The City of Hutto has hired an engineering firm to develop a Safe Routes to School plan, a federally funded program that encourages children to walk or bike to school. A public input meeting is set for March 7 at 6 p.m.

Matt Bushak, city engineer, said the meeting gives citizens an opportunity to offer ideas about what they consider to be barriers to children using active forms of transportation to get to school.

"If people know of routes that kids are using now or routes that would be desirable, [this will] help us complete the plan, get their feedback," he said.

TxDOT administers the funds, which communities can use to address hazards and slow traffic on roads that serve schools, as well as build pathways, bike lanes and sidewalks.

Bushak said the city has already identified two potential projects in its capital improvement plan. These projects include a sidewalk along South FM 1660 that would run from north of Carl Stern Boulevard to CR 137, near Farley Middle School and Ray Elementary School. Another project is creating connectivity between the Huttoparke neighborhood and two nearby schools, Hutto Middle School and Cottonwood Creek Elementary School.

Engineering firm Beach Sulak Partners is developing the SRTS plan and will submit it to TxDOT this spring. Depending on when TxDOT calls for project applications, funding could be awarded in early 2013 and construction could be finished in time for the 2014 school year.

The public meeting will be held at City Council Chambers at 401 W. Front St. There is also an online survey parents can fill out at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/9W2S9B5.

Bushak said community participation is an important part of developing the SRTS plan.

"One of the things that helps with the scorings when we do go for a grant is how much public involvement we had," Bushak said.