Safe Routes to School E-News

Issue #46: October 2009

Safe Routes to School E-News is a monthly email newsletter published by the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, a growing network of more than 400 organizations working to advance the Safe Routes to School National movement. Please forward it to anyone you think might be interested by clicking the link at the bottom of this page.

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

In this issue:

1. CDC Releases Application for Hundreds of Millions in Preventing Funding
Bicycle and Pedestrian Programs and Promotions Eligible

2. The Partnership is Now on Facebook and Twitter: Join Us!
Connect to us and spread the word to your friends/colleagues

3. Safe Routes to School National Partnership’s Federal Update
Transportation bill in a holding pattern; Climate bill on the front burner

4. Safe Routes to School National Partnership’s 2009 Annual Meeting
Minutes and notes from breakout sessions are now available

5. National Center for Safe Routes to School Mini-Grants
Applications are due October 30

6. PolicyLink and Prevention Institute Book on Health and Transportation
Check out Healthy, Equitable Transportation Policy: Recommendations and Research

7. Safe Routes to School State Network Project Update
School siting mini-grants awarded to five network states

8. Alabama Awards 2nd Round of SRTS Funding
Twenty new projects were awarded totaling $2.7 million

9. North Carolina Announces $3.6 Million in SRTS Funding Awarded
22 projects were funded out of 93 applications received

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

1. CDC Releases Application for Hundreds of Millions in Prevention Funding
Bicycle and Pedestrian Programs and Promotions Eligible

On September 17, 2009, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced a new program: Communities Putting Prevention to Work. Thirty to forty communities will receive a total of $373 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (stimulus) dollars through this competitive grant program to support interventions that reduce obesity (through improved physical activity and nutrition) and/or reduce tobacco use. Communities can apply for either focus area or both. This landmark opportunity is aimed at mobilizing community resources toward broad-based policy, systems, organizational and environmental changes. The application places an emphasis on communities demonstrating effective coalitions, and notes that special consideration should be given to the inclusion of populations disproportionately affected by chronic diseases.

On September 29, 2009 the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced the release of $120 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funds for prevention and wellness programs for U.S. states and territories, building on the announcement of the $373 million funding opportunity for communities and tribes around the country. In all, the comprehensive Communities Putting Prevention to Work initiative will make $650 million available for public health efforts to address obesity, increase physical activity, improve nutrition, and decrease smoking.

Lead Applicants: Local and State Health Departments

Deadlines:

  • Letter of Intent Deadline: October 30, 2009
  • Application Deadline: December 1, 2009

Communities Putting Prevention to Work provides an important opportunity for bicycle and pedestrian professionals, enthusiasts, and advocates, as well as health officials, to act quickly to get your city or state to:

The Safe Routes to School National Partnership and America Bikes have prepared a list of sample bike/ped activities that fit within the five categories of evidence-based interventions that are required as part of this CDC application. We encourage you to review these sample activities and assess which would work well in your community. Funds are available to make these projects a reality-so it is in your interest to work with your health department to develop the bike/ped aspects of the CDC application for obesity prevention, and to demonstrate how your organization can be a resource to them. Now is the time to contact your health department and city officials to encourage them to apply, and to share your ideas on bike/ped interventions.

2. The Partnership is Now on Facebook and Twitter: Join Us!
Connect to us and spread the word to your friends/colleagues

Connect to the Safe Routes to School National Partnership - and our friends and fans - through our new Facebook and Twitter pages! Please also spread the word to your friends and colleagues. Once you join us on Facebook, please invite your friends to become a fan by clicking the "Share+" box in the lower left hand corner of our page.

What can you expect from the Safe Routes to School National Partnership’s new media presence?

  • An opportunity to share your experiences, successes, and challenges
  • Calls to action
  • The latest in Safe Routes to School news
  • Links to the great work of our partners in the active transportation movement
  • Helpful resources, publications, research, and much more

To access our pages directly, go to:

The Safe Routes to School National Partnership is excited to use these new platforms to share resources and work more interactively with national, state, and local groups and advocates across the nation. We hope you’ll join us and invite your friends and colleagues to connect to us as well!

3. Safe Routes to School National Partnership’s Federal Update
Transportation bill in a holding pattern; Climate bill on the front burner

Transportation bill - During September, Congress was unable to come to agreement on the length of the extension to the current transportation bill, which was set to expire on September 30, 2009. As we’ve reported previously, the House was pushing for a 3-month extension, while the Senate and Administration had been asking for an 18-month extension. Instead, they created a short-term 1-month extension throughout October, so discussions over the transportation bill timeline will continue.

