CPS adds 2 safe passage routes on South, West sides

Chicago Public Schools will add two new Safe Passage routes for the 2016-2017 school year in the Washington Park and East Garfield Park neighborhoods on the South and West sides.

The Safe Passage routes will service Dyett School of the arts in Washington Park and Al Raby School in East Garfield Park, according to a statement from Chicago Public Schools. The additional routes will increase the number of participating Safe Passage schools to 142.

The Safe Passage program began in 2009 with 45 schools participating, CPS said. With the reopening of the new Dyett School of the Arts, the school district is relaunching the program at the school. Al Raby School was identified for a route based on community feedback.

For the first day of school on Tuesday, the Chicago Police Department, Fire Department, Streets and Sanitation and other city agencies will lend support to the Safe Passage program, CPS said.

Route maps and other information about the Safe Passage program can be found at http://www.cps.edu/safepassage.