August 2008

Safe Routes to School E-News

Issue #32: August 2008

Safe Routes to School E-News is a monthly email newsletter published by the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, a growing national network of more than 350 non-profit organizations, government agencies, and professional groups that are working to set goals, share best practices, secure funding, and provide detailed policy input to implementing agencies for advancing the Safe Routes to School national movement.

Please forward Safe Routes to School E-News to others who may be interested!

Don’t miss the Safe Routes to School National Partnership’s free 2008 Annual Meeting, being held in conjunction with Pro Walk/Pro Bike on September 2 in Seattle. Register today at http://www.bikewalk.org/2008conference/srts.html.

To receive future issues of E-News, email info@saferoutespartnership.org

In this issue:

1. The Partnership Hires A Policy Manager
Please help us welcome Margo Pedroso as our newest staff member

2. National Safe Routes to School Task Force releases Final Report
Click here to view Safe Routes to School: A Transportation Legacy – A National Strategy to Increase Safety and Physical Activity among American Youth

3. GAO Releases Report on Safe Routes to School
Click here to view Safe Routes to School: Progress in Implementing the Program, but a Comprehensive Plan to Evaluate Program Outcomes is Needed

4. Portland, Oregon to Host 2nd SRTS National Conference
Bicycle Transportation Alliance to manage the event that will be held in 2009

5. SRTSNP Holding 2008 Annual Meeting at Pro Walk/Pro Bike
Register today for this interactive meeting held on September 2 in Seattle!

6. Representative Blumenauer Introduces Bill for Gas Price Relief
H.R. 6495 would double SRTS funding and expand the program to high schools

7. State and Territorial Injury Prevention Directors Association’s Mini-Grant Program
Six local health departments developed SRTS programs with expert mentors

8. Idaho Is Accepting its Third Round of Applications until August 29
New law increasing fine for speeding in school zones took effect in July

9. Maryland Recommends Eleven Communities for SRTS Funding
41 jurisdictions participating in SRTS across the state

10. SRTS News Throughout the Country
Local and state SRTS program news links



1. The Partnership Hires A Policy Manager
Please help us welcome Margo Pedroso as our newest staff member

The Safe Routes to School National Partnership welcomes Margo Pedroso as our new Policy Manager. As Policy Manger, Margo will be building partnerships and working with advocates and Congressional members to get Safe Routes to School funding secured and increased in federal legislation such as the next transportation bill and the climate bill. She will also be working on policy research and analysis, advocacy, and report writing.

Prior to joining the SRTS National Partnership, Margo spearheaded public policy and advocacy for MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership. During her tenure, she built bipartisan Congressional support for youth mentoring, resulting in a four-fold increase in federal funding for school mentoring programs and a Congressional pilot program that allows mentoring programs to use FBI background checks to screen volunteers. Margo served as the policy liaison with human service organizations, state partners, and federal agencies. She also carried out a wide-reaching initiative to conduct a national conversation on mentoring and develop a “National Agenda for Action” to expand the availability and quality of youth mentoring.

Margo has also held positions with the federal Institute of Museum and Library Services and the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce, where she focused on government relations and education policy. In total, she has over twelve years of experience handling appropriations and policy issues, focusing particularly on priorities that will improve the lives of children.

Margo started full time with the Partnership on August 4, 2008. For her full bio and contact information, click here.



2. National Safe Routes to School Task Force releases Final Report
Click here to view Safe Routes to School: A Transportation Legacy – A National Strategy to Increase Safety and Physical Activity among American Youth

The National Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Task Force has released its final report entitled Safe Routes to School: A Transportation Legacy – A National Strategy to Increase Safety and Physical Activity among American Youth. To access and download a full copy of the document, please visit http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/task_force 

The report is the culmination of the work of the National SRTS Task Force; Deb Hubsmith, Director of the SRTSNP served on the Task Force, and Robert Ping served representing the Bicycle Transportation Alliance, a state and local advocacy group. The Task Force was established by Section 1404 (h) of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act – A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU, Public Law 109-59), and was charged with developing a national strategy to advance SRTS projects and programs nationwide. The report provides specific recommendations to the U.S. Department of Transportation and Congress regarding future efforts to make walking and bicycling safely to school a reality for American school children.

