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New York
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Buffalo, New York’s Walk to School Day |
New York SRTS Program
Managed by the New York Department of Transportation (NYSDOT), New York’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.
New York DOT SRTS Coordinator
Dwight Cunningham
(518) 485-9959
dcunningham@dot.state.ny.us
https://www.nysdot.gov/portal/page/portal/divisions/operating/opdm/local-programs-bureau/srts
Click on any of the menu items below for more information.
SRTS Federal Funding
Application Guidelines
State Advisory Committee
Evaluation Methods
Success Stories
Other Statewide and Regional Programs
New York Partner Affiliates
Legislation and Policies
New York SRTS Federal Funding
New York’s SRTS funding totals $31,641,547 and includes the following annual apportionments:
| 2005 Actual |
2006 Actual |
2007 Actual |
2008 Actual |
2009 Actual |
| $1,000,000 |
$5,114,558 |
$6,894,554 |
$8,280,423 |
$10,322,012 |
Application Guidelines
The NYSDOT SRTS program had a deadline for applications on April 1, 2008. On September 8th 2008, New York State Department of Transportation announced they had awarded $27 million in grants for 70 projects across the state impacting over 181 schools to help students walk and bicycle safely. Meeting federal guidelines, 90% was allocated for infrastructure work and 10% for non-infrastructure.
Governor David A. Paterson stated, “Walking and bicycling are healthy, energy-efficient ways for kids to get to school, and these federally funded grant for infrastructure improvements and education will help children to enjoy healthy school days now and to form active habits that will last a lifetime.”
Under New York State’s SRTS program, the maximum project cost for non-infrastructure projects is $150,000 and for infrastructure projects $400,000. Maximum combined project cost is $550,000.
State Advisory Committee
New York does not have a State Advisory Committee.
Evaluation Methods
Project evaluations are required.
Success Stories
Bronx, New York: Improving Safety through Traffic Calming
A traffic calming and pedestrian safety engineering program began in 1997, with support from the office of the Bronx Borough President and the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee. The program collected surveys on traffic hazards and worked with NYC DOT to change signage and signal timing. Traffic calming plans have been completed for 38 schools with partial installations at all. NYC DOT took over program in October 2001, expanding it citywide, via RBA Group and Urbitran consultants ($2.5 million contract).
Other Statewide and Regional Programs
New York City DOT's SRTS Program
DOT introduced the Safe Routes to School initiative to focus safety improvements at city schools with the highest accident rates. DOT examined accident histories around the city’s 1,471 elementary and middle schools and established an initial list of 135 priority schools to be considered for traffic safety improvements. Of the 135 schools, 25 were in the Bronx, 46 in Brooklyn, 23 in Manhattan, 33 in Queens and 8 in Staten Island. Each priority school underwent thorough study that included outreach to each principal, meetings with parents and other interested parties, collection and analysis of data concerning traffic conditions and student travel patterns and development, evaluation and approval of comprehensive short-and long-term pedestrian safety improvement measures. To see all the schools they are helping, detailed traffic studies, and more, click here.
New York State Partnership Programs
The New York Network for the Safe Routes to School National Partnership would like to encourage your school to participate in activities that advance our health, safety and environment this year. The annual Poster Art Contest, Writing Contest and Walking School Bus are great ways to get involved.
These programs are funded a grant from the New York State Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Walk to School Day - October 7, 2009
Join kids, families and communities this October walking and bicycling to School. Register your school’s event at www.walktoschool-usa.org and you will receive retro-reflective zipper pulls for every participating student.
Schools that register their walk to school event at www.walktoschool.org will receive prizes for every participating student.
Download the Walk to School Brochure here.
Writing and Poster Contests
Consider in your event planning to participate in the annual writing contest, “Why the principal should walk to school with me” and poster contest, "Walking to School Safely"– these are great ways to get involved! These contests are both fun, project-based learning encouragement/educational programs for schools to try. All winners receive a certificate of achievement and receive a prize package for their entire class.
Download the Poster Art Contest Brochure here.
Download the Writing Contest Brochure here.
