Safe Routes to School

The federal Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program was first created in August 2005 through Section 1404 of SAFETEA-LU, and authorized at $612 million in funding over five years, through September 2009. Congress has extended the program at $183 million per year starting in FY2010 until a long-term transportation reauthorization is complete. State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) use these funds to help communities increase the safety and frequency of children walking and bicycling to and from school, and to help address traffic congestion, air quality issues, and childhood physical inactivity and obesity.

In 2011, Congress may take up the next surface transportation bill, which includes Safe Routes to School. This provides an opportunity for SRTS advocates to strengthen the program. The Safe Routes to School National Partnership worked in collaboration with our partners and SRTS supporters to develop a series of recommendations for the next transportation bill that will help SRTS continue to grow and succeed. We encourage SRTS supporters to review the following resources and consider helping build support for these recommendations by engaging your Members of Congress:

We are meeting with Members of Congress and their staff regularly to discuss these legislative recommendations. If you do contact one of your U.S. Senators or House Representatives about SRTS, please let us know. Just send an e-mail to Margo Pedroso, Policy Manager, at margo@saferoutespartnership.org. Thank you in advance for your advocacy! 

Featured Items:

A Win for Safe Routes to School, Bicycling and Walking in the Senate

March 2, 2012: We have just learned that the Cardin-Cochran amendment has been included in the base Senate transportation bill, MAP-21.  This amendment will ensure that local governments, school systems, and metropolitan planning organizations are able to access much-needed funds to make routes to school and routes throughout communities safe for bicycling and walking.  Read on for more details and next steps.

SRTSNP Challenges You to Engage Congress

August 15, 2011

Congress is battling over spending levels—and some say that we can’t afford Safe Routes to School. Advocates know the safety, health, and traffic benefits that come from Safe Routes to School. We challenge you to contact Congress, to get local supporters to contact Congress, and to invite Members to your Walk to School day and groundbreaking events. See our handy flyer for more information about how you can do your part to sustain Safe Routes to School funding.

Senate Legislation Aims to Sustain Safe Routes to School

April 12, 2011

Today, twelve Senators—led by Senators Harkin (D-IA), Sanders (D-VT), and Merkley (D-OR)—introduced legislation (S. 800) to sustain and strengthen the federal Safe Routes to School program. It’s a tough environment in Congress these days with so much attention on cutting spending—so this legislation helps send a strong message that the federal Safe Routes to School program should be preserved. Learn more about the legislation and contact your Senators to ask them to cosponsor the bill!

Latest News and Information:

Transportation Bill:  Fits and Starts; Action Still Needed

February 22, 2012
Check out our latest National Policy & Advocacy blog for updates on what's happening in the House and Senate on the transportation bill, what's on tap for next week, and how you can weigh in to save Safe Routes to School.

Double Your Impact—Act Now on Key Senate and House Transportation Votes

February 9, 2012
The current Senate transportation bill dilutes Safe Routes to School, walking and bicycling programs. It gives your state DOT the power to decide whether or not to make any funding available for these critical programs.  Ask your Senators to vote for the Cardin-Cochran amendment to guarantee local governments a voice in transportation decisions, allowing them to build sidewalks, crosswalks, and bikeways that keep people safe.  At the same time, ask your Representative to oppose the House transportation bill.

House Vote to Restore Safe Routes to School Narrowly Fails

February 3, 2012
Tens of thousands of advocates and hundreds of organizations deluged members of the Transportation Committee with calls and emails in support of bicycling and walking. The result?  A very close bipartisan vote, but unfortunately, not a winning vote.  Please read our thoughts about the vote and next steps--and about the quickly approaching Senate vote.

House Bill Eliminates Safe Routes to School—Act Now on Vote to Save It

January 31, 2012
Today the U.S. House of Representatives released its transportation bill, the American Energy and Infrastructure Jobs Act, and it is devastating for bicycling and walking.  It repeals the Safe Routes to School program, removes funding for Transportation Enhancements, and has a number of other negative provisions.  The House Transportation Committee will vote Thursday, February 2, on whether to approve this bill or amend it to include bicycling and walking programs.

