National Policy & Advocacy

Last summer, we wrote a blog post about opportunities for Safe Routes to School programs to get involved in Safe Streets for All projects.

Happy new year! January 3rd marked the start of the 118^th Congress, and we are enthusiastic about our ongoing work to keep Safe Routes to School relevant and prioritized in federal policy. As we shared last month, the majority of our legislative priorities were included in the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, so this year, we are working toward the following:

With the Georgia Senate runoff results decided on December 6, 2022, the mid-term election officially comes to a close, and we can take stock of what it means for walking, bicycling, and Safe Routes to School in this upcoming Congress.  

Every quarter, we look at how state departments of transportation (DOTs) are getting Transportation Alternatives Program money out the door so that it can build biking and walking infrastructure and support Safe Routes to School programs. Here’s the scoop on what we track and why it matters for state and local bicycle, pedestrian, and Safe Routes to School advocates updated to account for changes to the program in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

November 2022 marks the first anniversary of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, and we are celebrating by unveiling our new Transportation Alternatives Program tracking tool!

As ever, the end of the federal fiscal year has been busy with hearings, budget debates, and states running competitions for federal funding. To keep you in the loop across a variety of topics, here are a few headlines related to Safe Routes to School, walking, and bicycling at the federal level.

By now, we hope you know that every state received a massive influx of funding to the Transportation Alternatives Program, the primary source of federal funding for walking, bicycling, and Safe Routes to School.

As 2022 chugs along, so does the rollout of new funding and programs created by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

USDOT is competing out $1 billion in funding to support communities to plan for and implement strategies that reduce traffic deaths and serious injuries, and it is an opportunity to elevate or re-invigorate Safe Routes to School in your community! With $1B in federal funds available to communities, Safe Routes to School practitioners can collaborate with community leaders to make sure Safe Routes to School is part of the solution to reduce traffic injuries and deaths.

The Federal Highway Administration released guidance on the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) (2/2/22) and the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) (3/30/22) and held a webinar on the Transportation Alternatives Program guidance (6/2/22).