Safe Routes to School
Improving Health,
Safety and
Transportation
Lenexa, KS
The need for Safe Routes to School
1. Fewer kids today
walk and bike to
school
2. Unintended
consequences
have resulted
3. SRTS programs
are part of the
solution
1. Fewer kids are biking and walking.
More parents are driving.
2001: 16% walked
1969: 42% walked
(CDC, 2005)
Parents driving
Parents driving
children to school:
20%-25% of
morning traffic
(NHTSA 2003; Dept. of
Environment)
What caused the shift?
Most common barriers to walking and
bicycling to school
Long distances 62%
Traffic danger 30%
Adverse weather 19%
Fear of crime danger 12%
Note: Sum of percentages is more than 100% because
respondents could identify more than one barrier.
(CDC, 2005)
Adverse weather
Weather hasn’t changed that
much in the last generation
SRTS programs have been
successful in many climates
Centreville, VA Howard’s Grove, WI
Fear of Crime Danger
Abandoned
buildings can
create fear
Fear of crime
(both real &
perceived)
needs to be
addressed
School siting issues: A generation ago
Small schools
Located in community centers
(EPA, 2003)
School siting issues: Today
Mega-schools
Built on edges of towns and cities
School consolidation has lengthened
the trip between home and school
From 1930
to 2002:
• The number of students in US rose from 28 to 53 million
• The number of schools decreased from 262,000 to 91,000
It’s not just distance
Students who live
within 1 mile and
walk or bike:
2001: 63%
1969: 87%
(CDC, 2005)
Traffic danger
2. What are the unintended consequences
of less walking and bicycling?
For the environment
For individual health
1996 Summer Olympic Games banned
single occupant cars in downtown Atlanta
Atlanta, GA
Results of the ban
Morning traffic – 23%
Peak ozone – 28%
Asthma-related events for kids – 42%
(Journal of the American Medical Association [JAMA], 2001)
Air quality
Measurably
better around
schools with
more walkers
and bicyclists
(EPA, 2003)
Chicago, IL
Physical inactivity
Most kids aren’t
getting the
physical activity
they need
Recommended
60 minutes on
most, preferably
all, days of the
week
(US Depts. of Health
and Human Services
and Agriculture, 2005)
U.S. youth overweight rates
(National Center for Health Statistics)
Overweight children have an
increased risk of…
Type 2 Diabetes
Low self esteem
Decreased physical functioning
Obesity in adulthood
Many other negative emotional & physical
effects
(Institute of Medicine, 2005)
Travel choices
make a difference
Today’s children may be the
first generation to have a
shorter life expectancy than
their parents
There is hope. You saw the transformation of
these children on Shaq’s Big Challenge.
Here is an After picture:
Good news!
Communities are taking action on behalf of
children through Safe Routes to School
Winston-Salem, NC Alhambra, CA
Phoenix, AZ
3. Safe Routes to School programs
are part of the solution…
...to improve
walking and
bicycling
conditions
...to increase
physical
activity
...to decrease
air pollution Dallas, TX
More benefits of SRTS programs
Reduce congestion around schools
Can lead to cost savings
for schools (reduce
need for “hazard”
busing)
Others: increase child’s
sense of freedom, help
establish lifetime habits,
teach pedestrian and
bicyclist skills
Elements of SRTS programs
Education
Encouragement
Enforcement
Engineering
Evaluation
Lenexa, KS
Education
Imparts safety skills
Creates safety
awareness
Fosters life-long safety
habits
Includes parents,
neighbors and other
drivers Chicago, IL
Encouragement
Increases
popularity of
walking and
bicycling
Is an easy way Elmhurst, IL
to start SRTS
programs
Emphasizes fun
Enforcement
Increases awareness
of pedestrians and
bicyclists
Richmond, VA
Improves driver
behavior
Helps children follow
traffic rules
Denver, CO
Engineering
Creates safer
conditions for
walking and
bicycling
Can influence
the way people
behave
West Valley City, UT
Evaluation
Is the program making a difference?
Federal Safe Routes to School program
$612 million to States
2005-2009
Funds infrastructure
and non-infrastructure
activities
Requires State SRTS
Coordinators More information:
www.saferoutesinfo.org
Florida’s Safe Routes
to School program
$28.7 million to Florida through
2009; distributed to 7 Districts
Program managed by Districts
under state Guidelines & SRTS
Coordinator, Pat Pieratte
State Guidelines & Applications
issued November 2006
More Information:
First Call for Applications is now
completed SRTSFL.ORG
Each state
designs their
own program
following the
Federal SRTS
Guidelines
How is Florida’s SRTS program set up?
Program Structure
State SRTS Coordinator
District SRTS Contacts
– District Safety Engineer for
infrastructure projects
– District CTST Coordinator &/or
Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator
for Non-Infrastructure activities
Website Tools
(SRTSFL.ORG)
Basic Program Information
Application Guidelines
Links to:
– Safe Ways to School Toolkit
– Other helpful sites
During Calls for Applications:
– Infrastructure Application
– Non-infrastructure
Information Form
Results of First Call
for Applications
• Everyone worked hard to publicize
SRTS & help applicants
• Some Districts received 60 applications
• Few Non-Infrastructure applications
received
• Projects being selected for multiple
years (thru FY ’09)
Results of First Call
for Applications, Cont.
What we learned
• Detailed applications:
–Require a lot from the applicant
–Make it easier to select good projects
• What worked well & what didn’t
–Minor modifications will be made before
the next Call for Applications
–Each District has to determine how the
program will work best in their District
Infrastructure
Application Process
Call for Applications each fall
Eligible Applicants:
• School Boards
• Private Schools
• Community Traffic Safety Teams
Eligible Sponsors:
• Counties
• Cities
• Metropolitan Planning
Organizations (MPO’s)
Other Partners encouraged
Infrastructure Application
Process, Cont.
• Applicants, Sponsors & Partners:
• Pick a school
• Identify problems
• Propose solutions
• Fill out application
• Gather required signatures
• &/or letters of support
• Submit them to District SRTS
Contacts by deadline
Infrastructure Application
Process, Cont.
District:
• Evaluation committee ranks applications
• Submits selected projects to State SRTS
Coordinator
State:
• SRTS Coordinator reviews projects
District:
• Revise projects as needed
• Proceed with project details—Work Program,
Local Agency Program (LAP) agreement,
design phases, invoicing, etc.
Non-Infrastructure
Activities (Changes)
• No Call for Applications; open until
available funds committed
• More qualified partners: government
entities, non-profits, schools, universities
• More options for Districts:
– Develop District-level Activities & materials
– Work with existing partners to enhance
programs
– Solicit new ideas from potential partners
Non-Infrastructure
Activities (Changes)
What you should do if interested:
• Contact your District Non-
Infrastructure person for more
information
• Fill out the Non-Infrastructure
Information Form before meeting
with District
Safe Routes to School goals
• Where it’s safe, get
children walking and
biking
• Where it’s not safe,
make changes
Winston-Salem, NC
General Questions?
See www.saferoutesinfo.org
Florida Questions?
See: www.srtsfl.org or contact:
Florida SRTS Coordinator
Pat Pieratte, 850-245-1529
Pat.Pieratte@dot.state.fl.us
or your District Contact
(see map & chart)