About New Jersey’s Safe Routes to School Program

The New Jersey Safe Routes to School Program, supported by the New Jersey Department of Transportation, is a statewide initiative with a mission to partner with schools and communities to prioritize and implement opportunities for people to walk, bike, or travel by other wheeled devices. By focusing on improvements to support active travel by youth, we believe we can create conditions that are safe, healthy, equitable, and appealing for all.   

Safe Routes for All provides safe and equitable access to active transportation for people of all ages and abilities from all backgrounds and neighborhoods in New Jersey. 

The Safe Routes to School program is a federal, state, and local effort that creates safer and more appealing conditions for walking, bicycling, and using other wheeled active transportation devices as a healthy part of everyday life and: 

  • Enables and encourages children and youth, including those with disabilities, to travel by foot, bike, or other wheeled devices  
  • Makes walking and bicycling a safer and more appealing transportation option, thereby encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle from an early age 
  • Facilitates the planning, development, and implementation of projects and activities that will improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and air pollution for people of all ages and abilities from all backgrounds and neighborhoods  

Safe Routes projects can focus on physical improvements to the environment, as well as encouragement and educational programs to promote more walking and wheeling in and around the community. 

The New Jersey Safe Routes to School Program is supported by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) through funds provided by the Federal Highway Administration.  

Three Pillars of the New Jersey Safe Routes to School Program  

The New Jersey Department of Transportation provides funding to schools and communities to improve walking and bicycling conditions through the Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Grant ProgramNJDOT supports non-infrastructure programs through funding of technical assistance provided by: 

  • The New Jersey Safe Routes Resource Center at Rutgers University assists public officials, transportation and health professionals, and the general public in creating a safer and more accessible walking and bicycling environment through primary research, education, and dissemination of information about best practices in policy and design. Their role includes supporting the development of policies and procedures, and providing education, outreach, and training to Safe Routes Regional Coordinators and local champions interested in implementing programs. 
  • The Safe Routes to School Regional Coordinators, located in Transportation Management Associations (TMAs) throughout New Jersey, who offer FREE technical assistance for Safe Routes educational programs, events, and more in communities throughout all 21 counties. Click here to find your local Safe Routes Coordinator!

About the New Jersey Crossing Guard Training and Resources Program

The New Jersey Crossing Guards Training and Resources Program compiles research and tools to support school crossing guards and traffic safety officers who supervise crossing guards. The Crossing Guard program is supported by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and the NJ Division of Highway Traffic Safety through funds provided by the Federal Highway Administration. For more information, visit njcrossingguards.org.

About the New Jersey Bicycle and Pedestrian Resource Center

The New Jersey Bicycle and Pedestrian Resource Center (BPRC) assists public officials, transportation and health professionals, and the public in creating safer and more accessible places to walk, bicycle, or travel by other low-speed wheeled devices through primary research, education, and dissemination of information about best practices in policy and design. The Center is supported by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) through funds provided by the Federal Highway Administration.

For more information, visit njbikeped.org.

About the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center 

The Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center (VTC) is a national leader in the research and development of innovative transportation policy. VTC is located within the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey. Within VTC there are several practice groups and other transportation research initiatives that provide state-of-the-art research and technical assistance to communities and partner organizations throughout New Jersey.

Click here to find out more!