In addition to providing recommendations for the Federal SRTS program in future transportation legislation, the Task Force report proposes a number of changes to improve the efficiency and broad appeal of the current and future program. Among others, the following are key strategies recommended in the report:

• Increase Federal funding to address the need to reach more children with the SRTS program;
• Enable and encourage non-traditional partners (such as schools and non-profit agencies) and small SRTS projects by issuing clarification and guidance on streamlining processes required under Title 23;
• Expand funding eligibility to Kindergarten -12th Grade so that high school students can reap the safety and health benefits of the program;
• Expand eligibility to other non-motorized modes of travel, such as skateboards, kick scooters, etc. so that programs are free to promote other creative ways for children to get to school under their own power.

The report also recommends that future SRTS programs continue to involve diverse stakeholders including child health and safety advocates, educators, and transportation planners among many others. Other strategies include advancing innovative solutions that support SRTS efforts, and addressing major program challenges such as school siting policies and parental safety concerns. More information on the work of the Task Force can be found at http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/task_force/ 



3.  GAO Releases Report on Safe Routes to School
Click here to view Safe Routes to School: Progress in Implementing the Program, but a Comprehensive Plan to Evaluate Program Outcomes is Needed

The U.S. GAO report on Safe Routes to School was released on July 31, 2008 and is titled: Safe Routes to School: Progress in Implementing the Program but a Comprehensive Plan to Evaluate Program Outcomes is Needed. The report was developed at the request of Senator James Inhofe (R-OK), the Ranking Member on the Committee on the Environment and Public Works.

The GAO report acknowledges that FHWA has made progress with implementation of the Safe Routes to School program, which was only authorized three years ago through SAFETEA-LU. The report notes that every state maintains a SRTS Coordinator associated with the Department of Transportation, that $75 million has been obligated, and more than 2,700 schools are being served. It states, however, that FHWA lacks a comprehensive plan for measuring the results of the program. Until a comprehensive plan is in place, it will be difficult to measure both national and local program outcomes and hold grantees accountable for their use of program funds.” The GAO recommends that the Secretary of Transportation direct the Administrator of FHWA to develop a comprehensive plan to monitor and evaluate the SRTS program with a requirement that states collect data, and that there be a formalized collaboration with the clearinghouse, the CDC and the EPA to explore the feasibility of developing “health and environmental outcome measures.”

The SRTSNP agrees that a national evaluation plan is needed for Safe Routes to School, and our organization would like to work with FHWA, CDC, EPA, DOE and the National Center for SRTS to develop such a plan. To read the full GAO report, click here. To read the SRTSNP analysis of the GAO report, click here.



4. Portland, Oregon to Host 2nd SRTS National Conference
Bicycle Transportation Alliance to manage the event that will be held in 2009

The City of Portland, Oregon, recognized nationally for its walking and bicycling programs, was selected through a competitive application process to host the 2nd Safe Routes to School National Conference in 2009. The conference site was announced today by the National Center for Safe Routes to School and the Safe Routes to School National Partnership. Click here to view the press release.

The conference is planned for the summer or autumn of 2009. The 1st Safe Routes to School National Conference, held in Dearborn, Michigan, in November 2007, exceeded expectations with more than 400 participants including program representatives, state transportation administrators, engineers, planners, elected officials, parents and community members.

"We’re very pleased to have the opportunity to work with the Bicycle Transportation Alliance and their team in Portland to plan the 2nd Safe Routes to School National Conference. It’s going to be an exciting event in a great location," said Deb Hubsmith, Director of the Safe Routes to School National Partnership.

The Bicycle Transportation Alliance has trained more than 45,000 children in Oregon through its Walk + Bike education program. The statewide organization has more than 5,000 members and it has enlisted Kaiser Permanente as a partner to host the SRTS conference.

