In 2008, the Solano Transportation Authority (STA) launched the Safe Routes to School (SR2S) program in partnership with Solano County Public Health. This initiative was developed in response to rising concerns about increased childhood obesity, air pollution, and traffic congestion around schools. Over the years, the SR2S program has collaborated with city planners, traffic engineers, law enforcement, educators, and parents to address these issues.
The number of children who walk or bike to school in the U.S. has steadily decreased over the last 50 years. Concurrently, communities, including those in Solano County, have experienced increases in traffic around schools, air pollution, and childhood obesity. To combat these problems, the STA established a Solano Safe Routes to School Advisory Committee alongside the SR2S program. This program promotes active transportation by offering schools free educational programs and events that encourage safe walking and biking to school. Additionally, the program provides technical assistance and support to help schools start and sustain walking and biking initiatives.
By fostering a culture of active transportation, the SR2S program aims not only to increase students’ physical activity but also to reduce the dependence on cars for commuting to and from school, thereby creating safer, less congested routes for students.
The Solano Safe Routes to School (SR2S) program works to increase the number of students walking and bicycling to school by making the journey safe, healthy, and enjoyable. The program uses a comprehensive approach guided by the six “E’s”:
The program is supported through partnerships with schools, law enforcement agencies, public health staff, city traffic engineers, and community members to identify safety needs and implement improvements near school sites. The Solano Safe Routes to School Plan was originally established in 2008 and updated in 2013. In December 2025, the Solano Transportation Authority Board formally adopted the third iteration of the SR2S Plan, developed in collaboration with SR2S partners, Community Task Forces, and the SR2S Countywide Advisory Committee.
This update serves as a five-year roadmap to guide future investments in safety projects near schools, strengthen active transportation programs, and continue addressing pedestrian and bicycle safety for students and families.
Since its inception, the SR2S program has continued to expand, with growing participation from schools across the county, and remains an ongoing program administered by the Solano Transportation Authority.
To view the final plan, click here.
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