Utah

Utah SRTS Program

Managed by the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), Utah’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.

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Utah SRTS Federal Funding  |  Application Guidelines
Success Stories  |  Utah Partner Affiliates

Utah SRTS Federal Funding

Utah’s SRTS funding from FY2005-2009* totals $6,137,904 and includes the following annual apportionments:

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

Utah’s SRTS Program

Utah is excited to announce that we have 33 completed infrastructure projects throughout the life of the SRTS program in our state. We also recently completed our 5th funding cycle, and awarded 11 new locations to receive SRTS infrastructure funding for 2011-2013 projects.

We continue to work with multiple communities and individual schools throughout the state, who have previously been awarded funding through the SRTS program on non-infrastructure projects, which include bike fairs, walk to school campaigns, education and enforcement activities.

The Student Neighborhood Access Program (SNAP) is Utah’s SRTS statewide campaign. A main component of SNAP is our web-based software program and planning guide, which aids school administrators in creating a map of their school indicating the safest walking and biking routes. SNAP has recently expanded to include several new statewide educational tools and resources, including a safety assembly program w/ original music, instructional guide for putting on a bike or pedestrian fair, and much more.

The Utah SRTS Coordinator continues to work with community partners throughout the state to further the goals of the program. A few of our key partners include the Utah Department of Health’s Gold Medal Schools Program and Violence Injury & Prevention Program , PTA, and Law Enforcement. Collaboration with these groups, as well as others is key to the success of the SRTS program in Utah.

New Statewide School Crossing Guard Training Program

Utah’s first comprehensive statewide crossing guard training program has been launched by UDOT and implemented by more than 50 law enforcement agencies in time for the start of the 2011-2012 school year.

Created through the UDOT Student Neighborhood Access Program (SNAP)™, the new materials provide uniform statewide standards and ensure crossing guards are properly trained and prepared to protect students on their way to and from school.

“Encouraging safe walking and biking to school is the primary focus of SNAP, and these new materials expand the reach of the program by empowering crossing guards to play an important role in this effort,” said Robert Hull, UDOT director of traffic and safety. “Crossing guards, students and motorists must work together to make walking and biking to school safe.”

The new UDOT crossing guard training materials are accessible and portable and provide crossing guards with a sense of their importance to the community. The materials, which will supplement each agency’s hands-on instruction, include the following:

“UDOT Crossing Guard Fundamentals” DVD

The 15-minute “UDOT Crossing Guard Fundamentals” DVD covers basic techniques and procedures in an informative and entertaining format. With baseline information based on the Utah State Code for crossing guards, the DVD depicts various types of intersections and situations as well as the do’s and don’ts for crossing students safely.

UDOT Crossing Guard Quick Reference

As a supplement to the DVD, the UDOT Crossing Guard Quick Reference (CGQR) is a pocket-sized reference guide for all crossing guards. The guide covers basic information with space for notes and customization to agency standards. The CGQR is designed to be kept in a crossing guard’s vest or jacket pocket as a part of the standard uniform.

Success Stories

Walk More in Four
UDOT's Student Neighborhood Access Program (SNAP)™ “Walk More in Four” annual walking challenge was a great success this year. Students statewide participated in this year's program.

Utah’s New SRTS Programs Exceed Projections
New web-based mapping software and 35-minute musical assembly encourage safe walking for educators, students and parents

SALT LAKE CITY (May 18, 2010) – The Student Neighborhood Access Program (SNAP)™ impact for the 2009-2010 school year exceeded planned expectations through the newly launched safe route mapping software and assembly program. SNAP is Utah’s Safe Routes to School (SRTS) encouragement campaign administered by the Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT).

“We have seen a tremendous increase in the excitement of schools and parents to get students walking and biking safely to school,” said Cherissa Wood, Utah’s Safe Routes to School coordinator. “We believe schools that create a safe routes map will be more likely to get these maps into the hands of their students and help us encourage more children to walk and bike to school safely.”

SNAP Software
In fall 2009, UDOT launched its newly redesigned SNAP Software, a custom tool to assist schools in creating their safe routing plan maps. As of May 2011, 76 percent of Utah’s elementary, middle and junior high school principals have accessed the free SNAP Software online to create a safe routes map for their school. The former program, which was not web-based, had only 10 percent participation in two years.

The Web-based software allows use on any PC/MAC and principals can print or share the map online with parents and students. SNAP Software interfaces with Google™ Maps to provide improved accuracy and ease of use. The program includes mapping symbols specific to identifying a safe route. Other features include a Spanish option and large format and quadrant printing.

