Print page

Massachusetts

Massachusetts SRTS Program
Managed by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (DOT), Massachusetts’s federally funded Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program is the source for state coordinator contact details, federal SRTS funding amounts, SRTS applications and guidelines, and state SRTS program information.

Massachusetts DOT SRTS Coordinator
Ben Hammer
(617) 892-6089
ben.hammer@state.ma.us
http://www.commute.com/saferoutes

Click on any of the menu items below for more information.
Massachusetts SRTS Federal Funding
Application Guidelines
State Advisory Committee
State Outreach Programs
Evaluation
Massachusetts Partner Affiliates

Massachusetts SRTS Federal Funding
Massachusetts’s SRTS funding totals $11,772,343 and includes the following annual apportionments:

                                                                                                                                                        * after recission
Application Guidelines
The Massachusetts Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program promotes healthy alternatives for children and parents in their travel to and from school. The SRTS program aims to reduce congestion, air pollution, and traffic conflicts near participating schools, while increasing the health and mobility of school-aged children. Massachusetts Safe Routes to School, a program of MassRIDES, the Commonwealth’s travel options program, is a service of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and is supported by the Federal Highway Administration. Schools that collaborate with MassRIDES on education, encouragement, enforcement, and evaluation activities become eligible for infrastructure projects specifically targeted to enhancing safe access to schools.

To participate in the MA SRTS program, schools fill out a participation request form available on the MassRIDES website. MassRIDES staff then contacts school stakeholders to enroll the school as an official partner. In return for making a commitment to the program, a partner school receives direct services and resources to implement an SRTS program.

Since 2005, the Massachusetts SRTS program has expanded to working with over 250 elementary and middle schools in nearly 100 communities statewide, reaching more than 110,000 students. By enrolling as a partner in the Commonwealth’s SRTS program, schools receive a range of direct professional services to educate students, parents, and school and community officials about the benefits of walking and bicycling to school while addressing safety concerns. The Massachusetts SRTS program offers schools technical assistance for designing, implementing, marketing, and evaluating initiatives tailored to each school’s needs and priorities.

Partner schools qualify for infrastructure improvements to enhance safety along school routes. Schools participating in the MA SRTS program for one year are invited to request a no-cost assessment of walking and bicycling routes within one mile of the school. Selected schools represent diverse socio-economic communities, in urban/suburban/rural environments statewide; all committed to implementing ongoing SRTS initiatives.

As of September 2009, 35 schools participate in the MA SRTS infrastructure program. A team of school engineers, planners and bicycle/pedestrian experts will plan, design, and construct improvements following a school site assessment. Improvements may include:
• Sidewalk improvements
• Traffic calming and speed reduction improvements
• Traffic diversion projects near schools
• Pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements and secure bicycle parking

State Advisory Committee
The Massachusetts SRTS Task Force, formed in November 2006, provides guidance on the development of the Commonwealth’s SRTS initiatives. The Task Force includes state agencies (MassHighway, Departments of Public Health, Education, and Public Safety), members from the Federal Highway Administration, school stakeholders (MA Elementary School Principals’ Association, MA Teachers’ Association., MA PTA Association,), enforcement representatives, community leaders, and advocacy groups (WalkBoston and MassBike). Quarterly Task Force meetings provide an opportunity to share unique perspectives and insights from different fields and enable agencies to work together in a mutually beneficial way.

State Outreach Programs
MassRIDES school outreach coordinators work closely with partner schools to develop unique programming that reflects each school’s needs and priorities. Participating schools receive no-cost Safe Routes to School educational materials targeted to students, parents, and community leaders. Pedestrian and bicycle safety education programs are available to partner schools, as well as unique learning and networking opportunities. Net conferences provide schools with the opportunity to learn about SRTS related topics through internet presentations. The annual MA SRTS Forum provides school and community stakeholders the opportunity to share best practices and lessons learned from their SRTS activities.

The Massachusetts Safe Routes to School program proactively recruits schools from diverse socio-economic communities, in urban/suburban/rural environments statewide.

Evaluation
Massachusetts requires that schools conduct before and after student and parent tallies provided by the National Center for Safe Routes to School.

Massachusetts Partner Affiliates
Find out which organizations in your state have pledged their support for the Safe Routes to School movement. Massachusetts Partner Affiliates.