Active school travel (AST) is encouraged at all York Region District School Board schools. Programs have been implemented across the board to support and encourage students and families to use more active forms of transportation when travelling to and from school daily. These programs include:
- School Streets
- Active School Travel Programs in City of Markham, Town of Newmarket and City of Vaughan
- Safety Campaigns
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.
Closing a street to vehicles lets students move freely on foot or on bike within their neighbourhood and school zone. School Streets also:
- Has positive effects on children’s mental, emotional and physical health.
- Improves road safety and air quality around schools by reducing vehicle emissions.
- Encourages active travel and fosters a sense of well-being and self-reliance amongst students.
School Streets at Black Walnut P.S. - May-June 2026
Black Walnut P.S. will be participating in a National School Streets pilot in May. School Streets are temporary car-free environments located directly in front of schools around school bell times.
This pilot is part of our ongoing efforts to promote active and sustainable travel to improve student well-being and improve school zone safety. These efforts include:
- Planned pavement marking and signage.
- Students learning about the benefits of active and sustainable travel including walking, cycling and bus safety.
- A successful Winter Walk Day in February with many parents and student participating.
Building on this work, the City of Markham in partnership with York Region District School Board, was invited to participate in a National School Streets Pilot. Black Walnut P.S. was selected to be part of this pilot which will be launching this May for four weeks.
The proposed School Streets at Black Walnut PS will be conducted on Allan Cameron Street in two phases.
- Phase 1: May 19 – 29 (9 days) with one-lane closure. Southbound lane from Shady Oaks Ave to parking lot entrance will be closed at 8:45-9:15 a.m. and 3:15-3:45 p.m. Northbound lane remains open.
- Phase 2: June 1 – June 12 (9 days, except for June 5 PA Day) with full road closure. No vehicle access between Shady Oaks Ave and bus loop (south entrance) at 8:45-9:15 a.m. and 3:15-3:45 p.m.
Previous School Streets Projects
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.
Active School Travel Projects
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)
Newmarket Active School Travel Projects
The Newmarket Active School Travel 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 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.
The following schools participated:
York Region District School Board
- Alexander Muir P.S.
- Armitage Village P.S.
- Clearmeadow P.S.
- Maple Leaf P.S.
- Prince Charles P.S.
- Stonehaven E.S.
- Terry Fox P.S.
York Catholic District School Board
- Notre Dame C.E.S.
- St. Elizabeth Seton C.E.S.
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 serves 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 safety campaign continues to expand more schools, following an initial pilot in 2022-2023.
