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New Hampshire

New Hampshire’s first lady Dr. Susan Lynch leads Kimball School students from Concord SRTS

New Hampshire SRTS Program
Managed by the New Hampshire Department of Transportation (NHDOT), New Hampshire’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 Hampshire DOT SRTS Coordinator
John Corrigan
(603) 271-1980
jcorrigan@dot.state.nh.us
www.nh.gov/dot/bureaus/planning/SRTS_home.htm

Click on any of the menu items below for more information.
New Hampshire SRTS Federal Funding
Application Guidelines
State Advisory Committee
State Outreach Programs
Evaluation Methods
New Hampshire Partner Affiliates

New Hampshire SRTS Federal Funding
New Hampshire’s SRTS funding totals $4,990,000 and includes the following annual apportionments:

Application Guidelines
NHDOT's application period for Round 2 of SRTS Funding opened on Monday, March 17, 2008, and closed on Monday, May 12, 2008. After review and scoring by the Regional Planning Commissions (RPCs) and the Statewide Advisory Committee (SAC), the NH Department of Transportation (NHDOT) anticipates announcing awards on August 25, 2008. 

NHDOT anticipates announcing Round 3 in late fall/early winter 2008.

Before a request for proposals for the second round of funding was issued, NHDOT wanted to hear from people from the state’s cities and towns to ensure the program meets community needs with a minimum of red tape. The department has revised the SRTS application form, application guidelines and funding criteria. In addition, a new travel plan format has been developed to guide communities in their efforts to develop a comprehensive program. Drafts of all three documents can be found through the yellow text box on the home page of the NHSRTS website. The deadline for comment was Monday, Feb. 11, 2008.

A major change for Round 2 is a proposed increase in the maximum amount for infrastructure, from $100,000 in Round 1 to $200,000. There has been some concern that the cap should remain at $100,000, and that local communities should stress careful planning and other non-infrastructure projects in the early years of the program. In addition, the funding criteria have been modified to clarify that SRTS projects, especially infrastructure work, must create or improve safe routes from home to school. In the first round, some applications showed connections between schools and other facilities used by young people.

The application period for the first round of applications closed on September 17, 2007, and applications were reviewed by Regional Planning Commissions. The total amount requested in the first round of applications was more than $926,000. Awards were announced on December 3, 2007.  Nearly half a million in funds were awarded to ten New Hampshire schools.

Projects approved in the first round include crosswalk and path improvements in Portsmouth, new sidewalks on school property in Andover, Concord, Gorham and Hopkinton. Upgrades and repairs to the “Tiger Trail” sidewalk network have been approved for Farmington. Nashua will make the streets and sidewalks safer around the Ledge Street School. New Ipswich plans to build a new sidewalk along a busy state highway. Weare has begun the planning process, and will conduct several education and encouragement programs. Lebanon has initiated walking school buses and will purchase a speed trailer to remind drivers to slow down near schools. SRTS will also help fund BikeSmart, an organization providing bicycle safety education to schools throughout the state.

New Hampshire received applications covering approximately 35 schools in 16 localities. One application, affecting four schools, was filed by a non-profit organization. An application was also submitted by a statewide organization that wants to offer in-depth bicycle safety training in the schools.

Guidelines include startup funding of up to $5,000 for communities that form a SRTS planning task force. Costs associated with preparing surveys, travel plans, and conducting initial education, encouragement, and enforcement activities will be eligible for reimbursement. Communities may also compete for larger amounts based on detailed budgets for preparing travel plans as well as more extensive non-infrastructure and infrastructure projects.

New Hampshire has one set of application guidelines for both infrastructure and non-infrastructure grants.

State Advisory Committee
A Statewide Advisory Committee (SAC) has been formed, and held its first meeting on October 16, 2007.  The SAC has an opening for a representative of the “livable-walkable communities” movement. This individual will ensure that SRTS projects are consistent with local efforts to balance motorized and non-motorized transportation in community design. The SAC reviews applications for reimbursement funding, offers applicants an opportunity to present their proposals at a public meeting, and makes recommendations to the commissioner of NHDOT.

If you are interested in serving on the committee or nominating someone, please send the name or names, contact information (including an e-mail address, if available) and a brief statement of qualifications and interest to the SRTS coordinator.

State Outreach Programs
The Bike Walk Alliance of New Hampshire provides state-wide bicycle safety education workshops and events.

New Hampshire is working with a number of state organizations that are listed on the state’s SRTS Helpful Links page.

John Corrigan, the SRTS Coordinator, travels to communities to meet with local leaders, explain the program, answer any questions, and initiate a discussion about local conditions.

Evaluation Methods
New Hampshire does give application points to those schools and communities that provide evaluation data.

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