Safe Routes to School E-News
Issue #175: October 2020
Safe Routes Partnership E-News is a monthly email newsletter published by the Safe Routes Partnership. We are also on Facebook and Twitter. Join us!
- New Fact Sheet: Boosting Active Transportation Through Regional Transportation Plans
- Save the Date: 2021 Safe Routes to Parks Activating Communities Program Applications Open November 9
- Now Hiring: Communications and Equity Manager
- New Fact Sheet: Safe Routes to Parks in Complete Streets Policies
- Congress Says See You Next Year on Transportation
- Solidarity for Police-Free Schools in Salem-Keizer
- Walk to School Day Roundup
1. New Fact Sheet: Boosting Active Transportation Through Regional Transportation Plans
For active transportation and Safe Routes advocates, the regional transportation planning process offers critical opportunities to influence a region’s long-term commitment to active transportation and transit, and to actually ensure that funding goes to specific biking, walking, and transit projects. A new fact sheet, Boosting Active Transportation Through Regional Transportation Plans, draws on our extensive experience focusing on policy work at the regional level to lay out success stories, best practices, and resources for anyone looking to ensure a region-wide commitment to safer, more convenient streets for biking and walking.
2. Save the Date: 2021 Safe Routes to Parks Activating Communities Program Applications Open November 9
The Safe Routes Partnership invites communities and organizations working to improve safe, equitable access to local parks to apply for the 2021 Safe Routes to Parks Activating Communities program. The program provides tailored technical assistance for seven communities to develop Safe Routes to Parks action plans and awards $12,500 to each community to begin implementing those plans.
Applications will open November 9 and will be accepted until December 18, 2020. Stay tuned—more information coming soon!
3. Now Hiring: Communications and Equity Manager
The Safe Routes Partnership is seeking an energetic and detail-oriented professional with strong experience in communications, marketing, project management, and a commitment to advancing equity to join our team as the Communications and Equity Manager. This role is responsible for developing and implementing the communications and marketing objectives of the Safe Routes Partnership while also serving as co-lead for the organization’s commitment to advancing equity and racial justice. Learn more about the position and apply by November 5!
4. New Fact Sheet: Safe Routes to Parks in Complete Streets Policies
Asking your city to take on Safe Routes to Parks as a standalone initiative may be daunting and even out of the question for overcommitted staff with limited funding. Instead, you can find ways that Safe Routes to Parks goals can align with a variety of other transportation and health priorities. This fact sheet will offer suggestions for how to incorporate Safe Routes to Parks strategies and priorities into Complete Streets in order to drastically increase the likelihood of sustainable funding and consistent implementation.
5. Congress Says See You Next Year on Transportation
Last week, Congress passed a one-year extension to the current transportation law, the FAST Act. That means it will be up to the next Congress and President, as determined by next month’s elections, to come up with an infrastructure bill. Read our federal policy blog for more details.
6. Solidarity for Police-Free Schools in Salem-Keizer
In Salem-Keizer, Oregon, community partners Latinos Unidos Siempre and Salem Keizer Coalition in Equality have called for the removal of school resource officers from Salem-Keizer schools. The Safe Routes Partnership is supporting their work and has joined petitions and submitted testimony in support of removing police from schools. Learn more in our regional network update.
This month, thousands schools, students, and families celebrated the joy of Walk to School Day in many new and creative ways! Whether it was taking a break from virtual learning to walk around the block or walking to school safely with masks on, enthusiasm was as high as ever. If you weren’t able to join the celebration, there’s still time! Families, neighborhoods and schools are welcome to celebrate any day in October that works best for their schedules. Register and find ideas at www.walkbiketoschool.org.
Be sure to check out #WalktoSchoolDay on social media for inspiration, photos, and quotes from fellow walkers!