|
National Policy and Advocacy
A key focus of the Safe Routes to School National Partnership is to serve as an advocate for Safe Routes to School and related issues with Congress and the federal government and to monitor federal and state implementation of the federal Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program. Because Safe Routes to School affects communities in so many ways, our legislative priorities include transportation, education, health, and the environment.
This section of the website includes the latest information and resources on the Partnership’s legislative priorities, calls to action for local supporters, and implementation updates. Please visit frequently to stay current and learn how you can get involved.
You can also explore the links on the left for more detailed information on legislative priorities, implementation, policy background, events, and a toolkit to help you engage Members of Congress.
Featured Items:
New Safe Routes to School Senate Bill Sets Stage for Next Federal Transportation Bill
On May 21, 2009, Senators Tom Harkin (D-IA), Richard Burr (R-NC) , Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Susan Collins (R-ME) joined together to introduce the Safe Routes to School Program Reauthorization Act (S. 1156). The new Safe Routes to School bill proposes to build on successes around the country and strengthen and expand the federal Safe Routes to School program. We need assistance from all Safe Routes to School supporters and advocates to ensure that this legislation is ultimately included in the next transportation bill which is up for reauthorization this year. Please follow the links below to learn more and take action.
• For Individuals: Take Action and Contact your Senators
• For Organizations: Write a Letter to your Senators (.doc)
• Current Senate Supporters
• List of Supporting Organizations
• Press release from the Safe Routes to School National Partnership
• Press release from the Senate bill sponsors
• Summary of the legislation
• Full text of the legislation
• Safe Routes to School National Partnership’s reauthorization recommendations
House Transportation Bill and Blumenauer Bill Support Safe Routes to School
On June 24, 2009, the House Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit unanimously approved its draft of the transportation bill, called the Surface Transportation Authorization Act. Chairman Oberstar included a number of provisions to strengthen Safe Routes to School. In addition, in November, Rep. Blumenauer introduced H.R. 4021 to expand Safe Routes to School to high schools. Neither the Surface Transportation Authorization Act nor the Blumenauer bill address funding levels at this point. Please contact your Representative to express support for Chairman Oberstar’s provisions and H.R. 4021. We provided sample text for you to use in your email here.
Latest News and Information:
SRTS Making Progress in the Senate
July 7, 2010
Senators Bennet (D-CO) and Specter (D-PA) have joined as cosponsors for S. 1156, the Safe Routes to School Program Reauthorization bill. We now have a total of 24 Senators publicly supporting strengthening and expanding the federal Safe Routes to School program. Having so many Senators supporting the legislation makes a strong statement to the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, which is currently working on a draft transportation bill, about the value of Safe Routes to School.
New federal funding sources announced
July 8, 2010
Two recent announcements provide potential funding opportunities for communities:
-
US DOT and HUD are collaborating for the next round of grants for DOT’s TIGER grants and HUD’s Sustainable Community Challenge grants. $75 million is available for planning that encompasses transportation, land use and housing.
-
HHS will be directing $74 million from the Prevention and Public Health Investment Fund, which was created by the health reform bill, to federal, state and community initiatives to address obesity prevention, nutrition, physical activity, HIV prevention and tobacco control. Another $16 million will be used for obesity prevention and fitness as part of the First Lady’s Let’s Move initiative. Details have not yet been announced about how to apply.
Safe Routes to School avoids a House vote to cut it—for now
June 16, 2010
In response to a threat of a potential floor vote to cut Safe Routes to School funding through Rep. Cantor’s (R-VA) YouCut initiative, advocates across the country contacted their Members of Congress to ask them to vote against any cuts to Safe Routes to School. More than 1150 people emailed their Members of Congress in a 24-hour period, plus many others called their Representative directly. Safe Routes to School will not be subject to a floor vote this week as one of the other YouCut options, selling off excess federal property, got the most votes. However, Rep. Cantor’s press secretary has indicated that bicycling and walking will likely be the subject of future YouCut votes, so we must remain vigilant. Thank you so much to all the organizations and individuals that responded to the threat and helped raise awareness of the importance of Safe Routes to School. Update: Safe Routes to School was included a second time on YouCut the week of June 28. Again, it did not receive the most votes and so was not subject to a floor vote to cut it.
