School walk audits are powerful tools used to assess the physical environment and identify assets and barriers to walking and bicycling to school. By assessing the environment and observing behaviors around a school for walking and bicycling patterns, a school walk audit can help identify areas where small changes could make a big difference in improving safety for students walking or biking to school. School walk audits can also assist in identifying areas in which education or encouragement programs can improve student or parent behaviors. This course walks participants through planning for and conducting a school walk audit.

SRTS is a statewide program, funded by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), whose goal is to make it safer for more children to walk and bike to school. This training is being brought to you by FDOT through the Florida Local Technical Assistance Program (LTAP) Center. The Florida LTAP Center provides quality training, technical assistance, & technology transfer to the Florida local transportation workforce.

Learning Objectives:

✔ Describe the purpose of a school walk audit.
✔ Identify tools used to conduct a school walk audit.
✔ Provide an overview of the steps for conducting a school walk audit.
✔ Describe the stakeholders involved with a school walk audit.
✔ Provide next steps and outcomes of a school walk audit.
✔ Provide best practices of school walk audits.

Part 1 Introduction to School Walk Audits: Session one introduces school walk audits as they relate to Safe Routes to School. We will go over the purpose of school walk audits, the process involved, the tools used, the stakeholders involved, and how to use the data collected.

Part 2 Case Studies and Best Practices Presentations and Roundtable: Session two includes guest speakers from around the state of Florida. Guest speakers will present their school walk audit experiences.

Guest speakers include:
◾ Sarah Kraum, Space Coast Transportation Planning Organization
◾ Caitlin Cerame, City of Pensacola
◾ Kelly Fearon, City of Tampa

Part 3 Virtual School Walk Audit Experience: In session three, we’ll take you on a virtual school walk audit journey through the lens of a walk audit team. Photos, videos, and drone technology will help capture the walk audit experience. Observations, data collection, audit team collaboration, and potential countermeasures will be shared with attendees.

Panelists include:
◾ Lucy Gonzalez Barr, Technical Services Program Assistant – UF T2 Center
◾ Dana Crosby, Program Director – Florida School Crossing Guard Program
◾ Anna-Kay Hutchison, Community Partnership School Director – Children’s Home Society of Florida, Sabal Palm Elementary School, A Community Partnership School
◾ Joe Sisk, Engineering Designer – City of Tallahassee