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Oregon
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Portland, Oregon, girl bike power | Oregon SRTS Program
Managed by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), Oregon’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.
Oregon DOT SRTS Coordinator
Julie Yip
(503) 986-4196
Julie.A.Yip@odot.state.or.us
http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/TS/saferoutes.shtml
Click on any of the menu items below for more information.
Oregon SRTS Federal Funding
Application Guidelines
State Advisory Committee
State Outreach Programs
Evaluation Methods
Success Story
Other Statewide and Regional Programs
Oregon Partner Affiliates
Legislation and Policies
Oregon SRTS Federal Funding
Oregon’s SRTS funding totals $6,706,773and includes the following annual apportionments:
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2005 Actual |
2006 Actual |
2007 Actual |
2008 Actual |
2009 Projected |
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$1,000,000 |
$990,000 |
$1,242,468 |
$1,543,621 |
$1,930,684 |
Application Guidelines
Oregon has separate applications for infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects.
Non-infrastructure applications for federal year 2009 funding were due to the Oregon SRTS program on July 31, 2008. $538,373 in non-infrastructure funds were applied for, with $439,603 awarded to six agencies. 17 schools will directly benefit from the awards. SRTS activities that were funded include SRTS Coordinator positions, bicycle and pedestrian safety classes and instructor training, bicycles, helmets, bicycle maintenance supplies, crossing guard equipment, promotional materials, and overtime speed/crosswalk/school zone enforcement.
In 2008, ODOT received requests for $302,343 in non-infrastructure funds and awarded $253,643 in non-infrastructure funds to 11 agencies, benefiting 29 schools statewide.
An approved Action Plan must be received for every school K-8 that is affected by the project proposal at the time of application. The plan initiates evaluation and community involvement activities that prepare the school to seek SRTS project funds through the state program, or to implement SRTS projects and activities with other funding sources.
The 2010 call for Infrastructure Applications was announced in March 2009, with a deadline of June 15, 2009. $2M is available for infrastructure projects. There is no minimum award and the maximum award is $500,000. Projects are anticipated to be awarded in December 2009.
The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) received requests for $2,213,960 in infrastructure funds for 2008, and were able to award $1,388,428 in funds to 8 projects that will benefit 20 schools. Projects that were funded include a bicycle and pedestrian path on school property, bicycle shelters, bicycle racks, skateboard racks, sidewalks, traffic-calming signs, pedestrian-activated crosswalk sign, pedestrian refugee islands, curb extensions, curb ramps and countdown signal heads.
State Advisory Committee
The Oregon State Advisory Committee meets monthly and reports to the Administrator of the Transportation Safety Division of the Oregon Department of Transportation. The committee will include voting members from the following groups:
Law enforcement
School district
Pedestrian-based advocacy group
Bicycle-based advocacy group
Local Traffic Safety Committee or Neighborhood Association
Public health/medical
Legislative
Traffic engineering
Department of Education pupil transportation
Marketing or community outreach
Concerned citizen or parent
Duties of the advisory committee are to:
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Advise and confer on matters pertaining to the adoption of administrative rules establishing criteria used in awarding SRTS grants;
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Provide technical assistance to SRTS program;
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Provide a communication channel between the SRTS Program and stakeholders;
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Serve as an advocate of Safe Routes to School;
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Serve as review committee for SRTS grants.
State Outreach Programs
A statewide encouragement program provides SRTS resources that encourage walking and bicycling safely to and from school. The resources may include printed materials, safety DVDs, and safety-related incentives.
A statewide transit poster campaign is scheduled for the 2nd year with an August-September and May-June schedule, with the theme of “I Brake for Kids”. Transit posters will be posted to buses in Portland, Salem, Eugene, Albany, Corvallis, and Medford.
To assist communities in creating school travel plans (Action Plans), the Oregon SRTS program is offering $1,000 in meeting assistance mini-grants to up to 30 Oregon communities. Besides reimbursing meeting expenses, printing and postage and materials costs, communities also receive help with facilitating SRTS school team meetings. To date, twelve Action Plan Assistance mini-grants have been granted, resulting in six completed Action Plans.
The program provides statewide support for Walk and Bike to School programs. In June 2008, a free Walk + Bike Training Workshop was provided along with an introduction to a SRTS Neighborhood Navigators curriculum that is being developed for grades k-8. The state program also partners with the Oregon Walk + Bike Committee, a coalition of stakeholders promoting Walk + Bike to School Day, to provide material support to Oregon schools participating in the October event.
Oregon’s SRTS Program will not have a statewide education program because the ODOT Bicycle/Pedestrian program is already providing a statewide program on bike safety education. However, training on SRTS funding opportunities is available on a statewide basis. Seven trainings were offered in statewide in April-May 2007, and training will be offered again in 2008.
Evaluation Methods
Applicants who are awarded ODOT project and program funding are required to submit baseline data and data after the project or activity is implemented. The required data is gathered using the National Center for Safe Routes to School Student Arrival and Departure Talley Sheet and Parent Survey.
