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Safe Routes to School Implementation
It is very important to ensure that the federal Safe Routes to School program is implemented in such a way that high-quality projects are supported, and that funds are available to local communities as expeditiously as possible, without sacrificing quality. State Departments of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration must be able to demonstrate how funds are being used, and the impact of those funds on how children get to school plus larger benefits like safety, health, traffic congestion, and air quality.
Every five or six years, Congress will revisit the Safe Routes to School program as part of larger transportation legislation. If the program cannot demonstrate that it is an effective use of federal dollars and one that is in demand at the local level, Congress may choose to use federal funds for other purposes.
To help protect the Safe Routes to School program and funding stream, the Safe Routes to School National Partnership plays a “watchdog” role at the federal and state levels.
• At the federal level, we assess overall implementation, identify areas that need improvement, and advocate for strong evaluation. Frequently, we work with the Federal Highway Administration and the National Center for Safe Routes to School to carry out recommendations in these areas.
• At the state level, we monitor each state Department of Transportation’s progress in implementing their state’s Safe Routes to School program, including whether they have a state coordinator in place and the rate of awarding and obligating funds. From time to time, we also identify best practices for state implementation of Safe Routes to School, and share them with the State SRTS Coordinators.
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