Public input important in developing safe route plan

Want to make the routes for our children safer in Basin? Want to have a say in how those routes will be made safer, including where sidewalks should go, where more lighting is needed or not needed, whether more bus stops are needed or if fewer bus stops are needed? Then come to Monday’s meeting with the Basin Town Council and the Safe Routes to School Committee. The meeting is at 7:30 p.m. at the Basin City Arts Center.

The committee has been working on the Wyoming School Travel Plan, the first step for the Safe Routes To School program. The next step, once the plan is developed, will be to design a first phase of the project and seek up to $200,000 in 100 percent grant funding.

But the first step, the plan, is a vital one. This paper has been critical of boards and councils that have done too little planning before moving ahead with a project. This time things are being done right. The committee has public involvement with residents Mark and Mary Hillman. It has school involvement with Superintendent Mary Fisher. The council is involved with Councilors Deb Rathbun and Dave Cooper on the committee. The committee also made sure to include Basin Planning and Zoning with Chairman Amy Kania on board.

The school, P&Z and the council will all review the final plan before it is submitted to the state, the Wyoming Department of Transportation for approval.

The committee has been working to evaluate current sidewalks, bus routes, bus stops and student drop off points at the schools with the help of engineer Ken Fink. They have sent surveys out to parents to find out patterns of where children are walking from and why children walk or bike to school, or why they don’t walk to school.

 An overview of what’s been done to this point, along with survey results will be presented at Monday’s meeting. The committee needs more public input. If new sidewalks are recommended, are there areas of town that don’t want sidewalks? Some parents suggested eliminating bussing in town, others would like to see more bus stops in town. What is your opinion? The committee wants to know.

Should children be allowed to bike on the sidewalks as a safe way to get to school, rather than in the street? Or should the town provide a bike path?

These and many other questions need to be answered and the committee wants and will value the input of the residents in this community.

Now is the time to have your say on developing Safe Routes To School. Hope to see you Monday.

---Karla Pomeroy