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Montana
Montana SRTS Program
Managed by the Montana Department of Transportation (MDT), Montana’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.
Montana SRTS Coordinator
Virginia Summey
Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies - MT
1-877-935-7233 (SAFE)
vsummey-hmhb@qwest.net
http://www.mdt.mt.gov/pubinvolve/saferoutes
Click on any of the menu items below for more information.
Montana SRTS Federal Funding
Application Guidelines
State Advisory Committee
State Outreach Programs
Evaluation Methods
Success Story
Montana Partner Affiliates
Legislation and Policies
Montana SRTS Federal Funding
Montana’s SRTS funding totals $4,990,000 and includes the following annual apportionments:
| 2005 Actual |
2006 Actual |
2007 Actual |
2008 Actual |
2009 Projected |
| $1,000,000 |
$990,000 |
$1,000,000 |
$1,000,000 |
$1,000,000 |
Application Guidelines
MDT’s next application deadline is December 31, 2007. Award recipients are expected to be announced by March 2008. Montana is a minimum apportionment state and has a ceiling of $50,000 for infrastructure projects. Due to that, they combined their infrastructure application with the Community Transportation Enhancement Program (CTEP). Applicants can apply for SRTS funds with the option of having their application reviewed by CTEP for additional funding.
MDT manages the administrative costs and timeline generated by federal and state regulations through state law that requires that 12.25% be allowed for Indirect Cost Allocation. That number can slightly change year to year.
State Advisory Committee
Montana’s SRTS Advisory Committee consists mostly of MDT employees, but also has a representative from the Office of Public Instruction and Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies. The committee will meet in January 2008 to select funding recipients.
State Outreach Programs
Montana’s SRTS program has held trainings in various locations around the state. Mark Fenton, a national walking advocate, has also provided three SRTS trainings. Additionally, Virginia Summey with Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies, a non-profit that has been contracted to administer the Montana SRTS program, frequently travels around the state and holds public meetings to inform people of the program.
Evaluation Methods
MDT requires project managers submit a quarterly progress report.
Success Story
Billings, Montana: Go Play Campaign Promotes SRTS Efforts
During the 2006-2007 school year, students from Montana State University (MSU) in Billings created the community-wide “Go Play” campaign to increase community awareness of, and participation in, bicycling and walking for transportation, thereby creating a safer environment for kids to walk and bike to and from school. Created under the direction of Dr. Sarah Keller from MSU, the campaign is co-directed by Dr. Keller and Kathy Aragon from the Highland Elementary School PTA. “Go Play” supports Safe Routes to School efforts through several events including:
* The promotion of International Walk to School Day/Week/Month, the Heart and Sole Run (a family oriented fun run sponsored by Saint Vincent Healthcare), and Bike/Walk/Bus week.
* The promotion of SRTS at community events that have included the spring Child Safety Fair and the YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day.
* The Magic City Trail Trek, a family oriented fun-filled morning, promoting walking and rolling on the Billings trail system to promote healthier communities through active lifestyles and safety.
The Go Play campaign has several community partners including the Yellowstone City-County health department who conducts countywide assessments of more than 8,000 parents and caregivers on bicycling and walking to school. Initial funding for the campaign was provided by local hospital, Saint Vincent Healthcare of Billings, Montana. In April 2007, the campaign received a SRTS grant from the Montana Department of Transportation.
Contact:
Kathy Aragon
Highland Elementary School PTA
(406) 245-5616
jenaragon@bresnan.net
Montana Partner Affiliates
Find out which organizations in your state have pledged their support for the Safe Routes to School movement.
Legislation and Policies
School Zone Safety - For the first time in the printing of Montana's driver manual, the new issue for 2008 added a section on "School Zone Safety Standards". Kristine Thatcher, Bureau Chief of the Motor Vehicle Division agreed that Montana needed to address school safety for all new and old drivers operating in and around school areas in the state. Mr. George Littlefield of Great Falls, has attempted to keep school safety issues in front of the general motoring public by gaining support from the 2005 State Legislature in doubling the traffic speed fines in school zones throughout Montana, effective October 1, 2005, and by making recommendations for school zone safety additions to the State Drivers Manual a reality. In addition, Mr. Littlefield will present a recommendation to the 2008 Montana State Legislature for the addition of two definitions of a School Zone and a School Area, to be added to the State Codes Annotated, References, Title 1-1-200 and Title 61-1-101 Definitions.
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