2010 Wisconsin Safe Routes to School Funding

2010 SRTS Project Application Cycle Applications available January 2010 Applications due April 2, 2010 Approximately $6 million awarded

Eligible Projects Within two miles of a grade or middle school (kindergarten through eighth grade) Benefit is for walking/biking Can include education, encouragement, enforcement, engineering and evaluation. Projects are 100% fundable to the limit of the project award. For Infrastructure and Non-Infrastructure projects communities will be required to complete the project and then request reimbursement from WisDOT.

Eligible Applicants Planning –Municipality, School, Indian Tribe –Non-Profit organization Infrastructure: –State, local, or regional governmental unit with jurisdiction over property –Indian Tribe with jurisdiction over property Non-infrastructure: –Municipality, School, Indian Tribe –Non-Profit organization

Project Timeline Planning – Projects will begin in Fall 2010 Infrastructure - Small Infrastructure projects with few issues and completed design may be able to begin construction in late The majority of Infrastructure projects should plan for construction in 2012 or Non-Infrastructure – Projects should anticipate starting no sooner than Spring Some projects may want to request funds for some activities before construction and some after.

Application Options Planning Assistance OR Non-Infrastructure and Infrastructure Projects

Planning Assistance Communities will receive the services of a Wisconsin DOT hired consulting firm or their RPC/MPO Firm will assist with tasks such as: –Walk/Bike Audits –Community Meeting facilitation –Existing conditions evaluation –Survey data analysis –Report Writing

Non-Infrastructure and Infrastructure Projects Activities that include: Education Encouragement Enforcement Engineering Evaluation

Safe Routes to School Selection Committee Committee comprised of program experts from the following type of organizations - DOT Bureau of Transit and Local Roads DOT Bureau of Transportation Safety Department of Health and Family Service Department of Public Instruction A Police Department A Health Department A Safe Routes to School Program Safe Kids Coalition Bicycle Federation of Wisconsin

Planning Assistance

Selection Criteria Planning Assistance Strength of Task Force – 30% Potential for development of successful SRTS Program – 20% Severity of identified problems – 20% Community and school support for SRTS, biking and walking – 15% Community need for assistance and community demographics – 15%

Strength of Task Force Committee looked for: Inclusion of committee members from key areas such as schools, engineering/public works department, health, and police. Diversity of committee membership such as bringing in parents, business owners, or other members that bring important perspectives. Activities committee has already undertaken that show their ability to successfully undertake the planning process.

Potential for development of successful SRTS Program Things committee looked for include: Showing how SRTS will fit into larger city planning. Activities they are already undertaking to build support for SRTS. Other programs related to physical activity, wellness or safety that the school or community has started and that has been successful. Recognition of need for continuing evaluation and updating of plan. Success with similar planning efforts or programming efforts.

Severity of identified problems Things committee looked for include: Crash or injuries near school or in community involving children. Lack of or poorly maintained bicycle or pedestrian facilities. Documented traffic problems such as speeding or high traffic volume roads near school. High level of parent concerns shown by conducting survey. Lack of any children that currently walk or bike. Hazard bussing situations.

Community and school support for SRTS, biking and walking Things committee looked for include: Bicycle and pedestrian friendly policies (or willingness to change or add policies as part of planning process). Wellness policy that promotes physical activity. Involvement with programs such as the Green and Healthy Schools, Governor’s School Health Award, Movin’ and Muchin’ Program or other programs that promote issues of physical fitness, health, etc. Promotion of biking and walking through Walk to School Day, bike rodeos, physical education classes or other similar events.

Community need for assistance and community demographics Things committee looked for include: High percentage of low-income students in school (based on number of students eligible for free or reduced cost lunch). Community has few professional staff that could provide the necessary planning assistance. Community would be unlikely to be able to undertake the planning process without a grant.

