A Project of Traffic Safe Communities Network Safe routes to school A Project of Traffic Safe Communities Network Alice Kawaguchi, Health Education Specialist Santa Clara County Public Health Department March 26, 2014 © 2013 Santa Clara County Public Health Department The Public Health Department is owned and operated by the County of Santa Clara

Traffic Safe Communities Network Launch: 1997 Partners: 70+ local stakeholders, representing healthcare, engineering, law enforcement, bicycle and pedestrian advocates, schools and others interested in reducing traffic related injuries and deaths Leadership: County Health Officer and Member of County Board of Supervisors Staff: Public Health Department Current Priority Areas: Alcohol and Impaired Driving Prevention, Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety, Active Transportation Policy, Comprehensive Data Collection Funding: Primarily grant funded; supplemented by General Funds TSCN began in 1997 using the Safe Communities Model promoted by the WHO and NHTSA. Understanding that traffic related injuries and deaths are preventable and need to be addressed at the community level. From 1997-98 a large group of local traffic safety stakeholders and with the leadership of Dr. Fenstersheib and Sup. Jim Beall, formed the Network. Stakeholders represented law enforcement, engineering, public health, injury prevention, elected officials, judiciary, emergency medical services, bicycle and pedestrian advocates, and community organizations. Throughout the year, they developed the mission and identified the Network’s priority areas. Mission: Prevent traffic-related injuries, disabilities, fatalities, and costs by adapting NHTSA’s Safe Communities Model through a comprehensive and systematic collaborative planning process focused on both a prevention and “best practices” approach in order to create a safer, healthier and more economically viable community. Over time the workgroups have evolved but the two have remained consistent: AIDPWG and Bike/Ped Safety We have been very fortunate the partners who got involved early have continued to be engaged. Very few collaborative can say they have been in existence for 15 years or more. TSCN was exclusively grant funded until two years ago when it also became supported by General Funds. Current funding includes: California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS), Caltrans, Metropolitan Transportation Commission/Valley Transportation Authority (VTA), General Funds

Our Non-infrastructure SRTS Program FUNDING Initial funding (2008 - 2010) by California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the California Office of Traffic Safety Currently funded (2011- 2014) by VTA (Valley Transportation Authority), our local congestion management agency, and MTC (Metropolitan Transportation Commission) for VERBS (Vehicle Emissions Reductions Based at Schools) Additional Funding (2013-2015) from Caltrans

Initial Strategies Student and Parent Safety Education Encouragement Events 9/18/2018

Comprehensive SRTS Strategies Walkability/Bikeability Assessment SRTS Team Planning Meetings SRTS Supply Plans Volunteer, Parent, Coordinator Recruitment and Training Middle/High School Engagement Community Outreach and Education Policies to Support Walking and Bicycling Community Engagement and ownership in data collection, walk/bike assessment, bike rodeos, developing their own plans for walking groups, or Walking Wednesday

Walkability/Bikeability Assessment Counts of pedestrians and bicyclists Observation of behaviors Environmental Assessment Community based Mid-block cross, are parents walking Bicyclist wearing helmets, ride with traffic, stop at signs Room to walk or bike Easy to walk or bike Pleasant, safe, driver beahviors

Other Assessment and Evaluation Student travel to school tallies Survey of parent attitudes/opinions about walking and bicycling

SRTS Team Planning Meeting We take all of the information and turn out an individualized school report and present the information a school meeting. Team includes law enforcement, engineering, healthcare, bicycle and pedestrian advocates, school community, etc.

Written Plans/Supplies Walking groups, walking days, incentive days Twenty nine elementary, middle or high schools participated in the school materials program and 28 of 29 or 97% successful implemented their plans. The one school that did not implement their original plan, focused on educational aspects of the Safe Routes to School Program.

Student Traffic Safety Education Again, we ask the school to provide at least half of the volunteer and we contract with LCI to supervise the activities. Classroom presentations and bicycle rodeos

Parent Traffic Safety Education We contract with a LCI to supervise the riding stations. Family Fun Bike Night Families ride to school for traffic safety presentation… riding stations and bike check.

Other Bike and Helmet Activities Helmet Distribution and Fitting Mobile Bike Repair Shop, sponsored by MTC

SRTS Coordinator Engagement Volunteer, Coordinator and Parent “How to Workshops” Jumpstart Your Program Walking School Buses and Bicycle Trains Walking Days and Incentive Systems Bike Rodeos Evaluation Recruit school site coordinators, train

Encouragement Events Family Fun Bike Rides To encourage and support walking and bicycling among youth and families, TSCN sponsors an annual Walk and Bike to School Week event and Family Fun Bike Rides. Last October’s Walk and Bike to School event engaged over youth from over 30 elementary, middle, and high schools. The last Family Fun Bike Ride had nearly 200 young people and parents riding together and practicing safe riding skills. For some families, it was the first time their children had been on a “bike ride.” Walk and Bike to School Week

Middle and High School Engagement Student clubs and leadership classes develop plans Train younger students Develop video and social media Organize walk/bike to school days

Safe Routes to School workshops and walking audits Community Education Working with local school districts and cities to develop resolutions of support for SRTS, safety and wellness plans and policies to support walking and bicycling to school, and communication between the various partners at the city, school district and parents. Safe Routes to School workshops and walking audits

Active Transportation Policy Trainings with national experts. Over the last two years, TSCN has begun to broaden its activities from providing direct services to coordinating countywide Safe Routes to School activities and empowering communities to make sustainable changes. These efforts include bringing in expert speakers from around the country. Here we see Mark Fenton, leading a group of community members and elected officials on a walking audit and discussing the group’s observations. In collaboration with other PHD efforts, TSCN staff worked with cities and school districts to create Safe Routes to School resolutions. We also worked with staff to insert policy language into planning documents and school district wellness policies and safety plans.”

For More Information Traffic Safe Communities Network (TSCN) in Santa Clara County c/o Santa Clara County Public Health Department Sobrato Center for Nonprofits – San Jose, 1400 Parkmoor Avenue, San Jose, CA 95126 Alice Kawaguchi, (408) 793-2700 alice.kawaguchi@phd.sccgov.org www.sccphd.org/traffic