It seems like every year, we open our September federal policy post wondering whether the government will shut down on October 1 due to Congress failing to pass a budget, and unfortunately, 2024 is no different! So, will the government shut down? Our crystal ball tells us it won’t.
The good news is, it is unlikely that Congress will allow for a government shutdown in an election year as they want to get home to campaign. There are several versions of short-term continuing resolutions swirling (some ending in December, some ending in March 2025) that will keep the government open for business through election day 2024.
In the meantime, we turn our attention to the second tranche of funding awards USDOT made for the 2024 Safe Streets and Roads for All program. As you likely recall, Safe Streets and Roads for All is a competitive grant program administered by USDOT and open to communities all across the country with the explicit focus on reducing roadway injuries and fatalities through planning, demonstration, and implementation activities.
In 2024, there were three deadlines for applications, and USDOT just announced the awards for the second round. We were thrilled to see such a strong showing of Safe Routes to School planning, demonstration, and implementation activities! This winter and spring we offered several webinars, trainings, and provided technical assistance to communities to draw attention to the creative opportunities this versatile program can fund. From small towns to major metro areas, these awards show Safe Streets for All and Safe Routes to School work in all kinds of communities!
We’ll refrain from totaling dollar amounts until round 3 of Safe Streets for All awards are announced later this fall, but we highlight just a few successful Safe Routes to School projects from Round starting with Planning and Demonstration Grants:
- Rock Springs, WY (population 23,021) awarded $264,940 Rock Springs School and City Safety Pilot Initiative
- Mission Viejo, CA (population 91,776) awarded $560,000 to develop a Safe Routes to School Action Plan
- North Central Texas Council of Governments (population 8,481,512) awarded $5 million to conduct demonstration projects and supplemental planning related to Crossing Students Safely in the Dallas-Fort Worth, TX Region
Round 2 of 2024 was the only round in which implementation grants were awarded. As in prior rounds, Safe Routes to School featured prominently in implementation funding, with many awardees incorporating Safe Routes to School strategies and schools as focus areas in their proposals.
- West Hartford, CT (population 64,088) awarded $3.1 million to implement proven safety countermeasures at all 16 pre-k through 12 public schools in the town informed by Safe Rotes to School reports for each school
- Milpitas, CA awarded $2.9 million (population 77,738) specifically for Safe Routes to School implementation, as the city aims to address the fact that 49 percent of crashes involving people walking and bicycling in their community happen along routes to school.
- Palm Bay, FL (population 129,234) awarded $2.4 million to improve pedestrian safety near two schools with high volumes of people walking and bicycling at school arrival and dismissal times.
At our 2023 Safe Routes to School National Summit and earlier this year, we put out a call to action for the Safe Routes to School community: “Safe Routes to School programs, practitioners, advocates, and communities that care about safe, active, equitable mobility for kids and people of all ages need to apply for Safe Streets for All planning grants.” Round 2 of Safe Streets for All awards show that you heard the call and took action! If you missed the deadline this year, the great news is: there will be funding again next year. It is expected to open early in 2025, and we will be here each step of the way from project ideation, to answering your questions, to supporting your implementation once awarded. Keep an eye on our blog, our webinars, and our resources, and as always, please reach out with any federal policy or funding questions you have!