Action on Transportation Bill Pushed Till Early Next Year

December 7, 2011
With time dwindling before the holiday break and a bundle of legislative disputes on funding, unemployment benefits and tax provisions still to resolve, further action on the transportation bill in the House and Senate will have to wait until next year. Early next year will be a critical time for transportation and the future of Safe Routes to School funding.

In the Senate, we continue to have conversations with supportive Senators about ways to address the challenges in the Senate transportation bill, and are preparing for a battle on the floor in February or March, in which we will need 60 votes to pass an amendment.

In the House, up until early December it looked like they would move forward with a five-year surface transportation bill, paid for by revenues from expanded drilling offshore and in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. However, Chairman Mica (R-FL) announced that there was not enough time left before the holidays to move forward, and that the bill was being pushed back to January or February. While we still do not know the specifics on the House bill, we are preparing for Safe Routes to School and bicycling and walking funding to simply be eligible for federal transportation dollars, without any dedicated funding. It is likely we will also need to pursue an amendment strategy in the House as well.

Senate Committee Moves Transportation Bill Forward

November 14, 2011
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee passed its proposal for the next Federal transportation program out of the Committee on November 9. The proposed legislation makes significant changes to the core funding programs for bicycling and walking activities. In addition to the joint statement we released with the America Bikes coalition in response to the draft, we have an additional update on what happened in the Committee. We continue to work closely with Committee staff and members to make specific improvements to the bill. Check back soon for an updated analysis of the bill. 

Senate transportation bill moving forward

November 8, 2011
Late on Friday, November 4, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee released their draft surface transportation bill. The bill is called “MAP-21: Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century.” We appreciate the continued inclusion of funding opportunities for bicycling and walking in MAP-21, but are concerned about a number of provisions in the draft legislation. Please see our joint statement with the America Bikes coalition for additional details.

We are working closely with the leadership and members of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee to make specific improvements in the bill. We are focused on restoring dedicated funding for Safe Routes to School, bicycling and walking and on removing the opt-out clause. As a bipartisan group of Senators have voted three times in the past two months to sustain bicycle and pedestrian funding, we are hopeful that these issues will be resolved. The Environment and Public Works Committee is considering the bill on Wednesday, November 9 and there will be amendments on the bicycling and walking provisions. We hope to be able to improve the language over the coming weeks before the legislation moves to the full Senate for consideration, and will post an update shortly with more details.

In addition, Speaker of the House Boehner recently announced that the House will be taking up their transportation bill in December. Look for more news soon about the House provisions.

As this process moves forward in both the Senate and the House, we will let you know when it is time to take action and ask your Senators and Representatives to support Safe Routes to School and bicycling and walking funding. By standing together, we will ensure continued support for Safe Routes to School and bicycle and pedestrian projects, which create jobs, increase physical activity, improve safety and benefit the environment.

New Safe Routes to School 2011 Policy report

October 12, 2011
We are pleased to release a new report, Safe Routes to School: Helping Communities Save Lives and Dollars, that demonstrates the long-term financial benefits of Safe Routes to School investments—critical in these challenging economic times. The report shares new data, dollar figures and facts about the wide-ranging benefits of the federal Safe Routes to School program, and illustrates them with potent local success stories. Benefits include:

  • Reducing school busing costs, alleviating the strain on school and local government budgets;
  • Decreasing short trips to school, easing traffic congestion, fuel expenditures and wear and tear on the roads;
  • Helping small rural towns and low-income communities access much-needed funds to improve safety; and
  • Lowering medical costs from traffic injuries and fatalities and manage obesity costs.

Also available is a new fact sheet with excerpts from the report you can download and use to help make the case for Safe Routes to School.