Statewide Webinars
Teaching Cycling Skills to Young Cyclists in New York State
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Rich Conroy, the Director of Bike New York discussed how bicycle education fits into New York State’s Core Curriculum Standards for Physical Education and provided strategies and models for delivery. If you missed the webinar you can view the presentation here.
The Walking School Bus: Lessons in New York State
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Denise Cashmere, the Schenectady County Traffic Safety Coordinator talked to her challenges and successes working with a school and community to create a model program in Niskayuna, NY. If you missed the webinar you can view the presentation here
New York State Safety Statistics (updated May 2009 – www.Safeny.com)
Walking and cycling to a neighborhood school was the norm for children a generation ago. Today, the Federal Highway Administration has identified that 25% of all trips made in the United States are within one mile and that 75% of these are made by automobile. Safety issues are a big concern for parents who consistently site traffic danger as a reason why they will not let their children walk or cycle to school (CDC, 2005). These fears do not come unwarranted in New York State and have an impact not only on the safety of youth but across the lifespan as more people utilize an automobile for their most basic of trips.
Our driving behaviors have a detrimental effect upon our roadways most vulnerable users. As an example, according to the New York State Department of Health’s Bureau of Injury Prevention, the leading cause of injury hospitalization and death among 5-9 year olds in New York State is being struck, as pedestrians, by motor vehicles. In addition, children ages 5-19 are most at risk for being hospitalized for a bicycle-related injury.
In 2007 pedestrians and bicyclists represented 6.6% of the total accidents that occurred with motor vehicles, a percentage which has dropped from 2005 when it reached 9.5%. However, these two modes disproportionally represent 1 out of every 4 persons killed in an accident in 2007, which is a rate that has remained consistent since 2005.
Specifically, in 2007 pedestrians represented 20.6% of the total fatalities and 8% of the total injuries remaining consistent from 2005 when it was 23.2% and 7.5% respectively. For bicyclists the 2007 accident data for cyclists shows that this category represented 4% of the total fatalities and 3% of the total injuries up from the 2005 level of 3.3% of the total fatalities and 2.8% of the total injuries. The injuries sustained in these types of crashes often require extensive medical treatment and/or lengthy rehabilitation. For older pedestrians injured, treatment and rehabilitation may be even more protracted, resulting in increased costs for the state.
What is most alarming about these statistics is that children up to 17 years old represented 23% (2007) of the total persons killed and injured for both pedestrians and bicyclists, slightly lower from 2006 which was 24%.
In the meantime, overweight and obesity has become one of the most critical public health threats for New Yorkers. The link between unsafe auto-dependent environments and our lack of opportunities to engage in physical activity has been established. In New York State one in four children are considered overweight, and as a result, for the first time in history, children are predicted to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents.
New York Partner Affiliates
Find out which organizations in your state have pledged their support for the Safe Routes to School movement.
New York State Legislature to Consider "Complete Streets"
The New York Bicycling Coalition (NYBC) a member of the New York State Network of the Safe Routes to School National Partnership proudly announces a giant step forward for bicyclists and pedestrians in New York State. As of June 1st, both houses of the Legislature introduced Complete Streets bills for consideration, facilitating efforts to make New York’s roadways safer for drivers, transit users, pedestrians, bicyclists, older individuals, children, and people with disabilities. NYBC was a principal proponent of this legislation.
Assembly Bill A8587, introduced by co-sponsors David F. Gantt (A-133rd Dist), and Jeffrey Dinowitz (A-81st Dist), and Senate Bill S5711, introduced by co-sponsors Martin Malavé Dilan (S-17th Dist) and Ruben Diaz (S-32nd Dist) would, if adopted, enable safe access to public roads for all users by requiring that transportation improvement plans consider the safety, access and mobility needs of all travelers, regardless of age or ability.
A ‘Complete Streets’ policy means sidewalks, crosswalks, curb cuts, bus shelters, bike lanes and many other features shall be routinely weighed on all street projects, and incorporated where warranted. This improves comfort and safety for all roadway users, whether young or old, motorist or bicyclist, walker or wheelchair user, bus rider, or shop keeper. In addition, in highly populated areas, ‘Complete Streets’ can provide a sense of place and improve adjacent property values."