The redesigned SNAP Software was created with feedback from more than 100 principals. In addition, UDOT provides a detailed SNAP Planning Guide on how to map a safe route and create an inventory of the school’s walking and biking area.

“SNAP, Walk ‘n Roll” Assembly
UDOT also launched in fall 2009 “SNAP, Walk ‘n Roll,” an interactive assembly-meets-rock-show program to encourage elementary students to safely walk and bike to school. Since its debut, more than 67,250 students in more than 100 schools have participated in the assembly, which is offered free of charge with SRTS funding.

“This was the best informational assembly that has come to our school in 20 years,” said Mrs. Barnes, a third grade teacher at Crestview Elementary in Holladay, Utah. “The presenters held the kids’ attention with songs, movement, color and energy. This information is what I want my students to remember.”

Through original, upbeat music and a cast of larger-than-life characters, the four-member SNAP Team helps students get excited to walk and bike to school. Subjects taught include the importance of following a safe routes or “SNAP Map,” how to read the traffic signs and signals, why students need safety gear and how to be safe when walking near construction.

The program’s soundtrack ranges in style from pop and hip hop to country and includes messages about looking left, right and left again, wearing bright colors and obeying the rules of the road. All the messages and songs were focus grouped by five sets of elementary children and parents. The songs are available for free download by the students following the performance to further reinforce the messages.

Already, schools have seen an increase in the number of students choosing to walk or bike to school following the assembly. Barbara Yost, principal of Foothills Elementary School said, “Our students really enjoyed the assembly and I think they really learned about safety. Almost all of our students wear helmets when using a scooter or bike now and they are more aware of crossing intersections safely.”

New Fall 2010, schools that have the assembly receive lesson plans for their teachers, as well as an activity booklets for students to bring home and discuss with their parents. Each resource reinforces the messages of health and safety learned in the “SNAP, Walk ‘n Roll” assembly.

For more information about UDOT’s SNAP campaign, software, assembly and to hear the SNAP, Walk ‘n Roll soundtrack visit http://udot.utah.gov/SNAP or e-mail snap@snapforschools.com. A video demo of the assembly is available on the UDOT YouTube channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/UtahDOT.

Walk More In Four
September 2010, UDOT’s SNAP invited students statewide to participate in the second annual "Walk More in Four" event, which encouraged students to walk or ride their bikes to school at least three days a week during the four weeks in September. We partnered with the Utah Department of Health, Gold Medal Schools, and five elementary schools in a statewide launch at the end of August to kick off this exciting event. Utah Governor, Gary Herbert participated in the initial launch at Rosecrest Elementary in Salt Lake City, where he declared Aug. 25, 2010, as Safe Walking and Biking to School Day. With more than 1,000 participants resulting from 24 school districts, 49 cities, and 66 schools, this year’s event reflected the interest and excitement of students and communities across the state to safely walk and bike to school.

All of the students who participated and mailed in their completed charts were put into a drawing for prizes. Due to a generous donation by Walmart, we were able to award 49 students across the state with either a scooter and helmet or bike and helmet to help encourage safe walking and biking to school year round.

2010 Oberstar Award Recipient
We were excited to learn that one of our funded schools, Alpine Elementary, was recently awarded the 2010 Oberstar Award for their efforts to increase the number of children who regularly walk and bicycle to school; as well as engage students, parents and the community in the effort; and use creative strategies to encourage families to shift habits to a less car-focused commute.

From September 2008 to May 2010, Alpine Elementary School’s SRTS program increased the percentage of children who regularly walked and biked to school from 35 to 50 percent. The goal of the program was to empower students to make a difference in their daily lives and the lives of others, all the while, integrating safety into their actions, and included a partnership with the Candlelight School in Kenya, Africa. Over the past two years, Alpine Elementary students walked over 72,000 miles, and raised enough money through private donations to purchase three months’ worth of lunches for the entire Candlelight student body, and a cow and several goats and chickens for a school farm.

It has been a wonderful experience working with Alpine Elementary over the years, and witnessing the amazing sense of energy the students, faculty and parents have for life and their dedication to make positive, active lifestyle changes not only in their community, but for their sister school in Kenya, Africa. The students may only be tracking the miles they walk to and from school everyday, but those miles walked will have lasting effects for everyone involved. UDOT’s SRTS and Student Neighborhood Access Program (SNAP) are honored to have played a small part in their success.

Utah Partner Affiliates

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