1. Safe Routes to School Improving Health, Safety and Transportation Lenexa, KS Jennifer Hefferan DC SRTS Coordinator Joe Pelaia Maryland SRTS Coordinator

2. Safe Routes to School programs are part of the solution…...to improve walking and bicycling conditions...to increase physical activity...to decrease air pollution Dallas, TX

3. More benefits of SRTS programs  Reduce congestion around schools  Can lead to cost savings for schools (reduce need for “hazard” busing)  Others: increase child’s sense of freedom, help establish lifetime habits, teach pedestrian and bicyclist skills

4. Safe Routes to School goals  Where it’s safe, get children walking and biking  Where it’s not safe, make changes Winston-Salem, NC

5. Elements of SRTS programs  Education  Encouragement  Enforcement  Engineering  Evaluation Lenexa, KS

6. Education  Imparts safety skills  Creates safety awareness  Fosters life-long safety habits  Includes parents, neighbors and other drivers Chicago, IL

7.  Increases popularity of walking and bicycling  Is an easy way to start SRTS programs  Emphasizes fun Encouragement Elmhurst, IL

8. Enforcement  Increases awareness of pedestrians and bicyclists  Improves driver behavior  Helps children follow traffic rules Denver, CO Richmond, VA

9. Engineering  Creates safer conditions for walking and bicycling  Can influence the way people behave West Valley City, UT

10. Evaluation Is the program making a difference?

11. Federal Safe Routes to School program  $612 million to States 2005-2009  Funds infrastructure and non-infrastructure activities  Requires State SRTS Coordinators More information: www.saferoutesinfo.org

12. DC program  Street Smart for Kids  School Zone Enforcement  School Area Sidewalks  Pilot Schools www.ddot.dc.gov/saferoutes

13. Maryland program facts: Total $ Projects Jurisdictions Schools Students GYA: $3,000,000 17 16 118 47,380 GYB: $4,000,000 15 17 100 28,584 Totals: $7,000,000 32 33 218 75,964

14. Maryland Process:  Grants are distributed to state, local and regional agencies, as well as non-profit organizations.  In order to apply for SRTS funds, an organization representative must attend a Grant Application Seminar (GAS).

15. Maryland Process (continued):  Once the EOI is submitted, it will be reviewed by a 10 member panel. The panel will recommend to either fully fund the project, partially fund it, or not to fund it at all.  The final decision is made by SHA Administrator Neil Pedersen.

16. Want more Information? www.saferoutesinfo.org Jennifer Hefferan DC SRTS Coordinator (202) 671-2227 jennifer.hefferan@dc.gov Joe Pelaia Maryland SRTS Coordinator (410) 787-7620 JPelaia@sha.state.md.us