Alaska starts a statewide network to make walking and biking to school safer

Alaska is starting a statewide network to help kids walk and bike to school more safely, the Department of Education & Early Development announced Wednesday.

The Safe Routes to School Community of Practice is open to anyone interested in safer school travel, including parents, school staff, planners and law enforcement, according to a state flyer. Members can share ideas, learn from other Alaska communities and hear about funding.

Possible topics include getting to school in winter, rural and Tribal transportation, and accessibility. The state's program page says the network should include Tribal and local governments, schools and public health agencies.

The contacts for the network are Julius Adolfsson, the state transportation department's bike and pedestrian coordinator, and Dr. Jess Doherty of the state Department of Health. The first meeting is set for 10 to 11:30 am Dec. 3, online, and people can sign up through a state form.

State materials don't name any money for the network itself. Alaska received about $8.5 million in dedicated federal Safe Routes to School money from 2005 until that funding ended in 2012, according to the Federal Highway Administration. The state can still pay for such projects through its Transportation Alternatives Program, but the state transportation department develops and manages them and doesn't give the money directly to communities.