The Safe Routes to School National Conference provides an opportunity for individuals and organizations interested and involved with Safe Routes to School to network, engage in educational opportunities and form partnerships to enhance their Safe Routes to School work. Up to 600 participants can be accommodated to participate in the conference in Portland. For more information on the first conference, please visit www.saferoutesmichigan.org/nationalconference.htm. For more information on the SRTS Conference, please contact Raquel Rivas at the National Center for Safe Routes to School (919) 962-5835, rivas@hsrc.unc.edu.



5. SRTSNP Holding 2008 Annual Meeting at Pro Walk/Pro Bike
Register today for this interactive meeting held on September 2 in Seattle!

The Safe Routes to School National Partnership is holding its free Annual Meeting on Tuesday, September 2, 2008 from 10am-5pm in conjunction with the Pro Walk/Pro Bike Conference. Click here to register today.

The National Partnership’s Annual Meeting will be broken into two segments. The morning session will include a summary of the Partnership’s achievements over the previous year, a discussion about how to integrate SRTS with bus cuts due to high fuel prices, and a choice of breakout sessions. After a break for lunch on your own in Seattle, the afternoon segment will include an overview of the next transportation bill that will succeed SAFETEA-LU, and a time-period for questions and answers. There will then be a discussion and interactive sessions regarding the importance of working with Congressional members to plan field visits and to hear from constituents and to see Safe Routes to School projects in action. The afternoon session will include role-plays, breakout groups, and an opportunity to begin planning for your District meetings with Congressional members.



6. Representative Blumenauer Introduces Bill for Gas Price Relief
H.R. 6495 would double SRTS funding and expand the program to high schools

Representative Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) introduced legislation in July to offer relief to Americans facing record gas prices by increasing access and affordability of transportation alternatives. Included within the bill is a provision to increase SRTS funding to $600 million/year, while also expanding the eligibility of the program to high schools. These two provisions have been long terms goals of the SRTSNP.

The “Transportation and Housing Choices for Gas Price Relief Act of 2008” (H.R.6495) will provide a needed rapid response to high fuel prices by expanding transportation options and reducing fuel costs across America. This will help cut gasoline use, reduce demand and cut costs by such simple steps as:

• providing more Americans with access to affordable public transportation;
• making it safer and more attractive to walk and bicycle to schools, shopping, and public transportation;
• increasing the affordability of homes near transit; and
• expanding market-oriented travel options such as carsharing, pay-as-you-drive insurance, and cash-in-lieu-of-parking which save consumers money while cutting fuel use.

The SRTSNP thanks Rep. Blumenauer, who is also co-chair of the Congressional Bike Caucus, for his visionary leadership on Safe Routes to School, and providing for transportation alternatives that will relieve oil dependence.



7.  State and Territorial Injury Prevention Directors Association’s Mini-Grant Program
Six local health departments developed SRTS programs with expert mentors

The State and Territorial Injury Prevention Directors Association (STIPDA), with funding from the National Traffic Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA), awarded six local health departments a one year Safe Routes to School (SRTS) demonstration project grant. The mini-grantees implemented their projects from June 1, 2007 - May 31, 2008.

STIPDA funded the six sites approximately $12,500 each with three sites randomly selected to receive an additional $3,000 for tools and trainings to enhance collaboration while developing their SRTS program. In addition to the funding, those randomly selected sites also received a mentor. The mentors are considered experts in SRTS and assisted the sites with collaboration and long-term program planning and program sustainability. The grantee activities were based on the focus areas in the SRTS guide provided by the National Center for Safe Routes to School. The sites participated in activities such as walking school buses, bike rodeos, installation of crosswalks, and an anti-idling campaign. These activities were largely successful because of excellent planning and strong community coalition support.

