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South Carolina

South Carolina SRTS Program
Managed by the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT), South Carolina’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.

South Carolina DOT SRTS Coordinator
Patti Dalis Sistrunk
(803) 737-4073
SistrunkPD@scdot.org
http://www.scdot.org/community/saferoutes.shtml     

Click on any of the menu items below for more information:
South Carolina SRTS Federal Funding
Application Guidelines
State Advisory Committee
State Outreach Programs
Evaluation Methods
Other Statewide and Regional Programs
South Carolina Partner Affiliates
Legislation and Policies 

South Carolina SRTS Federal Funding
South Carolina’s SRTS funding totals $8,155,711 and includes the following annual apportionments:

Application Guidelines
South Carolina’s first round of applications were due June 29 and awards have been announced. Planning workshops for funded schools will be held in the fall and the implementation of comprehensive plans will begin winter 2008.  Application guidelines have been released for the second round of federal SRTS funding.  The deadline for applications is June 13, 2008.

There is one application for both infrastructure and non-infrastructure funds. The application tries to determine the need for a SRTS program by having applicants provide information about current situations or barriers, instead of a specific plan or project. South Carolina does not fund specific projects but instead provides selected schools $200,000 to work with. Once selected, schools hold a modified version of the SRTS National Course (sponsored and conducted by the South Carolina Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity and funded by a grant from Blue Cross Blue Shield) to help in the planning process and to organize their SRTS committee. SC DOT aids and guides schools as they determine the best uses of limited funding for implementing project that address all five E’s and work to develop a comprehensive SRTS plan.

Infrastructure projects must begin six months after notice to proceed and must be completed within two years. For more information, please see the South Carolina SRTS program.  

State Advisory Committee
South Carolina has an internal steering committee that includes SC DOT representatives from the safety office, preconstruction offices, planning and environment, bike and pedestrian accommodations, traffic engineering, administration, along with an advisory council from FHWA. The committee typically meets once a month.

State Outreach Programs
South Carolina’s SRTS program is unique in the comprehensive and proactive partnership they have developed with the South Carolina Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity (SCCPPA). With funding from Blue Cross Blue Shield, SCCPPA sponsors and conducts “SRTS Trainers” and an innovative workshop series.

The Trainers represent public health, education, and planning stakeholders and conduct modified versions of the SRTS National Course. The training is a two-tiered process that helps applicants get a real understanding of the SRTS program and the barriers schools face. There is a preliminary workshop that educates the public about the SRTS program and prepares them for the application process. After grant awards are made, a second series of workshops are conducted to help selected schools plan the best use of the SRTS funds that are awarded. At that time, comprehensive SRTS plans are developed for the selected schools with the guidance of SRTS Trainers, the local SRTS Committee, and SC DOT. 

Evaluation Methods
Selected schools 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.

Other Statewide and Regional Programs
South Carolina Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity 
As a partner of SC DOT, the South Carolina Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity (SCCPPA) sponsors and conducts statewide SRTS trainers and SRTS workshops. SCCPA also partners with SC DOT for a statewide promotion of Walk to School Day. For more information, please contact Amy Splittgerber.

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



Legislation and Policies

The South Carolina “Safe Routes to School Act” (A307, R28, H4740)
The South Carolina Safe Routes to School Act amends the code of laws of South Carolina, 1976, by adding section 59-17-150 so as to provide that municipal and county governing bodies shall work with school districts located in their jurisdictions to identify barriers and hazards to children walking or bicycling to and from school, to provide that the municipalities, counties, and districts may develop a plan for the funding of improvements designed to reduce the barriers and hazards identified, to provide that any school district may form a coordinating committee and any school may form a Safe Routes to School team to perform specific functions in regard to safe pedestrian and bicycle routes to school, and to provide that the first Wednesday of October each year is designated as “walk or bicycle with your child to school day” in each school district of this state.

School Siting
South Carolina revoked acreage laws that prevented new schools from being built within populated areas. SC DOT does have traffic engineers who provide recommendations for new schools and schools being improved or expanded.