There was also an effort in Congress to cancel the transportation rescissions, but that was not passed either. As a result, all states had to return a total of $8.7 billion in transportation dollars to the Federal Highway Administration for fiscal years 2004 through 2009. Safe Routes to School saw a cut of $24.2 million, or 4.02% of overall funding. The amount of funding lost in each state varied from $0 to a maximum of 4.45%.

In the meantime, we continue to build support for Safe Routes to School in Congress. The Senate Safe Routes to School bill, S. 1156, now has 15 Senators signed on as supporters. To keep growing the number of Senate and House supporters, please submit a "Dear Congress" letter for our campaign and encourage your friends to do the same. We will bundle your letter together with others and share with your Senators and Representative. Full details on how to participate in the Dear Congress campaign are on our website. And, some examples of letters we have received from children are on our new Facebook site.

Climate bill - On September 30, Senators Kerry (D-MA) and Boxer (D-CA) unveiled the Senate climate bill, called the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act. The bill will include a substantial section on transportation planning to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and a competitive grant program for green transportation projects-such as transit, bicycling, and walking infrastructure. The draft also includes funding set-asides for state and local governments to do the planning and carry out the projects, but the dollar value of those set-asides are unclear until additional details are included until later in the Committee process.

The Safe Routes to School National Partnership has endorsed S. 575, CLEAN-TEA, which would direct 10% of climate auction revenues to green transportation planning and infrastructure. We have also joined with a number of other organizations on a joint letter to Senators Boxer and Kerry to encourage them to include adequate funding for green transportation as the bill moves forward. We encourage Safe Routes to School supporters to contact their Senators to urge them to include adequate funding for transportation in the climate bill.

4. Safe Routes to School National Partnership’s 2009 Annual Meeting
Minutes and notes from breakout sessions are now available

The Safe Routes to School National Partnership held its Annual Meeting in conjunction with the Safe Routes to School National Conference in Portland, Oregon on August 19, 2009. The Annual Meeting was kicked off with a welcome from the Partnership’s Chair, Risa Wilkerson, and an update on Partnership business from our Director, Deb Hubsmith, which was then followed by a group discussion on the issue of resources needed to overcome liability concerns. The group also heard a federal policy update from Andy Clarke, League of American Bicyclists, Tyler Frisbee, Office of Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), and Margo Pedroso, our Deputy Director.

The remainder of the morning was spent in break-out groups, talking about issues related to specific topics affecting SRTS. The following topics were discussed: Diverse Communities; SRTS and Education; Enforcement and SRTS; Evaluation; Health and SRTS; Integrating SRTS into Contract Work; Liability; Nature, Environment, and SRTS; New Development Near Schools; Social Networking; and SRTS and Engineering. Discussions were productive and full of insight in all the break-out sessions, and thanks to the efforts of volunteer note-takers, we were able to capture much of what was discussed. The Annual Meeting closed with funny skits illustrating the great divide that can often exist between SRTS advocates and traffic engineers, and an expert panel of engineers and planners that provided a wonderful, interactive question and answer session. We hope you will find the notes from the meeting useful. Special thanks to Wendi Kallins, our Annual Meeting Committee Chair and Brooke Driesse, our Communications Manager who organized the meeting.

5. National Center for Safe Routes to School Mini-Grants
Applications are due October 30

The National Center for Safe Routes to School is now accepting applications for 20 mini-grants, up to $1,000 each. Eligible applicants include: faculty, staff, or parent volunteers at elementary or middle schools; adult-supervised elementary or middle school groups or clubs; adult-supervised high school groups/clubs that wish to partner with a nearby elementary or middle school; local governments; tribal governments; and/or community-based or private non-profit organizations engaged in improving safety for and increasing the number of children who safely walk or ride a bicycle to school. The aim of the mini-grants is to use student creativity and leadership skills to increase safe walking and bicycling to school. Successful applications will include one or more of the following: student-led activities, concern for the environment, and/or promotion of physical activity. Funded activities must be part of a new or existing Safe Routes to School program. For more information, see www.saferoutesinfo.org/minigrants. The application deadline is October 30, 2009.

6. PolicyLink and Prevention Institute Book on Health and Transportation
Check out Healthy, Equitable Transportation Policy: Recommendations and Research

The link between our nation’s health and our transportation policies has never been more clear - or more vital. Equitable, opportunity-rich communities require smarter, more innovative transportation and health policies. That is the message of Healthy, Equitable Transportation Policy: Recommendations and Research -- a new book released last week by PolicyLink and Prevention Institute, commissioned by the Convergence Partnership.

