School Safety Grants

Grant Details

Safe Routes to Schools Program (SRTS)

U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), State Departments of Transportation (DOTs)

Funder Type: Federal Government	Award Amount: Varies
Deadlines: 12/31/09	Status: Expired
Get the full grant detail report with upstream advanced today! (Click Here) and receive a FREE two week trial of upstream advanced.

Grant Options

Add To Watch List

Email Grant

Print Grant

Award Description:
The SRTS Program is funded at $612 million over five Federal fiscal years (FY05-09). Funds are provided to each State and DC by formula based on the State's percentage of the national total of school-aged children in grades K-8. No State will receive less than $1 million in any fiscal year. Not less than 10% and not more than 30% of each State's apportionment is required to be spent on non-infrastructure activities. There is no Local match permitted. The SRTS Program is a reimbursement program for cost incurred. It is not a "cash-up front" program. The current apportionment table is available at http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/saferoutes/fy09projection.htm.
Eligibility Description:
Federal SRTS funds are provided to each State and the District of Columbia by formula. Each State administers its own program and develops its own procedures to solicit and select projects for funding. Amounts apportioned to a State under will be used by the State to provide financial assistance to State, local, and regional agencies, including nonprofit organizations that demonstrate an ability to meet the requirements of the program.
Summary:
The SRTS program provides funds to substantially improve the ability of primary and middle school students to walk and bicycle to school safely. The purposes of the program are: (1) to enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school; (2) to make bicycling and walking to school a safer and more appealing transportation alternative, thereby encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle from an early age; and (3) to facilitate the planning, development, and implementation of projects and activities that will improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and air pollution in the vicinity (approximately 2 miles) of primary and middle schools (Grades K-8). Desired outcomes of the Safe Routes to School Program include: Increased bicycle, pedestrian, and traffic safety; More children walking and bicycling to and from schools; Decreased traffic congestion; Improved childhood health; Reduced childhood obesity; Encouragement of healthy and active lifestyles; Improved air quality; Improved community safety; Reduced fuel consumption; Increased community security; Enhanced community accessibility; Increased community involvement; Improvements to the physical environment that increase the ability to walk and bicycle to and from schools; Improved partnerships among schools, local municipalities, parents, and other community groups, including non-profit organizations; and Increased interest in bicycle and pedestrian accommodations throughout a community. The program establishes two distinct types of funding opportunities: infrastructure projects (engineering improvements) and non-infrastructure related activities (such as education, enforcement and encouragement programs). Projects and activities in each category should directly support increased safety and convenience for elementary and middle school children in grades K-8 to bicycle and/or walk to school. Projects may indirectly benefit high school age youth or the general public, however these constituencies cannot be the sole or primary beneficiaries. Eligible infrastructure-related projects include the planning, design, and construction of infrastructure-related projects that will substantially improve the ability of students to walk and bicycle to school, including: sidewalk improvements; traffic calming and speed reduction improvements; pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements; on-street bicycle facilities; off-street bicycle and pedestrian facilities; secure bicycle parking facilities; and traffic diversion improvements in the vicinity of schools. For infrastructure projects, public funds must be spent on projects within the public right of way. Eligible non-infrastructure activities are activities to encourage walking and bicycling to school, including: public awareness campaigns and outreach to press and community leaders; traffic education and enforcement in the vicinity of schools; student sessions on bicycle and pedestrian safety, health, and environment; and funding for training, volunteers, and managers of safe routes to school programs. The following four objectives should be considered in structuring programs at the State level: Objective 1: Enable Participation on a Variety of Levels; Objective #2: Make the Program Accessible to Diverse Participants; Objective #3: Promote Comprehensive SRTS Programs and Activities; and Objective #4: Maximize Impact of the Funds. Each State receiving an apportionment must use a sufficient amount of the apportionment to fund a full-time position of coordinator of the State's safe routes to school program.

Contacts

History

Additional Info.

Tim Arnade
Federal Highway Administration
Safe Routes to School Program Manager

Address:
Office of Safety - HSST, E71-105
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590

Telephone: 202-366-2205
E-Mail: tim.arnade@dot.gov
URL: http://www.safety.fhwa.dot.gov/saferoutes/srtsguidance.htm

Date Added: 10/08/07