The C-U Safe Routes to School Project returns this January with a new “Snow Angel” volunteer snow removal program to help clear priority routes near elementary schools and bus stops across Champaign-Urbana.
“Anyone who is willing and able to shovel is invited to volunteer,” said C-U SRTS Project co-chair Abigail Kipping. “If University students live on campus and would like to choose a zone closest to their dorm or apartment, please feel free to do so.”
Volunteers can specify which sidewalks they would like to clean in the program’s sign-up form and are expected to clean their chosen sidewalks within 48 hours of a snowstorm that leaves at least two inches of snow. While volunteers are encouraged to bring their own cleaning tools, extra supplies like collapsible shovels and winter attire are offered.
The C-U SRTS Project has not received a grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation since 2019. It now relies primarily on the Champaign-Urbana Mass Transit District for funding, according to Kipping.
It is unknown how much money the program will need as the winter season persists, especially with the polar vortex continuing to pose a threat to schools and streets nationwide. C-U already experienced school and building closures earlier this January due to severe winter storms.
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“We encourage volunteers to be prepared and safe as they clear sidewalks by wearing warm, bright-colored winter clothing and being respectful of pedestrian and vehicle traffic if applicable to their zone and cross streets,” Kipping said, offering tips to stay safe during the vortex.
The program collaborated with the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission to target routes with high bus ridership and busier foot traffic, such as near the cities’ elementary schools, as highlighted sidewalks for volunteers to select from. The routes aren’t fixed, however, and citizens can suggest new routes via the program’s website.
“Local residents are welcome to shovel any area that they would like; the more clear sidewalks, the safer our community will be,” Kipping said. “It’s the neighborly thing to do, after all.”
