Redmond, Ore. – The City of Redmond has teamed up with the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and the Redmond School District to develop a Safe Routes to School plan aimed at making the daily walks, bike rides and scooter trips of students and families safer.
Community input at the forefront
City officials are calling on residents to share their observations about dangerous crossings, missing sidewalks, fast‑moving traffic, and other challenges along school routes. Lindsey Cromsigt, assistant city engineer, emphasized that “parents, students and neighbors walk these routes every day and they know where the gaps are better than anyone.” The city will host an open house on Thursday, Oct. 15, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Redmond City Hall (411 SW 9th Street) to present the draft plan and collect feedback.
How to get involved
In addition to the open house, the project team will conduct walk audits near three local schools, allowing volunteers to walk the routes in person and note specific concerns. Residents who cannot attend in person can submit location‑specific comments through an interactive online map at www.odotsrtsprojectid.com. The online tool, as well as all project materials, are available in English and Spanish.
Funding and next steps
The initiative is funded by Safe Routes to School planning assistance recently awarded to Redmond by ODOT. The grant will support the identification of safety challenges and help prioritize future infrastructure improvements, such as new sidewalks, crosswalk signals, speed‑reduction measures, and safer drop‑off/pick‑up zones.
Project contact Amelia Adams is available for questions and to coordinate volunteer participation. The city plans to compile community input, analyze the data, and present a final set of recommendations to the Redmond City Council later this year.
Why it matters for families
Safe Routes to School programs have been shown to increase walking and biking rates, improve child health, and reduce traffic congestion around schools. By involving parents and neighbors directly, Redmond hopes to ensure that any infrastructure upgrades address the real‑world conditions families face each morning and afternoon.
Redmond’s effort reflects a broader statewide push to encourage active transportation for students while safeguarding them from traffic hazards. The collaboration with ODOT underscores the importance of state‑local partnerships in delivering safe, walkable communities for families.
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