One battle on Transportation Enhancements won but more are likely

October 12, 2011
In September, efforts to cut Transportation Enhancements were pushed back, and the transportation bill was extended through March 2011. While this is good news, we are on notice that this will be an ongoing fight. House Speaker Boehner (R-OH) and Leader Cantor (R-VA) have called Transportation Enhancements a job-killing regulation. Sen. Paul (R-KY) has called for redirecting Transportation Enhancements funding to a fund to do emergency bridge repairs. While this may sound disheartening, the battle over Sen. Coburn’s attempt to strip Transportation Enhancements shows that these programs have strong advocates and defenders in Congress. Please know that the Safe Routes to School National Partnership continues to advocate for Safe Routes to School, Transportation Enhancements and Recreational Trails in the halls of Congress, is working with many other partners and will keep up the fight.

House leadership okays larger transportation bill

October 12, 2011
In one piece of hopeful news, Rep. Mica (R-FL), who chairs the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, announced that he has the go-ahead from House leadership to find additional funding. Chairman Mica had released an outline of a transportation bill that would have included funding cuts of approximately 35 percent. Now, Chairman Mica can work with House leaders to identify $75-95 billion, which would allow for a six-year transportation bill at current spending levels. Should additional revenue be found, this gives us an opportunity to renew our push for bicycling and walking programs including Safe Routes to School.

US DOT leadership participate in Walk to School Day

October 5, 2011
US Department of Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood and Federal Highway Administrator Victor Mendez walked to school with children from Anne Beers Elementary in Washington, DC. Secretary LaHood used the occasion to blog about his support for Safe Routes to School.

September is a critical month for transportation

September 7, 2011
Another transportation extension and the continuation of the federal gas tax will need to be passed this month for transportation spending to continue flowing past the September 30 expiration. In remarks in late August, President Obama called upon Congress to pass a “clean extension” (i.e. extending spending levels as-is, without policy changes) to the transportation bill so that transportation jobs can continue. The US Chamber of Commerce, the AFL-CIO and the US Conference of Mayors have all echoed the President’s call. The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) is expected to consider its extension on September 8. Senator Boxer (D-CA), who chairs EPW, has been tying the extension to jobs in every state. Rep. Mica (R-FL), who chairs the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, has indicated that he will support one more extension to the transportation bill. While it is positive that key leaders are moving towards an extension, Sen. Coburn (R-OK) has threatened that he will try to block the extension unless Transportation Enhancements is removed. Should Sen. Coburn carry out his threat, we could be facing a Senate vote on eliminating funding for bicycling and walking. We will keep you posted and will put out a call to action if this threat materializes.

In addition to wrangling over the extension, we are likely to see increased pressure to move forward on a longer-term transportation reauthorization. President Obama is addressing Congress on September 8 to discuss job creation; it is widely expected that he will include a push on infrastructure spending. A recent national study found that bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure projects crease more jobs per mission dollars spent than road repair and construction projects. The President’s speech could prompt the House or Senate to move forward on consideration of their full transportation bills yet this month as well.

With so many decisions being made this month, now is the time to make sure your Congressional delegations knows why Safe Routes to School is important to your community. Please make time to do your part and speak up for Safe Routes to School and invite your Members of Congress to your Walk to School day events!

Senate holds hearing, releases transportation outline

August 10, 2011
The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee released a short outline of its transportation bill, which is called Moving Ahead for the 21st Century (MAP-21). The Senate approach is for a two-year transportation bill, at current funding levels. While the outline does not mention bicycling and walking, at a July 21 hearing on the outline, Chairman Boxer (D-CA) indicated that Safe Routes to School, “bike paths” and “recreational trails” are included in MAP-21. This is promising news—but we need to see the details before we know that the integrity of Safe Routes to School is maintained, that these projects won’t be competing against expensive highway projects and that the funding level is sufficient.

Because the federal gas tax is no longer enough to fund current transportation spending levels, the proposed Senate bill would require an infusion of approximately $12 billion. Right before Congress left for the August recess, news reports indicated that Sen. Baucus (D-MT) has identified a funding source to fill the $12 billion gap. If reports are accurate, and the funding source is acceptable to Republicans, this could help jumpstart consideration of the Senate transportation bill in September. Because Congress will be spending much of the fall working on major spending cuts related to the debt limit deal, a transportation bill must move in early fall or risk getting caught up in the larger debt debate.