Help respond to attack on federal Safe Routes to School funding
June 14, 2010
House Republican Whip Eric Cantor has targeted the federal Safe Routes to School program as wasteful government spending as part of his YouCut program. Rep. Cantor asks people to vote for which of five options they would cut from the federal budget. Republicans then hold a floor vote in the House of Representatives to try and eliminate the program that gets the most votes. This week, the federal Safe Routes to School program is one of Rep. Cantor’s targets. He argues that SRTS duplicates other bicycling and walking programs, and that bicycling and walking infrastructure is a local government responsibility. Please take 3 minutes to send a message to your Member of Congress to ask them to vote against any effort to cut Safe Routes to School.
Senate Committee working on draft transportation bill
June 8, 2010
There is movement again on the next transportation bill. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee has started working behind the scenes on drafting a new surface transportation bill. While the bill will likely not be written and released for review until later this summer, the Safe Routes to School National Partnership is continuing to talk with the committee staff about our requests to strengthen and expand the Safe Routes to School program. Over the next month, we will be working with our Senate champions to continue to express their support for Safe Routes to School.
Groups thank DOT, HHS and CDC for their leadership on bicycling and walking
June 8, 2010
Thanks to all the national, state and local partners that joined us on letters thanking our federal agency champions for their leadership on livable, sustainable communities:
Partnership supports Kerry-Lieberman climate bill; seeks additional funding
June 8, 2010
Senators Kerry and Lieberman continue to work with Senate leadership to determine a way forward for their climate bill, the American Power Act. Released in late April, the bill includes strong transportation planning provisions that would require states and large MPOs to write plans for reducing greenhouse gases from the transportation sector. It would also dedicate a maximum of $6.25 billion per year to transportation, divided roughly equally between three categories: Future rounds of the DOT TIGER multi-modal competitive grants; Funds to support the transportation emissions planning and resulting "green transportation" projects; and the highway trust fund, with a requirement that any funded projects reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
The Safe Routes to School National Partnership joined with America Bikes in a letter to Senators Kerry and Lieberman to praise the policy language on transportation, and the significant increase in funding dedicated to clean, green transportation. However, our coalition made the case that additional transportation funding is needed for investments in sustainable transportation options for Americans. We should know more in June or July about next steps for the American Power Act.
Give a “thumbs up” to the Partnership’s comments on the USDOT strategic plan
The US Department of Transportation is circulating a draft strategic plan for comment. The draft plan includes a number of provisions that would help improve bicycle and pedestrian safety and create more livable communities. The Safe Routes to School National Partnership has posted comments on the plan commending USDOT for their focus, while also making a number of recommendations for how the plan could be strengthened. Please take a few minutes to visit the website and show your support for Safe Routes to School by hitting the "thumbs up" next to our comments. You do have to create an account in order to register your support, which should only take a minute.
New “State of the States” shows state DOTs award nearly $50 million in new SRTS projects
May 13, 2010
Each quarter, the Safe Routes to School National Partnership issues a “state of the states” report to show how much progress states are making in using their Safe Routes to School funds. Our most recent report covers the first quarter of 2010. The report shows that states have awarded 74% of their available Safe Routes to School funds, meaning that the states have announced more than $466 million in projects for local communities. However, the average obligation rate is just 42%. Obligation means that the state has either spent Safe Routes to School funds or contracted to spend them – it’s a good measure of when the projects are close to being built or implemented. We encourage you to take a look and see how your state is doing compared with the national average.
Obesity Task Force highlights Safe Routes to School in Recommendations
May 11, 2010
The Interagency Childhood Obesity Task Force and First Lady Michelle Obama released a new report and action plan, Solving the Problem of Childhood Obesity within a Generation. The plan sets a goal of ending childhood obesity in a generation, and lays out 70 specific recommendations. The Partnership is pleased to report that Part C of the physical activity section of the report (page 78 of the pdf) focuses on the built environment. It includes an entire section discussing how SRTS programs and communities are working to increase levels of walking and bicycling to school throughout America.
CDC Issues Recommendations on Transportation Policy
May 3, 2010
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued Recommendations for Improving Health through Transportation Policy that demonstrates the impact transportation has on health. One of the recommendations is to provide states with tools to help them evaluate and expand investments in Safe Routes to School, Complete Streets, and bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure.