NYBC has been a longtime proponent of a "Complete Streets" policy for New York State. In 2008, the American Association of Retired People (AARP), Green Options Buffalo, Transportation Alternatives, and a number of other statewide and local organizations joined with NYBC to advance the Complete Streets initiative. Safety issues are a principal concern for New York residents, and traffic danger is consistently cited as a major reason why individuals will not walk or bicycle to school, work, or other destinations. Complete Streets polices are expected to bring improved safety, enhanced opportunities for physical activity, reduced carbon emissions, enhanced economic vitality and overall better quality of life. In New York State, 40% of all residents don’t possess a driver’s license and over 25% of all households don’t own a motor vehicle, further underscoring the need for this legislation.
To learn more and to get involved please visit the New York Bicycling Coalition’s website: http://www.nybc.net/completestreets/
“The Hayley Ng and Diego Martinez Law”: A New York State Law to Protect Pedestrians, Bicyclists and other Vulnerable Road Users
A.7917 (Kavanagh, et al.)
S.5292 (Squadron, et al.)
Summary
This legislation amends the New York State vehicle and traffic law in relation to defining a vulnerable user of a public roadway, establishing the offense of careless driving and procedures and penalties relating thereto, and authorizing the Commissioner of Motor Vehicles to revoke or suspend the license or driving privileges of a person convicted of careless driving, if such person causes injury to a vulnerable user of a public roadway. Under this amendment, a vulnerable user includes pedestrians, bicyclists, highway workers, and others sharing the road. If a driver seriously injures or kills a vulnerable user and is driving in a careless manner—defined as failing to exercise due care or acting in a manner that endangers or would be likely to endanger person or property—he or she will be subject to a new set of penalties. These penalties include the completion of a traffic safety course, community service, two mandatory court appearances and, without completion of the aforementioned actions within a year, a fine up to ten thousand dollars and the suspension or revocation of a driver’s license. Similar laws have been established in other states, including Illinois and Oregon.
Explanation
This commonsense law is motivated by the tragic deaths of Hayley Ng, age 4, and Diego Martinez, age 3, who were killed by a delivery truck in New York City on January 22nd, 2009. Hayley and Diego were walking hand-in-hand with their preschool class when a delivery van rolled onto the sidewalk and directly into the children. The van’s driver was making a local delivery and had quickly double-parked, left his vehicle running and in reverse.
Despite injuring twelve people and killing two children, this driver is unlikely to face any penalties under current New York State law. This case, like thousands of others, reveals a serious gap in both our state’s criminal and vehicular traffic laws, whereby district attorneys can either pursue vehicular homicide charges, most often in the form of criminally negligent homicide, or bring no charges at all against drivers who injure or kill vulnerable roadway users. With only 29 indictments for the crime of Criminally Negligent Homicide in New York State during the last fifteen years (1994-2008) it is clear that even when a situation warrants, district attorneys are unwilling or unable to pursue such charges.
In 2005, nearly 25% of major injuries and fatalities on New York roadways were pedestrians and bicyclists, almost twice the national average. These crashes and fatalities are a tragedy for both victims and drivers—and are often preventable. Walking and cycling are important forms of transportation, exercise and recreation in our communities and all users, including motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians, must share the same roads.
With the continued investment in Safe Routes to School Programs, an increased number of students will be bicycling and walking our roads. The rising costs of gasoline, environmental and economic concerns all indicate we are likely to see more bicyclists and pedestrians on the road in the coming months and years.
Now, more than ever, we need to create a safe environment for all roadway users, including and especially the most vulnerable residents in our communities: bicyclists, pedestrians, the young, the aged, and the disabled. THE HAYLEY NG AND DIEGO MARTINEZ LAW takes a significant step towards keeping vulnerable road users safe, both by creating a new social deterrent against the careless driving that risks their lives, and by helping to ensure justice when they are seriously injured or killed.
New York Bicycling Coalition members want a more bicycle and pedestrian friendly State, and urge the passage of this Bill. Since 1992, NYBC has served as the only statewide, not-for-profit organization of its kind advocating throughout the state and working to assure highway, street, and transit facilities are amenable to cyclists and pedestrians and to promote safety through the education of motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists.
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