House presses for six-year bill

August 10, 2011
In the House, there was no further movement on the transportation bill subsequent to the early July unveiling of the 20-page summary of the House draft. Chairman Mica (R-FL) spent much of his time in July wrangling with the Senate over extending the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Much like the surface transportation bill, the FAA has been extended repeatedly over several years. Because Congress could not come to agreement on another extension, the FAA shut down for nearly two weeks before an emergency extension was passed. Rep. Mica has indicated he will play hardball with the surface transportation bill and extension as well. With the current surface transportation extension plus the bulk of the federal gas tax expiring on September 30, it does raise concerns about prospects for an extension. If Congress does not come to agreement either on a long-term transportation bill or another extension by September 30, it would shut down the flow of funds to state departments of transportation for a wide range of transportation programs, including Safe Routes to School.

Outline of House transportation draft unveiled

July 14, 2011
Last week, Chairman Mica (R-FL) of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee released a 20 page summary of his transportation bill at a press conference. While the summary is broad, between the summary and Chairman Mica’s remarks at the press conference, it is clear that it is not favorable to Safe Routes to School, bicycling and walking. According to the summary:

  • The overall six-year funding level for the bill would be $230 billion, which is approximately a 20 percent cut from SAFETEA-LU and a 34 percent cut from current funding levels.
  • There would no longer be dedicated funding for bicycling and walking. These projects would be eligible if states chose to fund them, but the outline indicates that this “flexibility will not be unchecked” by holding states accountable to performance measures. This will likely further discourage states from spending money on bicycle and pedestrian projects and programs.
  • The outline repeatedly highlights its focus on the highway system and projects of regional or national significance and indicates that approximately 70 surface transportation programs that are “duplicative or do not serve a federal purpose” would be eliminated or consolidated.
  • All in all, the overall effect is that dedicated federal funding for Safe Routes to School, Transportation Enhancements and Recreational Trails is eliminated in the House outline. We hope that Safe Routes to School retains specific eligibility, but it is possible that more general bicycling and walking activities will be what retain specific eligibility. Given the shrinking size of the overall funding and the lack of any funding requirements for Safe Routes to School, the likely result of the House outline is that state DOTs would spend very little (if anything) on bicycling and walking.

It is important to remember that there are many steps remaining in the legislative process, allowing us an opportunity to influence language. Please contact your Members of Congress to ask for their support of Safe Routes to School and bicycling and walking.

Sen. Inhofe prioritizes eliminating bike/ped funding

July 14, 2011
To offset the House proposal to eliminate key programs, it is critical that any Senate transportation draft maintain Safe Routes to School, Transportation Enhancements and Recreational Trails. Unfortunately, Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), the lead Republican negotiator on the transportation bill, declared that one of his TOP THREE priorities for the transportation bill is to eliminate “frivolous spending for bike trails”. This is in direct conflict with Senator Barbara Boxer’s (D-CA) commitment to maintain dedicated funding for bicycling and walking. However, because the Senate is working towards a bi-partisan solution, Senator Inhofe’s comments mean funding for bicycle and pedestrian programs is at risk of total elimination. Please contact your Senators to ask for their support of Safe Routes to School and bicycling and walking.

Key Lawmakers Acting to End Dedicated Funding for Bicycling and Walking!

July 11, 2011
House Transportation Chairman John Mica (R-FL) announced on July 7 that his transportation bill will eliminate dedicated funding for bicycling and walking, including Transportation Enhancements, Safe Routes to School and the Recreational Trails Program, and discourage states from choosing to spend their dollars on these activities that are “not in the federal interest.” In the Senate, Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), the lead Republican negotiator on the transportation bill, declared that one of his TOP THREE priorities for the transportation bill is to eliminate ‘frivolous spending for bike trails.’ Read on for more details and to take action today!

