Thousands of Holladay students walked to class Wednesday, Aug. 12, on the first day of the 2026-27 school year, and Granite School District wants parents to know exactly which path is safest.

The district partnered with the Utah Department of Transportation to publish interactive safe-walking-route maps for every school, including Holladay campuses such as Olympus High School, Skyline High School, Olympus Junior High and Bonneville Junior High. Parents can look up the recommended route from their neighborhood at saferoutes.utah.gov.

"We do encourage all parents to get online and find the safe walking routes for their school," Granite District communications director Luke Allen told ABC4 on Tuesday, Aug. 11.

Under Utah law, all K-8 schools are required to create and distribute a Safe Routes Utah plan each year identifying the safest paths to campus. The plans are submitted through UDOT's mapping portal and include details on crosswalks, crossing guards and sidewalk conditions.

Why it matters locally

The stakes are real. The Utah Highway Safety Office reported 4,477 pedestrians were involved in crashes statewide from 2020 to 2024, nearly 895 per year. Of those, 291 were killed.

Holladay has seen the danger firsthand. At the Nov. 6, 2025, City Council meeting, resident Brett Hansen of 4495 South Arcadia Lane told council members a child had been struck by a vehicle at the intersection of 4500 South and Holladay Boulevard while walking to Olympus Junior High. The child survived. Hansen said dozens of students cross that intersection daily and urged the city to add a protected left-turn signal and fix a streetlight that sometimes does not work.

Salt Lake City Transportation engineer Mary Sizemore said her department is installing crosswalk improvements near schools, including painted crosswalk lines and concrete curb extensions that shorten crossing distances for children. Those projects are within Salt Lake City limits; no Holladay-specific crosswalk upgrades have been announced.

What parents should do

Granite District, Utah's largest with more than 58,000 students, recommends families take three steps before the morning bell:

• Look up your route. Visit saferoutes.utah.gov and search your child's school.
• Walk it once together. Practice the route with your child before sending them alone.
• Slow down behind the wheel. Allen asked drivers to be especially cautious during morning commutes near school zones.

Cottonwood Heights families served by Canyons School District start Monday, Aug. 17. As we reported July 21, Canyons families should verify bus routes before that start date.

Safe Routes Utah also offers free pedestrian safety assemblies, crossing guard training and a Walk and Roll Challenge for participating schools. The program's annual grant cycle funds infrastructure improvements such as sidewalks and signage, with a required 6.67% local match from communities.