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Ohio

Ohio SRTS Program
Managed by the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT), Ohio’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.

Ohio DOT SRTS Coordinator
Julie Walcoff
(614) 466-3049
Julie.Walcoff@dot.state.oh.us
http://www.dot.state.oh.us/SafeRoutes/Default.htm

Click on any of the menu items below for more information:
Ohio SRTS Federal Funding
Application Guidelines
State Advisory Committee
Evaluation Methods
Ohio Partner Affiliates

Ohio SRTS Federal Funding
Ohio’s SRTS funding totals $20,563,040 and includes the following annual apportionments:

Application Guidelines
In January 2008, ODOT awarded over $4 million in funding to 107 Ohio communities interested in creating and encouraging a Safe Route to School in their communities. Applications came from municipalities, school districts, hospitals, non-profit organizations, and health departments around the state. ODOT awarded $1.2 million to 87 communities for School Travel Plan development, and $2.6 million to 15 communities for infrastructure projects. These projects will improve safety by improving pedestrian crossing signals, completing sidewalks, building small pedestrian bridges and improving signage.

ODOT awarded $167,000 to 5 communities for non-infrastructure projects.

ODOT has learned many lessons from this first funding round and wants to continue to develop a fair, accessible program. ODOT plans to use suggestions they received from applicants and steering committee members to update the program policies and procedures in early 2008. When this process is complete, the next round of funding applications will be released.

ODOT launched its SRTS program in June 2006 and began the application process in 2007. Interested applicants initially submitted a letter of interest in January 2007. Due to an overwhelming response, Ohio has been reworking program parameters, specifically the engineering portion of the required School Travel Plan, to assure funds are distributed fairly. Applicants whose letters of interest met the program criteria received detailed applications in July 2007.

All applicants are required to submit a School Travel Plan that focuses on the 5E’s of SRTS. For more information, please see Ohio DOT SRTS.

State Advisory Committee
Ohio has formed a State Advisory Committee that includes representatives from: the Departments of Health and Public Safety, advocacy groups, education, the American Cancer Society, as well as ODOT personnel.

Evaluation Methods
Applicants are encouraged to submit evaluation data using the National Center for Safe Routes to School Student Arrival and Departure Talley Sheet and Parent Survey. ODOT requires awarded projects and STP’s to use the online evaluation tools.

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