New Westminster, B.C. (Aug 21, 2024): It’s time for New Westminster to expand the popular and successful walking school bus program says Councillor Daniel Fontaine. A motion going to Council on Monday, August 26th, is calling for new and expanded long-term funding for the program as part of its 2025 budget process.
“Launched in 2021 by TransLink and regional partners, the walking school bus program was developed to reduce congestion near schools and improve the health and wellness of children by enabling them to walk to and from school,” said a TransLink news release. “During weekdays, supervised student groups, from a participating school, walk predetermined routes with planned stops to pick up or drop off kids – just like a conventional school bus.”
“We heard a very compelling presentation from our local District Parent Advisory Council a few months ago that this innovative approach to getting students to and from school needs our continued support,” says Fontaine. “We’ve tucked away over $40M in a Climate Action Fund that in my opinion has yet to take any significant and meaningful action to address the climate emergency declared by Council a few years ago. Funding the expansion of this program through that fund would demonstrate a real and immediate commitment on the part of Council to help reduce our carbon footprint and meet our climate targets.”
The walking school bus pilot project is currently being offered only at two schools, École Qayqayt Elementary School and Queen Elizabeth Elementary School, and proven to be really successful. According to the School District, the program costs a little under $23,000 annually for the coordinator who staffs the walk. Funding for the existing program has been a partnership between TransLink, School District 41 and the City of New Westminster.
“As the parent of a child that walked to school from Kindergarten to Grade 12, I can personally attest to the importance of having kids walk to school rather than being driven,” says Fontaine. “Funding this program beyond the pilot phase would clearly support both healthier kids and planet.”