Senate climate bill negotiations break down
May 3, 2010
Finally, the climate bill recently had its momentum thrown to a halt. A bipartisan group of Senators—Senators Kerry (D-MA), Lieberman (I-CT), and Graham (R-SC)—had been negotiating compromise language on a climate and energy security bill. One of the bill’s reported provisions would have directed some climate funds to the transportation sector to help fill the funding shortfall that has been holding up the transportation bill. Shortly before the proposal outline was to be released last week, Senator Graham pulled out of the negotiations over concerns that Senate leadership would move an immigration reform bill before the climate bill. Senators Kerry and Lieberman did go ahead and send their draft proposal to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for review. The next month will be critical to see if Senator Graham and Senate leadership can resolve their differences and move forward with Senate consideration of a climate bill.
Secretary LaHood Participates in SRTS Event
April 23, 2010
U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Rep. Andre Carson (D-IN) participated in a walk to school event at St. Thomas Aquinas School in Indianapolis on April 23. The Partnership’s steering committee vice-chair Andy Clarke of the League of American Bicyclists also led a bike train for students. LaHood then accompanied Governor Mitch Daniels (R-IN) to a Safe Routes to School kick-off event at St. Joan of Arc School, also in Indianapolis. The Secretary blogged about his experience, and enthusiastically wrote about the benefits of Safe Routes to School.
Hubsmith Testifies on Bike/Ped Safety Before Senate Committee
April 14, 2010
Deb Hubsmith, Director of the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, testified before the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee on Safe Routes to School and bicycle and pedestrian safety on April 14, 2010. In her testimony, Hubsmith called attention to the grave disparities between the number of bicyclists and pedestrians killed each year in traffic crashes and the small proportion of funding that is used by states to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety. She highlighted Safe Routes to School, Complete Streets, increasing the use of safety funds for bicycle and pedestrian safety, and improving data collection as ways to address these disparities. Chairman Barbara Boxer (D-CA) and Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) asked Hubsmith questions on bicycle and pedestrian safety. The hearing can be viewed on the Senate EPW Committee’s website; Hubsmith’s testimony begins approximately 60 minutes into the video, and the questions follow at the end.
Partnership Participates in White House Childhood Obesity Summit
April 9, 2010
Earlier in the month, on April 9, Margo Pedroso, Deputy Director of the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, participated in the White House Childhood Obesity Summit. The built environment, land use planning, and Safe Routes to School were mentioned by several participants in the summit. Input from summit participants will be incorporated into a forthcoming childhood obesity action plan.
Secretary LaHood Leads the Way for Bicycling and Walking
April 1, 2010
Secretary Ray LaHood of the US Department of Transportation issued a new "Policy Statement on Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodation." The policy statement recommends that state DOTs and communities treat bicycling and walking as an equal transportation mode, incorporate bike/ped facilities into transportation projects, set mode share targets for bicycling and walking, collect data on bicycling and walking, and more. The Alliance for Bicycling and Walking and the League of American Bicyclists are leading efforts to counteract negative comments from Members of Congress on this policy, and helping advocates craft responses.
Transportation Extension Passes; Senate Focusing on Reauthorization
April 1, 2010
Since our last update, Congress has passed the long-term transportation extension through December 2010, -meaning that the federal Safe Routes to School program will be funded at the FY2009 level of $183 million throughout the remainder of FY2010 and the first quarter of FY2011. The Federal Highway Administration should be issuing the memo within a few weeks that gives states their exact apportionments for all transportation programs. Once the memo has been issued, the Partnership will be working with state and local advocates to ensure that state Departments of Transportation make plans to hold new SRTS grant cycles that will put the newly available funds to good use in schools and communities across the country.
Senator Boxer, chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, has also publicly stated that she wants to move forward on the full transportation reauthorization bill this year. The Committee has started holding more hearings, and staff is starting to work on drafting legislation. It is important that advocates continue to contact their Senators to ask for their support of S. 1156, the Safe Routes to School Program Reauthorization Act. Fortunately, we are now up to 22 Senators in support, with Senator Murray (D-WA) the latest addition. In the House, during the National Bike Summit bike advocates were successful in getting 16 new sponsors for H.R. 4021, the Safe Routes to High Schools Act, bringing the total supporters to 39 Representatives.
