The plan is created through a team-based process that identifies the barriers to active transportation and formulates a set of solutions to address them. The School Travel Plan is developed in consultation with the whole school community and is an important tool in improving student and community health, safety, traffic congestion and air quality. It is the first step in preparing schools to make important changes in their school travel environments. It can also address the needs of a single school or several schools in a district or community. 

The Illinois School Travel Plan 

The Illinois School Travel Plan is an online planning tool, accessible through the Illinois SRTS web site. The Plan allows you to create a personalized School Travel Plan individual to your own school and community. The Plan is designed using a 'check box' approach to school travel planning. It provides you with a variety of choices as you determine your school's particular travel situation, problems and solutions. You may also personalize your Plan by including items that do not appear on the checklist and qualifying your school's individual issues.

A School Travel Plan is required prior to applying for Illinois SRTS funds.

Your School Travel Plan will be reviewed by the Illinois Department of Transportation for completeness. If it is returned to you as needing more work you will be provided with feedback explaining which areas of the School Travel Plan require additional information.

Benefits of a School Travel Plan  

School Travel Plans are not just about school travel; they also address the goal of creating livable communities. Neighborhoods that promote and facilitate walking and bicycling are attractive to residents and support healthy lifestyles. And to reach this ideal, a solid planning process is needed. The School Travel Plan process results in many benefits for schools, including:

• Greater community awareness and involvement around travel issues.
• A prioritized set of needs and targeted resources.
• A mechanism for securing funds for projects and programs.
• School Wellness Policy fulfillment by planning for increased student physical activity.
• Continuity of action when leadership and participation levels change.
• A plan for evaluation that tracks progress and outcome.
• Creation of new partnerships between the school, families, local officials, transportation professionals, police, health advocates and the community at large.
• By engaging in the School Travel Plan process, a community commits to the vision of a better world for its children and, ultimately, all its residents.

 Click HERE to download the full School Travel Plan Guide and Worksheet.
 Click HERE to download the Sample School Travel Plan.