Signs of progress on the transportation bill, but no draft yet

June 15, 2011
Over the past month, there have been rumblings that a draft House or Senate transportation bill would be released very soon. At this point, it seems that the House bill will not be released until early July. A Senate bill could possibly come within the next week. While we are still in a holding pattern, there have been signs of movement in the past month:

  • In late May, the leadership of EPW released a joint press release announcing core principles for a transportation bill.
  • That same day, Sen. Boxer held a press conference on the transportation bill. In response to a question from the StreetsBlog Capitol Hill reporter, Sen. Boxer indicated there will be dedicated funding for bicycling and walking but that there is not yet an agreement among the EPW leaders on that issue.
  • The lead EPW Republican, Sen. Inhofe (R-OK), later told a local paper that he does not agree that bicycling and walking should be funded in the transportation bill.
  • We are working with other national organizations to ensure that other EPW Senators are asked by constituents to support bicycling and walking funding.
  • We have just added Sens. Casey (D-PA), Gillibrand (D-NY) and Lautenberg (D-NJ) as new cosponsors to S. 800, the Safe Routes to School bill. Now, all eight of the non-leadership Democrats on EPW are official supporters of Safe Routes to School, which ensures we have advocates for Safe Routes to School during transportation negotiations.

California constituents call on Boxer to protect bike/ped funding

June 14, 2011
In California, we called on people and organizations to ask Sen. Boxer (D-CA) to preserve the Safe Routes to School, Transportation Enhancements and Recreational Trails programs. As chair of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW), Sen. Boxer is absolutely key to protecting these programs. Californians responded in force - we estimate that Sen. Boxer heard from many thousands of constituents within a few days. Ninety California-based organizations also signed a letter to Senator Boxer supporting bicycling and walking funding.

Federal transportation bill coming soon?

May 18, 2011
Over the last month, there have been many rumors that House and Senate transportation bill drafts were imminent. It is now looking like it may be June before either Committee releases their transportation drafts. We are very concerned that the House bill in particular will be detrimental to bicycling and walking funding, given remarks made by House Transportation Committee Chairman John Mica to a local paper indicating that he may not dedicate funding for bicycling and walking. This makes any Senate transportation bill even more important. We have been working with a number of other transportation groups to ask Californians to encourage Senator Boxer, who chairs the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, to stand strong against any attempts to strip funding for bicycling and walking in transportation bills. Other national transportation policy news includes:

  • We have added Sens. Stabenow (D-MI) and Whitehouse (D-RI) to S.800, the Safe Routes to School bill. That brings us to 14 Senators in support. Please continue to contact your Senators to ask them to sign on!
  • Reps. Matsui (D-CA) and LaTourette (R-OH) introduced the Safe and Complete Streets Act (HR 1780) to require states and regions to adopt Complete Streets policies.
  • The US Conference of Mayors just released a poll of mayors about transportation. Notably, 75% of mayors say they would support an increase in the gas tax if more funding was directed to bicycling and walking.

Partners pitch in for Safe Routes to School

April 12, 2011
In this difficult legislative environment, we are focusing on preserving and strengthening the Safe Routes to School program. We are grateful to our partners and supporters for their help, including:

  • On April 12, hundreds of advocates for the American Heart Association blanketed Capitol Hill to ask Members of Congress to support legislation that helps kids and families be healthy. One of their asks was to support Safe Routes to School - we are grateful to AHA, which is a steering committee member, for their active support for Safe Routes to School.
  • John Burke, the CEO of Trek Bikes, testified before the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee on March 30, 2011. The Committee was seeking input on the next transportation bill. Mr. Burke made the case for how federal investments in bicycling and walking help spur economic benefits. He included a request to sustain the federal Safe Routes to School program.

Congress reaches FY11 spending deal; moves on to FY12 budget

April 11, 2011
The last several weeks have been difficult ones as Congress worked to finalize spending for the remainder of the fiscal year. At the last hour on Friday, April 8, the President and Congress reached a spending deal, averting a shutdown of the federal government. The House and Senate approved the legislation this week. With FY11 appropriations now complete, Congressman Paul Ryan (R-WI) has proposed a FY2012 budget outline that would significantly scale back spending. He calls for consolidating transportation programs and cutting transportation spending so that no gas tax increase is required. Similarly, Rep. Mica (R-FL), chair of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, has also indicated that the transportation bill will need to be no larger than what can be supported with the current gas tax, which means less funding that was in the 2005 SAFETEA-LU transportation bill.