The project ended with a SRTS Roundtable in Washington, DC on July 15, 2008. The purpose of this meeting was to bring together all six sites to discuss their projects, their challenges over the grant cycle, how they overcame those challenges and other lessons learned. The information gathered at this meeting will be used in a lessons learned document to be shared with other public health organizations interested in starting SRTS projects.

If you would like to have additional information on this mini-grant program, please contact Toy Scaife at the STIPDA National Office or at (770) 690-9000.



8. Idaho Is Accepting its Third Round of Applications until August 29
New law increasing fine for speeding in school zones took effect in July

On August 29, 2008, Idaho will receive its third round of applications for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 Safe Routes to School projects across the state. Idaho’s SRTS Advisory Committee funded 21 projects using FY 2006 and FY 2007 funds, benefiting 45 elementary schools in June 2007. In April 2008 they funded sixteen projects to benefit children from 53 elementary schools using FY 2008 funds.

In addition to safety and education efforts at the many schools benefiting from SRTS programs, children who walk and bicycle to school in Idaho this year will safer because of a new law increasing the fines for speeding in school zones, which took effect July 1, 2008.

Idaho’s SRTS program offers a pre-application training, given by Sue Newberry of Community Partners LLC, to everyone submitting a Letter of Intent to apply for funding. Once awarded, State/Local Agreements are signed, and the awardees are given a SRTS Manual to assist them with the development of their projects. Education, encouragement and evaluations are required for each project, and infrastructure improvements are optional. Awardees are also required to complete a basic School Travel Plan during their two-year project.

SRTS construction projects are currently being completed in nineteen communities across the state of Idaho. Four additional projects, with a primary emphasis on education and encouragement, are being coordinated by school districts, local transportation authorities, and the YMCA. For more information on Idaho’s SRTS program, please contact the SRTS Coordinator, Jo O’Connor.



9.  Maryland Recommends Eleven Communities for SRTS Funding
41 jurisdictions participating in SRTS across the state

Maryland continues to expand its SRTS program with the recommendation to add eleven more communities to the state’s SRTS program. With this addition, Maryland will have forty-one jurisdictions participating.

In June the Maryland SRTS advisory committee reviewed eighteen applications covering fourteen jurisdictions throughout Maryland. It was recommended that eleven of the communities receive awards ranging in amounts from $7,800 to $338,400. These funds are for both infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects, including bike racks, sidewalks, traffic calming devices, and education and enforcement activities. The recommendation was made to Neil Pedersen, Administrator of the Maryland State Highway Administration and the Governor’s Highway Safety Representative. In the past two years, Maryland has awarded more than $6.8 million in SRTS funding. Much success has been seen in Baltimore City, where several safety audits have been conducted around metropolitan schools.

The Maryland SRTS Coordinator continues to work with community partners throughout the state to expand the SRTS program. He has also been teaching the SRTS National Course in communities in order to assist them in starting local SRTS programs.

The SRTS program is a key component of Maryland’s overall Choose Safety for Life program, which was launched in May to provide an overall umbrella for the State’s traffic safety outreach efforts. Capitalizing on five key messages presented in the acronym B-SAFE, Choose Safety for Life urges Marylanders to Buckle up, Slow down – speeding kills, Always driver sober, Focus and Everyone share the road.

For more information on Maryland’s SRTS program, please contact the SRTS Coordinator, Joe Pelaia, or by phone at (410) 787-7620.



10. SRTS News Throughout the Country
Local and state SRTS program news links

Safe Routes to School news around the country keeps growing! Updated regularly, see our new SRTS in the News media center for the latest in local, state, and national SRTS news.



Help Grow the Partnership!

Joining the Partnership is free. Please encourage other organizations, schools, businesses, and government agencies to join the Safe Routes to School National Partnership.

Funding for the Safe Routes to School National Partnership has been generously provided by the Bikes Belong Coalition, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Harvest Foundation, and partner affiliates.

For more information, contact:

Deb Hubsmith, Director
Safe Routes to School National Partnership
deb@saferoutespartnership.org
www.saferoutespartnership.org
(415) 454-7430