Massachusetts

Massachusetts SRTS Program

Managed by the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (DOT), Massachusetts’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.

Quick Links

Massachusetts SRTS Federal Funding  |  In the News
Application Guidelines  |  State Advisory Committee
State Outreach Programs  |  Success Stories
Evaluation  |  Massachusetts Partner Affiliates

Massachusetts SRTS Federal Funding

Massachusetts’s SRTS funding from FY2005-2009* totals $11,273,641 and includes the following annual apportionments:

* Funding for SRTS is being continued into FY2010 at FY2009 levels.

In the News

MassDOT SRTS Program Reaches 25 Percent of Students

Nearly 350 elementary/middle schools in 116 communities partnering with the program

Through its Safe Routes to School program, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has developed partnerships with nearly 350 elementary and middle schools in 116 communities to educate and encourage students to walk and bicycle to school. In order to support these partnerships, MassDOT will spend $4.42 million for Safe Routes initiatives in fiscal year 2011. While the Safe Routes to School program reaches only 7 percent of eligible students nationally, the Massachusetts Safe Routes program is reaching 25 percent of students.

In addition to its education and encouragement program, MassDOT’s on-call team of engineers, planners and bicycle/pedestrian experts also provides infrastructure assessment and design services that facilitate construction of bricks and mortar safety and access improvements around partner schools. Through a focused, streamlined planning and design approach, MassDOT’s Safe Routes to School infrastructure team conserves capital funding and delivers more resources into actual results rather than administration. MassDOT currently has one access and safety improvement project completed, four others entering construction, seven in design and 37 receiving assessments of their needs.

The Jackson Street School in Northampton was Massachusetts’ first infrastructure project to be completed, and was financed with ARRA funds. The total project cost was approximately $538,000 and it included the construction of raised crosswalks adjacent to the school, reconstruction of the school driveway to reduce the curb radius and narrow the crossing, reconstruction of sidewalks between a popular bikeway and the school and construction of a ramp from the bikeway to the rebuilt sidewalk.

The Jackson Street School was also one of 250 participating schools in International Walk to School Day and Massachusetts Walk and Bike to School Day. This year featured Governor Deval Patrick’s proclamation for Walk and Bike to School Day, an online registration and a user-friendly website for ordering promotional items. These incentives yielded a total of over participating 50,000 students.

Application Guidelines

The Massachusetts Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program promotes healthy alternatives for children and parents in their travel to and from school. The SRTS program aims to reduce congestion, air pollution, and traffic conflicts near participating schools, while increasing the health and mobility of school-aged children. Massachusetts Safe Routes to School, a program of MassRIDES, the Commonwealth’s travel options program, is a service of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation and is supported by the Federal Highway Administration. Schools that collaborate with MassRIDES on education, encouragement, enforcement, and evaluation activities become eligible for infrastructure projects specifically targeted to enhancing safe access to schools.

To participate in the MA SRTS program, schools fill out a participation request form available on the MassRIDES website. MassRIDES staff then contacts school stakeholders to enroll the school as an official partner. In return for making a commitment to the program, a partner school receives direct services and resources to implement an SRTS program.

Since 2005, the Massachusetts SRTS program has expanded to working with over 250 elementary and middle schools in nearly 100 communities statewide, reaching more than 110,000 students. By enrolling as a partner in the Commonwealth’s SRTS program, schools receive a range of direct professional services to educate students, parents, and school and community officials about the benefits of walking and bicycling to school while addressing safety concerns. The Massachusetts SRTS program offers schools technical assistance for designing, implementing, marketing, and evaluating initiatives tailored to each school’s needs and priorities.

Partner schools qualify for infrastructure improvements to enhance safety along school routes. Schools participating in the MA SRTS program for one year are invited to request a no-cost assessment of walking and bicycling routes within one mile of the school. Selected schools represent diverse socio-economic communities, in urban/suburban/rural environments statewide; all committed to implementing ongoing SRTS initiatives.

As of September 2009, 35 schools participate in the MA SRTS infrastructure program. A team of school engineers, planners and bicycle/pedestrian experts will plan, design, and construct improvements following a school site assessment. Improvements may include:

• Sidewalk improvements
• Traffic calming and speed reduction improvements
• Traffic diversion projects near schools
• Pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements and secure bicycle parking

State Advisory Committee

The Massachusetts SRTS Task Force, formed in November 2006, provides guidance on the development of the Commonwealth’s SRTS initiatives. The Task Force includes state agencies (MassHighway, Departments of Public Health, Education, and Public Safety), members from the Federal Highway Administration, school stakeholders (MA Elementary School Principals’ Association, MA Teachers’ Association., MA PTA Association,), enforcement representatives, community leaders, and advocacy groups (WalkBoston and MassBike). Quarterly Task Force meetings provide an opportunity to share unique perspectives and insights from different fields and enable agencies to work together in a mutually beneficial way.

State Outreach Programs

MassRIDES school outreach coordinators work closely with partner schools to develop unique programming that reflects each school’s needs and priorities. Participating schools receive no-cost Safe Routes to School educational materials targeted to students, parents, and community leaders. Pedestrian and bicycle safety education programs are available to partner schools, as well as unique learning and networking opportunities. Net conferences provide schools with the opportunity to learn about SRTS related topics through internet presentations. The annual MA SRTS Forum provides school and community stakeholders the opportunity to share best practices and lessons learned from their SRTS activities.

The Massachusetts Safe Routes to School program proactively recruits schools from diverse socio-economic communities, in urban/suburban/rural environments statewide.

Success Stories

Brockton, MA

Last year, Brockton, MA had more than 6,100 students from 5 elementary schools walk to school during twenty sessions in the fall and spring. The success of the SRTS program in Brockton is largely due to their involved group of community partners, from the school staff; the superintendent, to the principals, to the teachers to the crossing guards to the parents, to officials in the city of Brockton. They have the support of the Mayor, Brockton Police Department, Old Colony Planning Council, Chartwells Food Service, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation, the Brockton Enterprise and Walk Boston just to name a few. The schools have also noticed less traffic congestion and parking issues as they implement SRTS with their community partners.

Evaluation

Massachusetts requires that schools conduct before and after student and parent tallies provided by the National Center for Safe Routes to School.

Massachusetts Partner Affiliates

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