Advocates influence the transportation bill in Washington and at home

March 17, 2011
Congress has extended the current SAFETEA-LU bill until September 30, 2011—meaning that all current programs, including Safe Routes to School, are funded through the remainder of the fiscal year. Leaders in the House and Senate have indicated that they are working hard to complete a new transportation bill before that extension runs out. Fortunately, advocates from around the country who support Safe Routes to School have stepped forward to share their views with Congress. We have been coordinating with the national groups through the America Bikes coalition on several initiatives:

  • In-district meetings: Our thanks go to Safe Routes to School advocates in two dozen districts who are tirelessly working to attend and schedule local meetings with their Members of Congress. These meeting coordinators are assembling diverse local teams—including parents, school officials, law enforcement, health practitioners and city officials—to speak about the local benefits of Safe Routes to School and Transportation Enhancements with respect to safety, economics and health.
  • Field hearings: Chairman Mica of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee scheduled a series of field hearings around the country on the surface transportation bill. The Safe Routes to School National Partnership was able to submit testimony for the Los Angeles field hearing. We are also grateful to many of our state partner affiliates that attended the hearings, spoke with Members of Congress, and submitted statements in support of Safe Routes to School and bicycling/walking.
  • National Bike Summit: More than 750 of people from around the country descended on Washington, DC at the perfect time to affect the transportation debate. These advocates collectively met with more than 400 Members of Congress and asked Members to support continued, dedicated funding for Safe Routes to School, Transportation Enhancements, and Recreational Trails. We are very thankful for the League of American Bicyclists’ leadership in organizing the summit and ensuring that Safe Routes to School was a key part of the ask for advocates.

National Partnership submits Congressional testimony on SRTS

February 20, 2011
The House Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee are holding a joint hearing on February 23, 2011 in Los Angeles, CA. The Safe Routes to School National Partnership has submitted testimony for the record on the benefits of Safe Routes to School, and encouraging the Committees to sustain dedicated funding for Safe Routes to School in the next transportation bill.

Spending battle in the House

February 16, 2011
The House is moving forward this week to settle funding levels for the current fiscal year (through September 30, 2011) and to extend the current transportation bill:

  • Transportation extension: The current SAFETEA-LU transportation bill extension expires March 4, 2011. The U.S. House of Representatives is currently considering legislation that would extend all transportation programs until September 30, 2011. We will keep everyone posted on the progress.
  • Appropriations: This week, the U.S. House of Representatives is considering legislation (called a continuing resolution or CR) governing federal spending for the rest of FY2011. The legislation cuts spending $60 billion below FY2010 levels. Fortunately, Safe Routes to School and bicycling/walking programs were not subject to cuts either in the CR or in any of the 500+ amendments up for consideration. After this week, the CR moves to the Senate, but it is expected to be difficult for the House and Senate to agree on spending cuts—so we may see continuing battles over spending levels.

President’s budget includes transportation proposal

February 16, 2011
This week, the President released his proposed FY2012 budget, including the Administration’s proposal for a new surface transportation bill. The proposal calls for an investment of $556 billion in transportation—nearly double the SAFETEA-LU funding level—and a consolidation of 55 transportation programs into five programs. The Safe Routes to School program and four other programs are combined into a proposed new livability grant program totaling $4.1 billion in FY2012. We are working with the Administration on the details of their proposal to make sure SRTS is well-represented. Should this proposal become law, it makes SRTS projects eligible for a much larger pot of funding, but state and local advocates would need to work together to ensure that SRTS projects are prioritized by state DOTs in spending livability funding. This proposal will be the subject of much debate in Congress; the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee are expected to release their draft transportation bills this spring.

House to hold transportation hearings and listening sessions

February 15, 2011
Chairman Mica (R-FL) of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee will be holding a series of listening sessions around the country from February 14-25. Locations have been released, but the formats will vary. Some will be invitation-only, while some will be hearings open to the public.