Health Care Overhaul Bill Includes Program that Could Benefit SRTS
April 1, 2010
During the month of March, Congress passed health care overhaul legislation. One of the provisions included in the bill creates "Community Transformation" grants. Funds will be awarded competitively to State and local government agencies or community-based organizations to implement policy, environmental, programmatic and infrastructure changes needed to promote healthy living and reduce health disparities. Several eligible activities focus on enhancing physical activity, including "creating the infrastructure to support active living." This could prove to be a potential future funding opportunity for Safe Routes to School programming, although it could be many months (if not a year) before grant applications are available. The Safe Routes to School National Partnership will monitor the creation of this new program.
Partnership Submits Comments Linking SRTS to Federal Childhood Obesity Efforts
March 23, 2010
First Lady Michelle Obama and the federal Task Force on Childhood Obesity are developing a national action plan on childhood obesity. The SRTS National Partnership submitted detailed comments on Safe Routes to School, active transportation networks, and Complete Streets. Nearly 100 SRTS supporters also submitted comments to the Task Force. We continue to work with our federal agency partners and the First Lady’s office to raise the profile of Safe Routes to School within this movement.
Long-term transportation extension on tap
March 8, 2010
A great deal of back-and-forth has been happening on the transportation and jobs bills since our last update. The last week of February, the Senate moved forward on its jobs bill, a much smaller and more focused bill. It includes a long-term extension for SAFETEA-LU until December 31, 2010 but does not include any new stimulus funding for surface transportation. Due to procedural hurdles, the House and Senate were not able to agree on the final jobs bill (including the transportation extension) before the end of February, so SAFETEA-LU actually expired for two days. Congress has since passed another short-term extension allowing SAFETEA-LU to continue through March. The House has also just passed a slightly tweaked version of the Senate jobs bill. At this point, the Senate must vote one final time on the jobs bill before it can be signed into law. Once that happens, SAFETEA-LU will be operating under the long-term extension. The federal Safe Routes to School program (and all other SAFETEA-LU programs) will be funded throughout the remainder of FY2010 and the first quarter of FY2011 at the FY2009 funding level.
It is also expected that within a few weeks, Congress will pass language that will allow Safe Routes to School and several other transportation programs to receive an allocation of additional “bonus formula funds” which could increase funding for Safe Routes to School by another 7 to 10 percent for FY2010. Finally, the Senate will likely move forward on other larger jobs bills in the coming weeks and months, and there is still talk that one of these bills will include additional funding for transportation, similar to last year’s stimulus funding.
Active Community Transportation Act Introduced
March 2, 2010
Rep. Blumenauer (D-OR) has introduced H.R. 4722, the Active Community Transportation Act (the ACT Act). The legislation would create a $2 billion competitive grant program to help communities build networks of bicycling and walking infrastructure. H.R. 4722 would allow communities to access multi-year, large grants to build complete bicycle and pedestrian facilities that connect homes to jobs, schools, recreation, and shops. The Safe Routes to School National Partnership has endorsed the ACT Act, as it presents an exciting opportunity to make bicycling and walking to schools, work and other destinations safer and more viable. To take action on this bill, please visit the Rails-to-Trails action alert page to take action!
SRTS highlighted at US DOT listening session
February 19, 2010
The US DOT sponsored a listening session for the reauthorization of the federal transportation bill in Los Angeles, California. During the plenary session, many questions were raised about the role of Safe Routes to School, bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, and health in US DOT and Congressional priorities. Secretary Ray LaHood emphasized the DOT’s focus on livability and told the crowd, “we get it!” In response to these questions Senator Boxer stated, “this is real, we’re working to create healthy sustainable communities.” Later in the day, Safe Routes to School National Partnership Director Deb Hubsmith spoke on a panel focused on transportation safety.
First Lady Michelle Obama focuses on childhood obesity
February 3, 2010
First Lady Michelle Obama has selected her signature policy focus, and it will be childhood obesity. In a January 20, 2010 speech to the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Mrs. Obama promised to unveil a “major initiative” in February to combat childhood obesity. While details have not yet been released, her speech at the event indicated it would include healthier school lunches, increasing physical activity, and greater access to healthy foods and nutrition education. The First Lady cited a number of examples from mayors around the country, including Mayor Dr. Robert Cluck of Arlington, TX who issued pedometers to children to encourage them to walk more, and Mayor Darwin Hindman of Columbia, MO for his community’s efforts to build more paths and bike trails connecting homes to schools and businesses. The Safe Routes to School National Partnership applauds the First Lady’s attention to childhood obesity and the need to get more children physically active.
