District of Columbia

Greater Washington, DC Area Safe Routes to School Regional Network

The Greater Washington, DC area regional network has been provided funding by Kaiser Permanente with a goal to leverage additional resources for walking and bicycling initiatives through regional and local policies and plans such as Regional Transportation Plans. More information on the regional network project can be found here.

You can follow activities of the regional network in our blog section and on the regional website; this site features meeting announcements and local success stories.

Quick Links 

Safe Routes to School Funding in District of Columbia | Success Stories | District of Columbia Partner Affiliates | Existing Legislation and Policies

Safe Routes to School Funding in District of Columbia

From 2005-2012, each state received federal funding specifically for Safe Routes to School projects via the federal transportation legislation SAFTEA-LU.  Many states still have funds remaining from the Safe Routes to School program; see our State of the States quarterly tracking report to see whether this funding is still available in District of Columbia. To learn more about federal funding for Safe Routes to School, read through the Five Steps to Federal Funding: A Brief Explanation of the Safe Routes to School Program Process. You can find additional resources in our national learning network too.

In July 2012, Congress passed a new transportation bill, MAP-21, which consolidated several bicycling and walking programs, including Safe Routes to School, into a new program called Transportation Alternatives. Starting in 2013, states have the option to continue running standalone Safe Routes to School programs or to have Safe Routes to School projects contend with other types of projects in a Transportation Alternatives competition. 

Additional information on how Transportation Alternatives works is available in our National Policy section.

Application Guidelines

DC has funded six local Safe Routes to School projects totaling more than 3 million. School districts and local governments are eligible to apply for Safe Routes to School infrastructure funds. Safe Routes to School projects require no local matching funds, and applications may be submitted in either of two ways.

Visit the District of Columbia Safe Routes to School program website for more information.

For more information on the steps you need to take to get started, read through the Five Steps to Federal Funding: A Brief Explanation of the Safe Routes to School Program Process. You can find additional resources in our national learning network too.

State Outreach Programs

Developed and implemented by the Washington Area Bicyclist Association (WABA), Bike and Pedestrian Safety is a free safety education program that brings training to schools. For more information, please see http://www.waba.org/education/youth.php .

DDOT is also partnering with the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) to provide enforcement of traffic laws in school zones. School zone enforcement will occur throughout the school year.

DDOT provides small prizes to schools that register International Walk to School events on the www.walktoschool.org website. In addition, DDOT is running a Walk & Roll Club during Fall 2009. Any eligible school can participate and receives all the supplies necessary to implement a frequent walker/bicyclist rewards program.

In addition to the projects that are being implemented using Federal Safe Routes to School funding, DDOT is conducting a School Area Assessment project to improve signs, signals, and marking maintenance around schools and to create a GIS inventory of these improvements.

State Advisory Committee

District of Columbia has a state advisory committee.

Success Stories

If you would like to submit a success story for consideration, please email it to Margaux Mennesson.

The Washington Area Bicyclist Association has developed several safe bicycling and walking programs and events for children.

District of Columbia Partner Affiliates

Find out which organizations in your state have pledged their support for the Safe Routes to School movement. If your organization isn't yet a partner affilate, we would love for you to join us; it's free! Find more info on joining here.

Existing Legislation and Policies

Key educational opportunities exist in priority issues relating to biking and walking in the District, such as Implementing the Federal and State Safe Routes to School program, School Siting and Co-location (especially regarding Public Charter Schools) and Complete Streets.

Other important Safe Routes to School issues include: Crossing Guard Assessment District, Strategic Highway Safety Implementation Plans, DCPS Wellness Policy, Safe Routes to School Evaluation Tools and Policies and Bicycle and Pedestrian Curriculum development.

DC’s recently completed Pedestrian Master Plan focused on arterial streets that present crossing challenges for all people on foot as well as policy review and training on pedestrian-friendly design principles.