New transportation poll released

February 14, 2011
The Rockefeller Foundation has released the results of a bipartisan poll on transportation of American voters. Two out of three respondents said investing in infrastructure is very important. And, one of the top goal of voters—with 57% of respondents—was “safer streets for our communities and children.” This shows that the goals of the Safe Routes to School program resonate with voters.

National Partnership mobilizing to head off potential threats to Safe Routes to School

January 19, 2011
Last week, the new Congress convened, switching control of the House to Republicans. House leaders have indicated they will be focusing heavily on cutting back federal spending. Given Rep. Cantor’s attempt last summer to cut Safe Routes to School funding, there is a real threat that the House could try to eliminate Safe Routes to School funding or Transportation Enhancements through either the appropriations process or the next transportation bill.

The Safe Routes to School National Partnership takes these potential threats seriously and we are mobilizing to prevent them. We are revamping our messaging to show how cuts to Safe Routes to School will impact children’s safety, busing costs, traffic congestion and physical activity. We are partnering with America Bikes’ organizations to hold more than 170 in-district meetings to discuss the benefits of bicycling and walking and to ask for support of Safe Routes to School and Transportation Enhancements. And, we are continuing to meet with Members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to determine the best legislative strategy. It is important to keep in mind that any cuts the House proposes must also be agreed upon by the Senate and Administration, which have demonstrated support for Safe Routes to School in the past.

We have a strong fight ahead, but we have good allies in Congress and in the field, and a solid foundation of support to build upon. However - our most important ally in this Congress is you. Safe Routes to School advocates must be prepared to get involved and contact Congress as threats arise. We will certainly need your help in the coming months. So, please keep an eye on your email for any calls to action - and when they come, respond quickly and encourage other friends and supporters to respond too. With your help, this is a fight we can win.

Transportation bill extended; new House rules could impact spending

January 15, 2011
In late December, Congress passed an extension to the surface transportation bill until March 4, 2011, likely meaning the transportation bill will have to be extended again. Starting with this extension, the federal Safe Routes to School program will get a small funding bump as it will be included in the distributions of funds that were originally dedicated to now-completed high-priority projects (i.e. earmarked projects). In addition, in January, the House passed new operating rules that now allow transportation spending to be cut through the annual appropriations process. In the past, appropriators (who set spending levels) were not allowed to reduce spending below the levels provided in the surface transportation bill. This rules change indicates that transportation spending could be subject to cuts, particularly when spending exceeds the funds generated through the federal gas tax.

Summing up the past two years and looking ahead

December 14, 2010
Safe Routes to School gained a lot of supporters and momentum in the past two years.

All pieces of legislation must be re-introduced in the new Congress. We will be working hard in the 112th Congress to ensure strong support for Safe Routes to School with the goal of accomplishing our legislative recommendations.

Sign up for meetings with Members of Congress to support Safe Routes to School

December 13, 2010
Do you want to help protect and sustain Safe Routes to School funding? If so, please sign up to participate in a meeting with a Member of Congress in your home district. Just fill out some basic information at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/NX6T8MW so we know how to contact you and which Congressional district you live in. This is your opportunity to make sure your U.S. Representative knows why Safe Routes to School is important. Read more

Congress wraps up and plans for next year

December 8, 2010
During November and December, Congressional leaders have been working to finish remaining business for this year and to lock in the leaders for next year’s session. It looks likely that before adjourning, Congress will take up a six-month extension to the surface transportation bill, which would allow Congress time to work on a new authorization bill.

While final decisions have not yet been made on Committee leaders, it is expected that Rep. Mica (R-FL) and Rep. Rahall (D-WV) will be tapped as the Chair and Ranking member, respectively, for the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee. A lead transportation staffer for likely Chair Rep. Mica has already started floating initial ideas for the next transportation bill and has indicated that gas tax increases are off the table, which will require significant cuts in highway and transit programs. Approximately $7-8 billion would need to be cut from highway spending, and according to the staffer, programs that require states to fund bicycle and pedestrian improvements could be on the chopping block. Remember that whatever votes take place, efforts to cut programs would need to get through both the Senate and the Administration.