Infrastructure and Non-Infrastructure Projects

Infrastructure Questions Historic buildings or area Wetlands Railroad within 1000 feet of project Recreational area, park or wildlife refuge State or Federal Highway Real Estate Issues

Selection Criteria Infrastructure and Non-infrastructure SRTS Plan or similar assessment – 25% Severity of identified problems – 15% Effective and Comprehensive Solutions – 15% Increases walking, biking and/or safety – 15% Community and school support for SRTS, biking and walking and future sustainability of SRTS efforts – 15% Community need – 5% Overall quality and creativity of projects/activities – 4% Evaluation plan – 4% Time table – 2%

SRTS Plan or similar assessment Things committee looked for include: Community has a completed SRTS Plan that assesses the issues that keep children from biking and walking to school. The requested projects and activities were recommended actions in the plan. The community has a Bicycle and/or Pedestrian Plan or Comprehensive Plan that looked at pedestrian and bicycle issues near the community’s schools. The requested projects or activities were recommended actions in the plan. The community has undertaken some planning efforts such as walk or bike audits, assessment of the school facilities and problems at pick-up and drop-off time, parent surveys, traffic volume and speed studies or other SRTS assessments.

Severity of identified problems Things committee looked for include: Crash or injuries near school or in community involving children. Lack of or unsafe bicycle or pedestrian facilities. Documented traffic problems such as speeding or high traffic volume roads near school. High level of parent concerns shown by conducting survey. Hazard bussing situations.

Effective and Comprehensive Solutions Things committee looked for include: The project or activity described addresses the problems that were identified. Community/school has given consideration to necessary engineering, education, enforcement and encouragement that is needed to encourage and enable children to walk and bike to school safely.

Increases walking, biking and/or safety Things committee looked for include: Project has strong potential to get more children walking and biking to school. Project will significantly increase the safety of children who are currently walking to school.

Community and school support for SRTS, biking and walking and future sustainability of SRTS efforts Things committee looked for include: Bicycle and pedestrian friendly policies (or plan in place to change policies) at school and community level. Wellness policy that promotes physical activity. Involvement with programs such as the Green and Healthy Schools, Governor’s School Health Award, Movin’ and Muchin’ Program or other programs that promote issues of physical fitness, health, etc. Promotion of biking and walking through Walk to School Day, bike rodeos, physical education classes or other similar events. Activities they are already undertaking that support for SRTS.

Community and school support for SRTS, biking and walking and future sustainability of SRTS efforts Other programs related to physical activity, wellness or safety that the school or community has started and that has been successful. Recognition of need for continuing evaluation and updating of plan. Success with similar planning efforts or programming efforts. Policies related to sidewalk provision or development of trails for new developments Prior provision of facilities such as sidewalks, traffic calming, trails, etc

Community need Things committee looked for include: High percentage of low-income students in school (based on number of students eligible for free or reduced cost lunch or other provided data). Community would be unlikely to be able to undertake the project without SRTS funding.

Overall quality and creativity of projects/activities Things committee looked for include: Community has shown that they understand their community’s specific needs and have approached the solution creatively. In addition, consideration was given to the federal objectives of: Project likely to decrease traffic congestion. Project likely to improve childhood health. Project likely to reduce childhood obesity. Project likely to encourage a healthy and active lifestyle. Project likely to improve partnerships between schools, municipalities, parents and other community groups. Project likely to increase a community’s interest in bicycle/pedestrian facilities.

Overall quality and creativity of projects/activities Project likely to improve air quality. Project likely to improve community safety. Project likely to reduce fuel consumption. Project likely to increase community security. Project likely to enhance community accessibility. Project likely to increase community involvement.

Evaluation plan Things committee looked for include: Community will be able to complete required Student and Parent surveys. Project includes additional evaluation activities that are appropriate to the size and complexity of the project.

Time table Things committee looked for include: Project has necessary approvals to begin as soon as funding is available. Project can be completed within three years.

Other WisDOT Resources Transportation Enhancements Contact John Duffe

Contacts Renee Callaway

Website saferoutes.htm