# Presentation: 057075

## 2006 National Air Quality Conference San Antonio, TXKathy Daniel

**Notes:**
I’m pleased to be here and to be able to tell you all about the Safe Routes to School program and how it relates to you.

## Safe Routes to School (SRTS)

-  Overview of SRTS program
-  Community Partner activities
-  Discuss ways to benefit from the SRTS program
-  Show you where to get more information

**Today’s agenda**

## Safe Routes to School (SRTS)

-  Pretend to be an expert on the SRTS program
-  Tell you details about the SRTS program

**Today I am NOT going to**

## Safe Routes to School (SRTS)

**	****   **
- Enable and encourage
- 	children to walk and bicycle
- 	to school
- Make walking and bicycling
- 	to school safer and more
- 	appealing transportation alternatives
- Facilitate planning, development, and implementation of projects and activities that improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and air pollution in the vicinity of schools

**Program Purpose**

**Notes:**
In the vicinity of schools = approximately 2 miles
State DOTs administer SRTS and provide financial assistance to state, local, and regional agencies and nonprofits that meet the SAFETEA-LU SRTS section requirements.

## Follow the Money...

**FHWA**

**State DOTs**

**Congress**

| Infrastructure Related Projects | Non-Infrastructure Related Activities |
| --- | --- |

## SRTS Funding

**Apportionment Ratio**
- Each state’s primary and middle school (K-8)
- 	enrollment divided by all states’ enrollment
**Minimum:**** $1,000,000/Fiscal Year/State**
**SRTS Coordinator**** funded from State apportionment **

| Fiscal Year | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Authorization | $54 M | $100 M | $125 M | $150 M | $183 M |

**Notes:**
SRTS projects and activities are eligible for 100% federal funding. 
SRTS funds are not transferable and remain available until expended.
Each State must use a sufficient amount of their apportionment to fund a full-time SRTS Coordinator. 

## SRTS Eligible Projects & Activities

- Sidewalk improvements
- Traffic calming & speed reduction improvements
- Pedestrian & bicycle-crossing improvements
- On-street bicycle facilities
- Off-street bicycle & pedestrian facilities
- Secure bicycle parking facilities
- Traffic diversion improvements
- Funding for SRTS coordinator

**Public awareness campaigns**
**Outreach to press & community leaders**
**Student sessions on pedestrian & bicycle safety, health, and environment**
- Traffic education & enforcement
- SRTS training and volunteers

**Infrastructure Related**
** **

**Non-Infrastructure Related**** **

**Notes:**
SRTS funds may be used for planning, design, and construction of infrastructure-related projects that will substantially improve the ability of students to walk and bicycle to school. Infrastructure related projects may be carried out on any public road or any bicycle or pedestrian pathway or trail in the vicinity of schools (approx. 2-mi. radius). 

In addition, SRTS funds may be used for non-infrastructure related activities to encourage walking and bicycling to school. 

Allocation: 
Not less than 10% and not more than 30% of SRTS apportionment for non-infrastructure related activities.
The SRTS Coordinator is funded through the infrastructure budget (i.e., not from the 10-30%)
Other transportation funds may be used to fund these types of projects (e.g., STP, NHS, TE).

## Other SRTS Activities

**National SRTS Task Force**
- Leaders in health, transportation,
- 	  and education
- Study and develop a strategy
- 	  to advance SRTS nationwide

**National SRTS Clearinghouse**
-   Information and educational programs
-   Technical assistance

**Notes:**
Clearinghouse will be funded from administrative set-aside.  A grant to operate the clearinghouse will be made to a national nonprofit engaged in promoting safe routes to school.  FHWA issued the procurement solicitation in mid-January, 2006 and expects to make award in April, 2006.
Task Force report must describe results of the study--strategy and information on use of funds for infrastructure and non-infrastructure activities.

**http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/saferoutes/**

**Notes:**
Each State administers its own program. 
Contact your Safe Routes to School State Coordinator for guidance on policies and project/activity eligibility requirements in your State.
The SRTS Website has a good Overview, recently-released FHWA Guidance, information on Funding, FAQs (and answers!) about the SRTS Coordinator position, and a page of great Resource links.  
The Guidance page includes:
	January 3, 2006 FHWA memorandum providing guidance to the States on establishing and operating new SRTS 	programs.
	September 26, 2005 FHWA memorandum requesting that each State appoint a full-time SRTS Coordinator and that each 	FHWA field office (a.k.a Division Office) designate a Point of Contact within their office.
	Links to examples of State applications forms.
The Resources page includes a list of SRTS Coordinators, Federal agencies, Federally-supported information centers and clearinghouse, and NGOs and coalitions.  

## How can you benefit from SRTS?

- Share your expertise with *It All Adds Up to Cleaner Air*
-  Coalition members
-  Channels of communication
-  Materials
- Find out how to apply for funds
- Keep doing what you do best...raise awareness!

**Help your State’s SRTS Coordinator**