Community, and

In the next few decades, communities across theUnited States will have to accommodate sub-stantial increases in student enrollment. Theexpected boom in school construction and ren-ovation and the related planning decisions have implications for travel and for vehicle emissions. The study reported here was the first to examine the relationship between school location, the built environment around schools, student travel to school, and the emissions impacts of this travel. Students with shorter walk and bike times to school proved signifi-cantly more likely to walk or bike—which argues for neighborhood schools. Students who have access to sidewalks along main roads were also more likely to walk—which argues for improvements in sidewalk networks. Neighborhood schools that can be reached by walking and biking can increase the amount of walk-ing and biking to school, can shorten trip distances, and can reduce motor vehicle emissions significantly. Size and Location Trends Public schools have been increasing in size and draw-ing students from larger areas. Between 1940 and 1990, the total number of elementary and secondary public schools fell by 69 percent, despite a 70 percent increase in the U.S. population (1). Large new schools typically are placed in outlying areas, because sites are available and land prices are low. Public policies have contributed to this trend (2–4). The funding formulas in many states favor new school construction over renovation. Minimum acreage stan-dards for elementary, middle, and high schools may be met only at greenfield locations. Building codes designed for new construction are applied to older schools that could be renovated. School districts are often exempt from local planning and zoning laws and can site schools without consideration of local policies and plans. Walking and Biking Trends Paralleling the trend toward large schools at remote sites is the sharp decline in walking and biking to school. According to the recently released 200