bike Safety Day each spring to make helmets available to children and adults at a co-pay of $5. If you are interested in supporting these programs, please contact Laura at 507-437-3448 or laura@vision2020austin.com. Volunteers are needed at each school to help support events and programs and keep communication open to parents.

Reminder, Eastwood Bank of Austin and Vision 2020 Community Pride & Spirit are collaborating on the Keep the Spirit Alive volunteer service challenge in 2015. To find out more, go to at www.vision2020austin.com/spirit or find us on Facebook at ‘Spread the Spirit in Austin MN.’