Safe Routes to School E-News
Issue #24: December 2007
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 300 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!
To receive future issues of E-News, email info@saferoutespartnership.org.
In this issue:
1. Join Our New List-Serve
Learn how other states and local programs are implementing Safe Routes to School
2. SRTS National Partnership Training Report Released
View the results of the survey on our website
3. Contribute Funds to the Safe Routes to School National Partnership
Make a tax-deductible contribution today to help us achieve our 2008 goals!
4. SRTS National Partnership’s State Network Project Update
Network Organizers meet in Michigan and network action plans are being completed
5. New Partners for Smart Growth Conference – February 7-9, 2008
Register now; some scholarships still available!
6. School Siting – Location Affects the Potential to Walk and Bicycle
Recent news and resources
7. Vermont Agency of Transportation Announces Infrastructure Awards
$1.6 million in infrastructure funds awarded for 22 projects throughout the state
8. Tennessee’s SRTS Program Hits the Ground Running
More than $4.4 million in funds awarded
9. Boulder’s High-Tech Solution: Freiker Encourages and Measures Bicycle Riders
No clipboards, punch cards or daily volunteers
10. SRTS News Throughout the Country
Local and state SRTS program news links
1. Join Our New List-Serve
Learn how other states and local programs are implementing Safe Routes to School
Safe Routes to School National Partnership has officially switched from Topica to a more reliable list-serve host – A-List Hosting.
The Partnership’s list-serve can help you learn what other states and local programs are doing regarding SRTS program implementation, resources, the establishment of State Advisory Committees, how funds will be distributed for infrastructure and non-infrastructure activities, and more. Individuals and groups are welcome to join and share information or ask questions about program implementation, best practices, and regional and national news. To join, click here, and follow these instructions:
1. Click on “Safe Routes to School”
2. Choose mailing list topic “saferoutestoschool”
3. Click “Join saferoutestoschool”
4. After filling in the required information, click the save button. You will receive a confirmation email that you must respond to, and then you will be officially subscribed.
Once you have joined, you can post messages by either visiting the web interface or by sending an email to saferoutestoschool@saferoutes.listserve.us. List-serve participants have the choice of receiving each sender’s message, receiving a daily digest, or checking the messages on a website.
Please contact Brooke Driesse if you have any questions about the new list-serve.
2. SRTS National Partnership Training Report Released
View the results of the survey on our website
The Safe Routes to School National Partnership conducted a nationwide survey in May-June 2007 to assess the extent of existing SRTS training programs and to determine possible training needs. More than 175 organizations responded providing generous feedback. Based on the results of the survey, our Training Committee led by Wendi Kallins of the Marin Safe Routes to School Program compiled a report with an analysis of the information collected. Information gathered ranged from what type of training is needed to which training topics offered are most useful for audiences. For a complete viewing of survey results in their raw data form, visit the survey report website.
For more information on the Training Committee Report, please contact Wendi Kallins.
3. Contribute Funds to the Safe Routes to School National Partnership
Make a tax-deductible contribution today to help us achieve our 2008 goals!
The SRTS National Partnership serves an important role as the umbrella advocacy arm for SRTS in the United States. Our organization is largely funded by grants and contracts, so we rely on organizational and individual contributions to provide for program flexibility. We respectfully request that you consider making a contribution to help us achieve our 2008 goals. During 2007, we made great strides including:
• Launching our new website, saferoutespartnership.org, which includes separate web pages for all 50 states and the District of Columbia, providing a tangible way for people and organizations to get involved with SRTS and find out how to access part of the $612 million in federal funds;
• Developing the Safe Routes to School: 2007 State of the States Report, released at a national press conference held in Washington, DC, presented at the 1st SRTS Congressional hearing, and delivered to every member in the Senate and the House of Representatives;
• Kicking off our Safe Routes to School (SRTS) State Network Project, which is bringing together state agencies with advocates to ensure that SRTS succeeds and grows; and
• Initiating and presenting the 1st National SRTS Conference in November 2007, a sold-out success, shown by the rave evaluations of more than 400 attendees.
We have ambitious plans for 2008. Some of our upcoming projects include:
• Advocating for the growth of SRTS funding through the reauthorization of the federal transportation bill SAFETEA-LU;
• Providing a “How to Form a SRTS State Network Guide” based on best practices and lessons learned through the State Network Project;
• Tracking implementation of SRTS in all 50 states and the District of Columbia, posting key findings on our website, and working with advocates and DOTs to advance the program, especially in states that have been slow with implementation; and
• Working to link SRTS with school siting and complete streets, and advancing SRTS as a solution to pressing issues such as childhood obesity and climate change.
The Safe Routes to School National Partnership hopes that you will consider making a voluntary contribution to help us continue to further this important work. We welcome contributions of any amount. To make a contribution, please visit our website for more information on how to do so, or contact Brooke Driesse.
4. SRTS National Partnership’s State Network Project Update
Network Organizers meet in Michigan and network action plans are being completed
SRTS State Network Organizers met for an additional day after the November 5-7 SRTS national conference in Dearborn, Michigan to analyze the first six months of the network project, exchange ideas, share success stories and plan for the future. Also in attendance was the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s program officer for this project. Discussion topics included recruiting and engaging diverse network members, managing special workgroups, creating a national learning network, and conducting outreach in states.
State Network Action Plans are now being completed in nine states. They were developed with input from network members and associates to guide the work of the network during the next two years, and will be reviewed every six months. Action Plans include details about particular policy issues, their ranking in importance to the state network, tasks, timelines and policy leaders. These plans will act as ‘road maps’ for the networks and will form the basis of reports, guides and a learning network. In addition to ensuring that the federal funds are spent on good projects, Action Plans include policy elements such as complete streets, strategic highway safety plans, and school siting.
