In 2007 Bozeman, Montana had an open enrollment system for its elementary schools that resulted in parents driving their children all over town significantly affecting morning road congestion and perpetuating low levels of walking and bicycling by students. The City of Bozeman teamed with several other entities to hire Alta Planning + Design to create customized School Improvement Plans for each of the six existing elementary schools and site planning services for a 7th elementary school. These plans, which highlight projects and programs from each of the five Safe Routes to School "E's", will enable Bozeman to be much more prepared to compete for funding opportunities to improve conditions near the schools. The planning effort included a community workshop and walking audits for each of the schools and helped provide the public support that convinced the school board to vote for a return to neighborhood schools in March of 2008. This policy change combined with Alta's School Improvement Plans will dramatically increase walking and biking rates to school and improve the overall level of wellness and community vitality that area residents already pride themselves on. For more information, visit the project website at: www.altaprojects.net/bozemanschools
Also see the story of the Bozeman Safe Routes to School program highlighted as a national model by the Safe Routes to School National Partnership:
http://www.saferoutespartnership.org/media/file/CDC.Report.2008.pdf