Join Advocates from Across the Country at the National Bike Summit
February 3, 2010
The League of American Bicyclists is hosting their tenth annual National Bike Summit from March 9-11, 2010 in Washington DC. We will also be participating in a breakout session on March 10 at 2:30 p.m. entitled “Strengthening Safe Routes to School in the Next Transportation Bill.” Come and learn more about our reauthorization recommendations, the Congressional environment for the transportation bill, and data and facts you can use to “sell” Safe Routes to School to your Members of Congress. If you are a SRTS advocate attending the National Bike Summit, please contact Margo Pedroso so that we can help you make the most of your visit to the nation’s capitol, and provide you with state-specific SRTS fact sheets you can use in your Hill meetings.
Transportation bill in a holding pattern; jobs bill under discussion
February 3, 2010
Since Senate Democrats no longer hold a filibuster-proof 60-vote majority, bills that are controversial or require the outlay of significant new funding—like the transportation and climate bills—are more difficult to pass. Senate leaders have started negotiations on their jobs package. The Senate may work on several jobs bills, and it looks like funding for transportation (including Transportation Enhancements) will be included, but at a lower level than the House-passed jobs bill. It is possible that infrastructure funding could be held back for a future bill. In the meantime, the U.S. Department of Transportation continues to hold listening sessions around the country to discuss the future of the transportation bill. Network organizers in Louisiana and Minnesota attended the first two listening sessions to discuss the importance of the federal Safe Routes to School program for safety and livability.
New “State of the States” Shows Slowdown in SRTS Award and Obligation Rates
February 3, 2010
The Partnership strongly encourages state Departments of Transportation (DOT) to keep moving forward on awarding any remaining Safe Routes to School funds, and to get the funds obligated as quickly as possible. Our February 2010 quarterly update shows that both award and obligation rates slowed in the first quarter of FY2010. The Partnership will continue to work with our state networks and other advocates to emphasize the importance of getting these federal funds spent in local communities.
Partnership Encourages DOT’s RITA to Prioritize Research on SRTS
January 28, 2010
The US Department of Transportation’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) has requested public comment on the development of their 2010-2015 strategic planning initiative. The Safe Routes to School National Partnership submitted comments encouraging RITA to conduct research on a range of Safe Routes to School topics that will help spur additional investment in Safe Routes to School and get more children walking and bicycling to school.
Congress passes transportation extension
January 7, 2010
Before adjourning for the holidays, Congress passed an extension to the current SAFETEA-LU transportation bill, which allows transportation funds to continue to flow until February 28, 2010. All existing programs, including Safe Routes to School, will continue to be funded at their FY2009 levels through the end of February. The House also included a provision in other legislation (the jobs bill) to extend SAFETEA-LU until September 30, 2010—if the Senate concurs, action on the transportation bill would slip until late this year or next year.
House moves forward on jobs bill that includes transportation funding
January 7, 2010
In December, the House passed the "Jobs for Main Street Act," focused on creating and saving jobs. The House bill includes $75 billion for a variety of programs, including $27.5 billion for surface transportation and $8.4 billion for transit. The Senate will reconvene in mid-January and one of their first priorities is to work on its version of the jobs bill. While the final jobs bill may differ from the House’s "Jobs for Main Street Act," there are several provisions in the House bill of interest:
-
The surface transportation fund would be allocated similarly to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) economic stimulus that was passed in February 2009-including a minimum 3% set-aside for Transportation Enhancements, which amounts to $800 million. Many sidewalk, curb cut and bicycle infrastructure projects were funded under the ARRA bill, so this may be an opportunity for significant funding for Safe Routes to School projects.
-
States would also be required to put half of their funding under contract within 90 days of the bill’s passage, which is significantly faster than the ARRA provisions. This could potentially help smaller ready-to-go bicycle and pedestrian projects that would be able to move more quickly through the contracting process.
Read archived news and information
|