We are looking for an organization or individual to manage the state network project in the great state of Texas. If you have a suggestion for an ideal candidate for this paid contract position (10 hours/week), please contact Robert Ping, State Network Manager, or at 503.289.0441.
5. New Partners for Smart Growth Conference – February 7-9, 2008
Register now; some scholarships still available!
The 7th Annual New Partners for Smart Growth Conference: Building Safe, Healthy and Livable Communities is taking place in Washington, DC, February 7-9, 2008.
A limited number of need-based scholarships to cover registration fees will be given to participants who would not otherwise be able to attend. Priority will be given to individuals representing small nonprofits, community-based and grassroots organizations, local governments, and those traveling to Washington, DC from other states. Details on who is eligible and how to apply can be found at
http://www.newpartners.org/scholarships.html.
Plan to join us, and others, from across the U.S. in DC next February for the smart growth event of the year. Visit the New Partners for Smart Growth website to get more details on the program and optional tours, or to register!
6. School Siting - Location Affects the Potential to Walk and Bicycle
Recent news and resources
State and local-level decisions regarding school siting, construction, and design have significant impacts on whether homes are located within walking and cycling distance of schools. Multiple Congressional members brought up the issue of school siting at the October 2 SRTS Congressional Hearing. It was also addressed recently in the Baltimore Sun, detailing Maryland’s soaring school bus costs due to sprawling communities, and what a local organization is doing to advocate for more neighborhood schools.
Tim Torma, a policy analyst in the U.S. EPA Smart Growth Program, maintains an email list for people and organizations interested in school siting issues. Members of the list receive relevant news articles, recent research and other resources on how and where schools are built, and how kids get to schools. If you would like to be added to the list, send Tim an email and ask to be added. For more information, you can also visit the Partnership’s website, which has a section dedicated to school siting with links to other resources.
7. Vermont Agency of Transportation Announces Infrastructure Awards
$1.6 million in infrastructure funds awarded for 22 projects throughout the state
The Vermont Agency of Transportation (VTrans) recently announced that 22 schools received a total of $1.6 million in infrastructure funds through the Agency’s Safe Routes to School program.
Vermont’s program is established as a two phase program where schools initially apply for non-infrastructure funds to support the work of local multi-disciplinary Safe Routes to School teams. After a year of planning, conducting education and encouragement events and determining infrastructure needs, these schools are eligible to apply for SRTS infrastructure funds.
Competition for funding was stiff, as VTrans received 26 applications for a total request of $3.8 million. The Agency was able to provide $1.6 million that will aid 22 projects. Awards were granted to safety projects that include sidewalks, improved school zone signs and pavement markings, countdown pedestrian signals, radar speed feedback signs and traffic calming improvements. The awarded projects are from all parts of the state including urban, suburban and rural communities.
“Safe Routes to School is about kids walking and biking to school regularly, routinely, and safely,” said VTrans Secretary Neale Lunderville, “The program is an opportunity to have schools and communities work together to solve some of their pressing safety, environmental and health challenges.”
The Vermont program is looking forward to getting new schools involved by offering the next round of non-infrastructure funding in early 2008. For more information about Vermont’s Safe Routes to School program, contact Jon Kaplan, SRTS Coordinator, or visit their website.
8. Tennessee’s SRTS Program Hits the Ground Running
More than $4.4 million in funds awarded
As a small component of Governor Phil Bredesen’s efforts to improve the quality of education in Tennessee, the Tennessee Department of Transportation recently launched a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program. The new initiative integrates health, fitness, traffic relief, environmental concerns, and safety all under one umbrella.
In October, TDOT awarded more than $4.4 million in funds to 26 applicants that will benefit 40 schools across the state. The schools will utilize the funds for infrastructure improvements such as the addition of sidewalks, bike lanes, and crosswalks near schools and a majority of the schools will also use the funds to educate children about safe practices and healthy choices.
The SRTS movement is nothing new for one of TDOT’s 2007 award recipients - Safe Routes Chattanooga, a program of the Regional Planning Agency. For more than 10 years, the agency has served the Hamilton County area utilizing both local and private funds to enable and encourage students and their parents to walk and bicycle as a viable transportation choice. TDOT awarded Safe Routes Chattanooga two grants of more than $334,000 this year for sidewalks, crosswalks, safety enhancements, bike racks, traffic controls, and pedestrian education.
For more information on TDOT’s SRTS program, visit their website or contact Diana Benedict, Tennessee’s DOT Coordinator.
9. Boulder’s High-Tech Solution: Freiker Encourages and Measures Bicycle Riders
No clipboards, punch cards or daily volunteers
A three-year old program in Boulder, Colorado has doubled the number of bicycle trips taken by the students at Crest View Elementary from 10,000 to 20,000 trips per year. In fact, 25% of the students may ride their bicycles on any given day.
The Freiker program (FREquent - bIKER) uses innovative technology to count the number of days a child rides their bicycle to school. Participants then trade in accumulated rides for prizes.
Freiker measures participation every day, rain or shine, with no guesswork, no surveys, and no need for volunteers to stand in the snow punching cards or counting bicycles. The secret is the Freikometer, a simple, solar-powered device that sits right by the bicycle racks. Participants have RFID tags on their helmets. When kids bicycle to school, they ride under the Freikometer, which registers the tags, beeps, and wirelessly uploads the data to the Freiker website so kids can see how close they are to earning a prize.
Ned Levine, Crest View’s principal, raves about the program: “Our bike racks are overflowing. Everybody here loves the program and the extra encouragement it provides to students to bike to school.”
Freiker is currently operating at 5 schools with help from sponsors and a local SRTS grant. For 2008, Freiker will be adding walking and expanding to at least an additional 10 schools nationally. Learn more at www.freiker.org.
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 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 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