The 2002 Summary of Safe Routes to School Programs contains detailed information on a number of state and local SRTS programs.

The programs listed below highlight some of the more comprehensive SRTS programs.

Marin County, CA

Credited as the ‘Creators of the National SRTS Model’, the Marin County Safe Routes to School Program provides a good example of a comprehensive SRTS program. This program was started in August, 2000, by members of the Marin County Bicycle Coalition (MCBC). The MCBC organized a number of events to promote walking and biking to school: walking school buses, walk-to-school parades on International Walk to School Day, bicycle rodeos, and classroom lessons. Soon after, Marin County obtained a grant from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to run a SRTS Pilot program.

Program founders organized various stakeholders (parents, teachers, children) into teams and guided them through a process to identify improvements and create long term plans. A number of projects have already been implemented, including enhancing crosswalks, installing high-visibility signs, modifying traffic signal phasing to assist pedestrian crossings, and instituting a citizen speed reporting program. Cities within Marin County have received more than $1 million in grants from the California Safe Routes to Schools Capital program and other sources to create new paths and sidewalks and even a pedestrian bridge.

The results of this investment have surpassed organizers expectations. Walk to school rates between 2000 and 2002 have increased from 21% to 38% in two years time.

The Bronx, NY

In one of the densest places in the nation, Bronx, NY has always been a heaven for walking and bicycling to school. The Bronx Safe Routes to School Program was formed to ensure that didn’t change in the face of constant pressure for parents to drive their children to school. The Bronx program has managed to maintain 85% walk-to-school rates by developing safe and attractive routes for elementary schoolchildren and their parents.

Transportation Alternatives (TA), the non-profit organization that helped lead the program, structured its program as a step-by-step approach to parent and community involvement in planning and implementing cost-effective traffic calming measures around schools. TA staff and consulting engineers worked with community residents to identify existing walking routes and developed detailed plans for improvements.

The Bronx program inspired the New York City Department of Transportation to launch its own citywide Safe Schools program last spring, starting with a $2.5 million planning initiative. The City expects to spend some $50 million on pedestrian improvements around city schools over the next two decades. Currently, the city's contractors are completing computer maps of street conditions in the vicinity of 1,350 neighborhood schools. Pedestrian improvements and traffic calming measures are scheduled to be installed around the 135 most dangerous schools by January 2005.

Arlington County, VA

Another good example of effective SRTS programs is the Arlington County, VA Comprehensive SRTS Program. Approximately $1.75 million from the county's general fund has been spent on various pedestrian projects and on program support to improve safe routes in the vicinity to schools. Other sources were used to finance complementary measures, such as crossing guards, signage, striping, and stamped asphalt. Another budget item, a $1 million annual traffic calming program, is used to place speed humps and extend curbs near schools.

In addition, Arlington County is in the process of redesigning its school renovation and expansion projects to incorporate pedestrian safety improvements. Finally, to raise awareness, it is including information about the SRTS program in utility bills and providing public service announcements to cable television stations.