Montana SRTS State Network
Montana is one of the twenty jurisdictions participating in the SRTS National Partnership State Network Project. The SRTS State Network Organizer works for their sponsoring organization, which is under contract with the SRTS National Partnership. 

Montana State Network Organizer 
Kathy Aragon 
Eat Right Montana 
(406) 698-2992
montana@saferoutespartnership.org 
www.eatrightmontana.org

Montana SRTS Program
Managed by the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT), Montana’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.

Montana SRTS Coordinator
Taylor Lonsdale, PE
(406) 994-7031
taylor.lonsdale@coe.montana.edu
http://www.mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/saferoutes

Click on any of the menu items below for more information.
Montana SRTS Federal Funding
Application Guidelines
State Advisory Committee
State Outreach Programs
Evaluation Methods
Success Stories and Best Practices
Montana Partner Affiliates
Legislation and Policies

Montana SRTS Federal Funding
Montana’s SRTS funding from FY2005-2009* totals $4,990,000 and includes the following annual apportionments:

* Funding for SRTS is being continued into FY2010 at FY2009 levels.

Application Guidelines
MDT’s application deadline is December 31st of each year. Award recipients are generally announced in May, with Funding becoming available on July 1st which is the start of the State Fiscal year. Montana is a minimum apportionment state. Montana allocates 30% of available project funding for non-infrastructure projects with 70% of the available funding being used for infrastructure projects. Infrastructure projects are administered through the Community Transportation Enhancement Program (CTEP). The ceiling for infrastructure projects is $250,000. Applicants can apply for SRTS funds with the option of having their application reviewed by CTEP for additional funding.

MDT manages the administrative costs and timeline generated by federal and state regulations through state law that requires that 12.25% be allowed for Indirect Cost Allocation. That number can slightly change year to year.

State Advisory Committee
Montana’s SRTS Advisory Committee consists of MDT employees with expertise in safety and bicycle and pedestrian issues as well as representatives from the Office of Public Instruction and Western Transportation Institute. The committee meets each January to select funding recipients.

State Outreach Programs
Montana’s SRTS program has held trainings in various locations around the state. Mark Fenton, a national walking advocate, has also provided three SRTS trainings. Additionally, Taylor Lonsdale, the State Coordinator with Western Transportation Institute is available to host public meetings and meet with individuals and groups to help communities develop a Safe Routes to School Program.

Evaluation Methods
MDT requires that project managers submit a quarterly progress report.

Success Stories
Shelby, MT - Making Efforts to Improve Walk-and-Bikeability - July 2009
Billings, MT - Go Play Campaign Promotes SRTS Efforts - July 2009
Ronan, MT - Promoting Physical Activity through SRTS - November 2009

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




Legislation and Policies
School Zone Safety - For the first time in the printing of Montana's driver manual, the new issue for 2008 added a section on "School Zone Safety Standards".  Kristine Thatcher, Bureau Chief of the Motor Vehicle Division agreed that Montana needed to address school safety for all new and old drivers operating in and around school areas in the state.  Mr. George Littlefield of Great Falls, has attempted to keep school safety issues in front of the general motoring public by gaining support from the 2005 State Legislature in doubling the traffic speed fines in school zones throughout Montana, effective October 1, 2005, and by making recommendations for school zone safety additions to the Montana State Drivers Manual a reality. In addition, Mr. Littlefield and Senator Mitch Tropila brought forward Senate Bill 88 to the 2009 Montana State Legislature, which added the “definition of a School Zone and a School Area,” to Montana Code and allowed for implementation of Montana Code Annotated 61-8-726 – violating speed limit in school zone--penalty doubled--disposition of fines.