Active school travel (AST) is encouraged at all York Region District School Board schools. Pilot programs have been implemented in the City of Markham, Town of Newmarket and the City of Vaughan to support and encourage students and families to use more active forms of transportation when travelling to and from school daily.
Markham Active School Travel Pilot
The Markham Active School Travel Pilot launched in spring 2019 and was made possible through funding from Ontario Active School Travel, a program of Green Community Canada, the City of Markham and York Region. The pilot involved a partnership between York Region District School Board, York Catholic District School Board, City of Markham and York Region.
The pilot officially ended in 2022 and was recommended to become a program and expand to more schools. Three new schools will be participating in the program during the 2023-2024 school year. Final report summarizing the pilot coming soon.
Initiatives to encourage active school travel at the pilot schools included:
- weekly walking programs
- participation in events such as IWALK, Winter Walk Day and Bike to School Week
- communications to schools, families and students on the benefits of AST and opportunities for students/families to participate in AST
- bicycle education
- customized wayfinding signage
- interactive sidewalk stencils to create a more enjoyable walk to school
- classroom competitions
- group walks to help build family connections
- traffic enhancements: zebra crossing, restricted on-street pick-up and drop-off activity, painted curb lines to reinforce restricted zones, school zone road stencils
- Kiss & Ride loop closures once a week
- School Streets test pilot (closure of road) May 2022
2023-2024 participating schools
- Aldergrove P.S
- Beckett Farm P.S.
- Parkland P.S.
2019-2022 pilot schools:
- Castlemore P.S.
- Coppard Glen P.S.
- David Suzuki P.S.
- John McCrae P.S.
- Legacy P.S.
- Randall P.S.
- Stonebridge P.S.
- All Saints C.E.S. (YCDSB)
School Streets
A School Streets test pilot involves the temporary road closure of streets in front of schools during peak school drop-off and pick-up times. This creates a car-free zone that aims to facilitate a safer environment for active school travel by restricting traffic during peak times.
York Region’s first School Streets test pilot took place at John McCrae P.S. in the City of Markham in May 2022. The street adjacent to John McCrae P.S. (Stricker Ave) was closed during peak periods for four consecutive Wednesdays with limited access during the School Streets closure in the morning and afternoon.
For more information visit www.markham.ca/activeschooltravel or read the final report.
Newmarket Active School Travel Pilot
The Newmarket Active School Travel Pilot launched in fall 2021 and ended in June 2023. The pilot was a partnership between York Region District School Board, York Catholic District School Board, Town of Newmarket, Smart Commute Central York, and York Region. The final report is coming soon.
Initiatives to encourage active school travel at the pilot schools include:
- weekly walking program
- participation in events such as IWALK, Winter Walk Day and Bike to School Week
- communications to schools, families and students on the benefits of AST and opportunities for students/families to participate in AST
- customized wayfinding signage
- interactive sidewalk stencils to create a more enjoyable walk to school
- traffic enhancements: Red Painted Curbs and signage to create no stopping zones directly adjacent to the school, school zone road stencils
For more information visit www.newmarket.ca/activeschooltravel.
York Region District School Board
- Alexander Muir P.S.
- Maple Leaf P.S.
- Prince Charles P.S.
- Stonehaven E.S.
York Catholic District School Board
- Notre Dame C.E.S.
- St. Elizabeth Seton C.E.S.
Vaughan Active School Travel Pilot
The Vaughan Active School Travel Pilot launched in May 2022 and will continue for the 2022/23 school year. The pilot is a partnership between York Region District School Board, York Catholic District School Board, City of Vaughan, York Regional Police, and York Region.
Active school travel is part of the City’s MoveSmart Mobility Management Strategy, which focuses on improving municipal road networks, enhancing road safety and supporting more cycling and pedestrian infrastructure to create fully connected and integrated communities.
Initiatives to encourage active school travel at the pilot schools include:
- weekly walking program
- participation in events such as IWALK, Winter Walk Day and Bike to School Week
- communications to schools, families and students on the benefits of AST and opportunities for students/families to participate in AST
- customized wayfinding signage
- traffic enhancements: community-specific traffic calming measures
The Vaughan AST Pilot will become an official program and expand to more schools in the 2024-2025 school year. The final report summarizing the pilot is coming soon.
For more information visit www.vaughan.ca/activeschooltravel.
York Region District School Board
- Anne Frank P.S.
- Johnny Lombardi P.S.
- Lorna Jackson P.S.
- Viola Desmond P.S.
- Yorkhill E.S.
York Catholic District School Board
- Guardian Angles C.E.S.
- Pope Francis C.E.S.
- St. Stephen C.E.S
Safety Campaign Pilot
The YRDSB Safety Campaign Pilot was conducted during the 2022-2023 school year at a number of schools in the Board.
The safety campaign served as an educational tool to bring awareness around school zone safety. Each participating school received four feather signs and four sandwich board signs with specific messaging. In addition to the physical signage, a communication plan was prepared and provided to each school to distribute within their school community.
The schools that participated were those who previously participated in Active School Travel pilot programs in Markham and Newmarket or had a history of involvement with active school travel planning.
The pilot received very positive feedback and resources are being investigated currently to expand to more schools. For the 2023-2024 school year, the safety campaign will be expanded to eight schools in Vaughan that participated in the Vaughan AST pilot described on this page.
