Transcript Safe to School Routes Improving Health,

Safe Routes to School
Improving Health,
Safety and
Transportation
Jennifer Hefferan
DC SRTS Coordinator
Joe Pelaia
Maryland SRTS Coordinator
Lenexa, KS
Safe Routes to School programs are
part of the solution…
...to improve
walking and
bicycling
conditions
...to increase
physical
activity
...to decrease
air pollution
Dallas, TX
More benefits of SRTS programs
 Reduce congestion around schools
 Can lead to cost savings for schools
(reduce need for “hazard” busing)
 Others: increase child’s sense of
freedom, help establish lifetime
habits, teach pedestrian and
bicyclist skills
Safe Routes to School goals
 Where it’s safe, get
children walking and
biking
 Where it’s not safe, make
changes
Winston-Salem, NC
Elements of SRTS programs
 Education
 Encouragement
 Enforcement
 Engineering
 Evaluation
Lenexa, KS
Education
 Imparts safety skills
 Creates safety
awareness
 Fosters life-long safety
habits
 Includes parents,
neighbors and other
drivers
Chicago, IL
Encouragement
 Increases
popularity of
walking and
bicycling
 Is an easy way
to start SRTS
programs
 Emphasizes fun
Elmhurst, IL
Enforcement
 Increases awareness
of pedestrians and
bicyclists
Richmond, VA
 Improves driver
behavior
 Helps children follow
traffic rules
Denver, CO
Engineering
 Creates safer
conditions for
walking and
bicycling
 Can influence
the way people
behave
West Valley City, UT
Evaluation
Is the program making a difference?
Federal Safe Routes to School program
 $612 million to States
2005-2009
 Funds infrastructure
and non-infrastructure
activities
 Requires State SRTS
Coordinators
More information:
www.saferoutesinfo.org
DC program
 Street Smart for
Kids
 School Zone
Enforcement
 School Area
Sidewalks
 Pilot Schools
www.ddot.dc.gov/saferoutes
Maryland program facts:
Total $
Projects
GYA: $3,000,000
17
GYB: $4,000,000
15
Totals: $7,000,000
32
Jurisdictions
16
Schools
Students
118
47,380
17
100
28,584
33
218
75,964
Maryland Process:
 Grants are distributed to state, local
and regional agencies, as well as
non-profit organizations.
 In order to apply for SRTS funds, an
organization representative must
attend a Grant Application Seminar
(GAS).
Maryland Process (continued):
 Once the EOI is submitted, it will be
reviewed by a 10 member panel. The
panel will recommend to either fully
fund the project, partially fund it, or
not to fund it at all.
 The final decision is made by SHA
Administrator Neil Pedersen.
Want more Information?
www.saferoutesinfo.org
Jennifer Hefferan
DC SRTS Coordinator
(202) 671-2227
[email protected]
Joe Pelaia
Maryland SRTS Coordinator
(410) 787-7620
[email protected]