Success Story
Corvallis School District: Growing a SRTS Program School by School
With the guidance of the School District SRTS Coordinator and the Corvallis SRTS Task Force, SRTS programs are growing within the school district. Hoover Elementary implements monthly Walk+Bike to School (WB2S) events, in partnership with city agencies and local businesses. The Hoover model is to be used district-wide. All students have the opportunity to participate, with students riding the bus being dropped off at Hoover’s buddy site (Northwest Community Church) where school staff are positioned along the route to school. At Franklin K-8 School, the SRTS program is coordinated by the eighth grade students and involve partnerships with local businesses. The Oregon SRTS curriculum, Neighborhood Navigators, will be taught in SRTS-funded schools in the 2009 school year and is scheduled to be taught district-wide 2009-2010. Aerial maps/ortho photos (36x36) of elementary schools and neighborhoods are created by the City of Corvallis as a tool for identifying routes and for walking school buses. The City hosted the "I Spy My House on the Map" interactive activity with more than 150 families participating. Local bike shop, Cyclotopia had students and families doing hands-on bike safety checks.
City of Corvallis, Oregon: City and School Collaboration
The City of Corvallis, Benton County, and the Corvallis 509J School District have been working together to address the growing issue of childhood obesity in part by encouraging children to walk and bike to school. One school in particular needed attention in order to get the ball rolling.
A local magnet school came to the city asking for direction on developing a safety patrol and getting three crosswalks marked where students needed to cross an arterial and deal with traffic issues created by a large retail outlet adjacent to the school. A meeting with the store manager and the high degree of engagement from the school principle and the parent volunteers made it possible for a significant number of students to walk to school safely. The increased number of walkers has helped ease parking and pickup/drop off challenges on campus.
Contact:
Patricia Parsons
Benton County Health Department
Patricia.D.Parsons@Co.Benton.OR.US
Other Statewide and Regional Programs
Oregon Walk + Bike to School: Encouraging Kids to Walk and Bike to School
This statewide, committee-led promotional program focuses on Walk + Bike to School Day by providing resources, trainings, and incentives to school communities and champions. In 2006, over 90 schools participated, including over 20,000 kids and parents who walked, biked, skateboarded, and scootered to school. Every school that registers receives a box of incentive items, including stickers, zipper pulls, posters, water bottles, t-shirts, and a helmet and backpack. The Walk + Bike to School committee sponsors trainings, and develops educational and promotional materials for school champions to use to help organize their events.
Bicycle Safety Education: Teaching Kids How to Be Safe on a Bike
Since 1998, more than 30,000 students have received the nationally-recognized, comprehensive, 10-hour in-class and on-the-street Bicycle Safety Education course. Sponsored by the Oregon Department of Transportation, grants, individual donations and even schools and parents, the program is managed by the Bicycle Transportation Alliance. In communities around the state, fleets of mountain bikes, helmets and a professional instructor travel from school to school every one-two weeks in the fall and spring. Kids receive four hours of instruction and then get to learn riding skills for six hours, culminating with a volunteer-led neighborhood fun ride.
Portland Safer Routes to School: Be Safe. Have Fun. Grow Healthy. Get There.
The Portland Safer Routes to School program will serve 25 schools with programs focused at the elementary level in 2007-08. The program is funded by the City of Portland through increased traffic fine revenue and general fund dollars. The Portland program brings leadership in transportation together in partnership with schools and community organizations to encourage students and families to get to and from school in ways that reduce traffic, increase safety, build strong bodies, clear minds, and result in a cleaner environment. The program is built around the "5 Es".
City of Eugene, Oregon: point2point Solutions
The point2point Solutions program offers free services to help students walk, bike, carpool, or ride a bus to/from school. Services include the Student Transit Pass Program for students in grades 6-12 enrolled in public and private schools; School Pool, a free carpool match service; and Walk and Bike to School Day promotion. The program serves families of K-12 students enrolled in public and private schools in the Eugene-Springfield area and nearby rural communities. These services improve student safety, help students be more active, reduce traffic around schools, decrease fuel consumption, and improve air quality.
City of Bend, Oregon: Community Partners Help Program to Grow
The Bend Safe Routes to School program is led by the City of Bend with an advisory group that includes Commute Options, Safe Kids, City Engineer, Public Works, the School District and others, and began by installing pedestrian crossings at schools and nearby intersections, including roundabouts. The program has grown to include bicycle safety education and promotion of Walk and Bike to School Day at elementary and middle schools around town.
Oregon Partner Affiliates
Find out which organizations in your state have pledged their support for the Safe Routes to School movement. Oregon Partner Affliliates
Legislation and Policies
Safe Routes to School – HB 2742 (2005)
The Oregon SRTS school program has the legislative support of Oregon House Bill 2742. The passage of this bill created The Safe Routes to School Fund and Program in anticipation of SAFETEA-LU. The state program is administered by the ODOT Transportation Safety Division (TSD), in consultation with the Oregon Transportation Safety Committee (OTSC).
School Siting – SB 962 (2007)
“City and county governing bodies shall work with school district personnel to identify barriers and hazards to children walking or bicycling to and from school. The cities, counties and districts may develop a plan for the funding of improvements designed to reduce barriers and hazards. The school districts shall work with cities and counties when making school siting decisions to ensure that the decisions place priority on factors that facilitate walking or bicycling to and from school by children.”
School Zone Speed Limits – HB 2840 (2005)
Oregon House Bill 2840 made sweeping changes to the state’s school speed zone laws to establish clear and fair standards for enforcement of school speed zones. Before the bill, speed limits in school zones were enforced 24 hours a day, seven day a week. The new speed limit law is enforced only when school zone lights are flashing or between the hours of 7 am to 5 pm during school days.
Safe Routes to School – HB 3712 (2001)
"City and county governing bodies shall work with school district personnel to identify barriers and hazards to children walking or cycling to and from school. The cities, counties and districts may develop a plan for the funding of improvements designed to reduce the barriers and hazards identified.”
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