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Washington
Washington SRTS Program
Managed by the Washington Department of Transportation (WSDOT), Washington’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.
Washington DOT SRTS Coordinator
Charlotte Claybrooke
(360) 705-7302
ClaybrC@wsdot.wa.gov
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/LocalPrograms/SafeRoutes/default.htm
Click on any of the menu items below for more information.
Washington SRTS Federal Funding
Application Guidelines
State Advisory Committee
State Outreach Programs
Success Stories
Evaluation
Washington Partner Affiliates
Washington SRTS Federal Funding
Washington’s SRTS funding from FY2005-2009* totals $11,352,302 and includes the following annual apportionments:
|
2005 Actual |
2006 Actual |
2007 Actual |
2008 Actual |
2009 Actual |
|
$1,000,000 |
$1,694,515 |
$2,271,034 |
$2,809,776 |
$3,576,977 |
* Funding for SRTS is being continued into FY2010 at FY2009 levels.
Application Guidelines
Washington’s next call for grant applications is scheduled to take place in early 2010. The timing for the application process for the next cycle has not yet been set at this time.
For more information, please see the WSDOT page.
State Advisory Committee
The SRTS Advisory Committee was formed in 2005. Its purpose is to provide guidance to the WSDOT on the SRTS Program, and to review and prioritize SRTS applications. The committee currently includes representatives from state agencies, non-profit organizations, regional and local government and schools. The Advisory Committee meets twice a year.
State Outreach Programs
WSDOT and the Washington Center for Safe Routes to School provide training and outreach free of charge.
Visit the following links for more information:
http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/LocalPrograms/SafeRoutes/default.htm
http://www.saferoutes-wa.org/
Evaluation
Applicants who are awarded WSDOT project and program funding are required to submit the number of children walking and bicycling to school before and after the project is completed.
Success Stories
Crescent School Experiences Incredible Success with Sidewalk Installation
Crescent School, located in Joyce, Washington, serves grades K-12 in the Crescent School District. In 2006, the school received engineering improvements included construction of a separated 2000-feet sidewalk. In addition, the school participated in education activities, which included instruction on bicycle and pedestrian safety, safety equipment (e.g., helmets, safety lighting), and health and exercise. As a result of the engineering and education activities, the counts of students walking and biking to and from Crescent School increased by 269 percent (from 32 students to 118 students). The new sidewalk, named “Logger’s Lane,” is a matter of pride for the community, as it is the first sidewalk that the community has ever had.
AnaCortes School District: The Mt. Erie Elementary School Project
The AnaCortes school district partnered with the city of AnaCortes to construct a continuous sidewalk, separated from the street by a curb and gutter. This project was completed with 2005 state funding for $112,800. They also installed a crossing signal (pedestrian activated yellow flashing lights) at the mid-block crosswalk in front of the school with curb extensions. They worked with local law enforcement to install three speed displays and to increase speed enforcement. Their education component included a program to teach safe walking habits, change adult driver behaviors near and around the school and encourage participation using a Walking School Bus. Following the project there was a 32% increase in walking and a 46% increase in biking to school.
Washington Partner Affiliates
Find out which organizations in your state have pledged their support for the Safe Routes to School movement.
Legislation and Policies
In 2009, new legislation was introduced that codified the SRTS program into Washington State Law. More information about this legislation can be found at http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2009-10/Pdf/Bills/Session Law 2009/1793-S.SL.pdf.
In 2005 the Washington State Legislature included $74 million in a 16 year budget to support pedestrian and bicycle safety projects such as pedestrian and bicycle paths, sidewalks, safe routes to school and transit. The Safe Routes to School Grants were established to address pedestrian and bicycle mobility and safety near schools.
In 1997, Washington State enacted legislation that doubled the basic fine for drivers speeding in a school zone. This fine cannot be waived, suspended, or reduced. One-half of the revenue generated is directed into an account managed by the State’s Governor’s Highway Safety Office (the Washington Traffic Safety Commission) and is designed to enhance safety in school zones and pupil transportation. Credit for this good work goes to the Washington Traffic Safety Commission’s School Zone Safety Program.
The legislature allows $1.5 million to be spent per biennium (our state budget is set for two years once every two years and it’s refered to as a biennium), with $1.0 million for law enforcement and $0.5 million for public education. Funds for law enforcement are available to agencies through an application process. These funds can be used to purchase equipment, such as radars, computers, patrol cars or motorcycles that improves safety in school zones or pupil transportation. The public education funds make it possible to produce and disseminate products such as public service announcements, radio and bus ads, and crossing guard equipment. The funds have also been used to provide mini-grants to support International Walk to School Day celebrations around the state and have paid for the creation and distribution of the School Administrator’s Guide to Pedestrian Safety and the School Safety Resource Kit.
Through proactive enforcement, where law enforcement officers are focusing on school zone safety, communities have seen reductions in collisions in school zones. For example, collision rates for all collisions (bicycle and pedestrian, as well as motor vehicle) in school zones have declined by 23 percent in Bremerton, WA, and by 13 percent in Tumwater, WA.
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