Relying on the wisdom and know-how of some of the nation’s leading academics and advocates, the book describes innovative transportation and land-use policies, strategies, and programs - all driven by a vision of equity and sustainability. Chapters include:

  • Health Effects of Transportation Policy
  • Transportation Authorization 101: A Backgrounder
  • Walking, Bicycling, and Health

As Congress looks to craft a new transportation framework this fall, the book provides facts, figures, case studies, and proven policy proposals that show how smart, equitable transportation policy can make us all healthier. Read more about transportation and health, and download the report - Healthy, Equitable Transportation Policy - on the Convergence Partnership website.

7. Safe Routes to School State Network Project Update
School siting mini-grants awarded to five network states

Since 2007, the Safe Routes to School National Partnership’s State Network Project has convened leaders in ten states to improve policies that affect the ability of children to walk or bicycle to school. Each network researched state level policies and prioritized policy change opportunities to improve the built environment and policies.

School siting, or the location and size of existing or new schools, and whether schools share parks, fields, and other public or private spaces through joint use agreements, is critically important to the ability of children to walk or bicycle to school. However, school siting in many school districts is done without input from state, regional, or local governments or citizens outside of the local school board and administration. Additionally, funding formulas in many states tend to favor new construction over the preservation of older buildings, which tend to be located where families live, and often are architecturally significant. To remedy this, state networks have been working to change state policies to favor neighborhood schools and promote cooperation between school districts and their communities.

Thanks to the Environmental Protection Agency and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, five network states have been awarded mini-grants to work on school siting policies in their states during 2010. The state networks are: California, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. The grants will help each state network to expand its unique work on school siting. Examples include: modifying state policy to remove minimum acreage standards, conducting a symposium, organizing a task force, launching an outreach campaign that promotes joint-use of facilities, and meeting with Department of Education officials to discuss protecting neighborhood schools.

8. Alabama Awards 2nd Round of SRTS Funding
Twenty new projects were awarded totaling $2.7 million

The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program is gaining momentum in Alabama. The second application cycle was just completed with the awarding of twenty new projects by the Department of Transportation Director totaling $2.7 million. There are now fifty-six projects with $7.9 million of funding allocated within Alabama.

The third round of application solicitations opened September 1 and will close November 30, 2009. A marketing tool was added for this cycle; a statewide radio awareness campaign targeting Walk Our Children to School Day on October 7, 2009. The results were phenomenal with large increases in the number of schools registering for Walk Our Children to School Day. There has also been a significant increase in the number of schools requesting applications.

The City of Fairhope, Alabama implemented a unique walk to school promotion last fall called the First Friday Fun Walk to School. Each month on the first Friday, students walk to school with an appropriate theme for the month. For example, in March, St. Patrick’s Day was the theme. It was very popular and strongly supported by parents and the community, so First Fridays are continuing.

For more information about the Alabama SRTS program, please contact Bill Luckerson or visit their website.

9. North Carolina Announces $3.6 Million in SRTS Funding Awarded
22 projects were funded out of 93 applications received
In September, the N.C. Department of Transportation awarded more than $3.6 million through its Safe Routes to School program to 22 municipalities and local agencies. "Communities in North Carolina are demanding more transportation choices around their schools," said Interim Safe Routes to School Coordinator, Sarah O’Brien. "Just one generation ago, it was common for students to walk or bike to school. These projects will not only help get us back to that quality of life in our neighborhoods, they can provide an economic boost to local agencies."

Of the 22 projects selected, 13 will focus on infrastructure improvements to include sidewalk and greenway construction, upgrades to school zone signage and ADA compliance at intersections, and pedestrian signal installations. Nine non-infrastructure grants totaling $256,751 will fund activities such as pedestrian and bicycle safety instruction, encouragement programs, student safety patrol programs, neighborhood speed watch programs, and crossing guard programs. A complete list of recipients is available at https://apps.dot.state.nc.us/pio/releases/Image.ashx?id=538 

NCDOT received 93 applications from across the state requesting almost five times the amount of funding available. This is the second year that N.C. Safe Routes to School grants have been awarded.

For more information about the NC Safe Routes to School program visit their website, or contact Sarah O’Brien at (919) 515-8703 or skworth@ncsu.edu.

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, a network of more than 400 organizations and agencies.

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

Please Contact: 
Brooke Driesse, Communications Manager
Safe Routes to School National Partnership 
brooke@saferoutespartnership.org
www.saferoutespartnership.org
(619) 272-0097