Meanwhile, we are continuing to meet with Congressional supporters to gather information, discuss strategies and solidify champions to protect and strengthen Safe Routes to School. Advocates should be prepared to help defend programs like Safe Routes to School in the next Congress. We will be alerting you as to when and how your help is needed.

National Partnership joins Equity Caucus to alleviate transportation disparities

December 8, 2010
PolicyLink and Transportation for America have joined together to launch a new Equity Caucus. The purpose of the caucus is to call attention to the millions of low-income people that live in communities where quality transportation options are unaffordable, unreliable or nonexistent. The Equity Caucus is dedicated to advancing transportation policy that provides economic and social equity. The Safe Routes to School National Partnership joined the Equity Caucus because we share their commitment to the principles that all people deserve access to affordable transportation that promotes healthy, safe and inclusive communities.

Election results are in; impact on transportation bill uncertain

November 10, 2010
Last week’s elections are resulting in many changes in Congress, with Republicans taking control of the House and the Democrats retaining control of the Senate, although with smaller margins. Key changes include:

  • Long-time Safe Routes to School champion Congressman James Oberstar (D-MN), Chairman of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, lost his House seat in a close re-election.
  • There will be new leadership at the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee. It is expected that the Chairmanship will go to Rep. Mica (R-FL) and that the top Democratic “Ranking Member” slot will go to Rep. Rahall (D-WV). Rep. Mica has already indicated he will work hard to pass a robust, long-term transportation bill.
  • It is expected that Chairman Boxer (D-CA) and Ranking Member Inhofe (R-OK) will retain their leadership of the Committee on Environment and Public Works.

Specific to Safe Routes to School, it is even more important to convey the economic, safety and health benefits of Safe Routes to School and the positive results it is having throughout Congressional districts in all 50 states. Fortunately, Safe Routes to School does have bipartisan support, and several House Republicans attended Safe Routes to School events in their districts this fall. It is helpful to remember that the Safe Routes to School program was originally created and funded in 2005 when Republicans were in the majority in both the House and Senate, and had the Presidency. Overall, it is important that Safe Routes to School supporters keep producing results and sharing local successes with their Members of Congress. We will continue to keep you informed and provide further direction as the outlook for federal transportation policy becomes clearer.

State networks host policy maker educational visits

November 10, 2010
In September and October, our State Network Project organizers planned and participated in walk and bike to school promotional events. These celebrations were coordinated by local teams and were attended by thousands of kids and parents, school staff, local and state elected officials, network partners and most notably, Congressional members and US DOT Secretary Ray LaHood. Examples of the events include:

  • Congressman John Mica (R-FL) remarked upon the safety benefits of Safe Routes to School at an event at Westside Elementary School in Daytona Beach, FL.
  • Lt. Governor Daniel Mongiardo recognized the participation of Kentucky schools in International Walk to School Day and the link between physical activity and health.
  • US Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood walked with students at East Silver Spring Elementary School in Maryland, reaffirming his support for Safe Routes to School.
  • Congressman John Duncan (R-TN) walked with families to Beaumont Elementary School in Knoxville, TN and indicated he was pleased to see Safe Routes to School in action.
  • Congressman Tom Petri (R-WI) spoke to the press about the health benefits of Safe Routes to School at an event at Omro Middle School in Omro, WI.

Send a heartfelt thanks to Congressman Oberstar

November 3, 2010
As you have probably heard, Congressman James L. Oberstar (D-MN) lost his House seat in a close electoral race. Rep. Oberstar authored the original Safe Routes to school legislation that created the national program in all 50 states and, as Chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, had proposed strengthening Safe Routes to School in the next transportation bill. The National Partnership sent a letter of thanks to Congressman Oberstar. We encourage Safe Routes to School supporters across the country to take a few moments to send an e-mail or letter to Congressman Oberstar at jim.oberstar@mail.house.gov to thank him for his legacy of creating the Safe Routes to School program.

Read archived news and information