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Texas Safe Routes to School Program

Texas Safe Routes to School Program. Children’s Health Risks. Related to Physical Inactivity, Pedestrian Safety, & Air Quality Prevalence of overweight children has tripled-Nationally there are 25 million obese or overweight children!

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Texas Safe Routes to School Program

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  1. TexasSafe Routes to School Program

  2. Children’s Health Risks Related to Physical Inactivity, Pedestrian Safety, & Air Quality • Prevalence of overweight children has tripled-Nationally there are 25 million obese or overweight children! • Sharp increase in cases of Type 2 Diabetes in children • Pedestrian injuries are the 3rd leading cause of unintentional injury-related death among children. • Asthma rates have increased 160% in the past 15 years in children.

  3. Barriers to walking and bicycling to school CommunityDesign Safety Time and Convenience

  4. Reasons to do a Safe Routes to School Program Increased physical activity Improved pedestrian skills Increased independence More social interaction Many reasons to do a Walk and Bicycle to School program Community design Reduced fear of crime Less reliance on automobile Decreased neighborhood/ school traffic

  5. Trends in School Travel (cont.) • Reasons for decrease in children walking & bicycling to school: • Distance to school • Traffic-related danger • Weather • Crime danger • Opposing school policy • Other

  6. Chances of a Child Being Harmed in a Given Year in the US Victim of a “stereotypical kidnapping”: .00016% Struck by lightning: .00025% Killed in a motor vehicle crash: .0125% Credit: Bob Chauncey National Center for Bicycling & Walking

  7. How can SRTS Improve Traffic? • As much as 26% of morning traffic can be school-related • Less children driven less traffic less stress (road rage)

  8. Environment & Air Quality • What is the environmental impact of SRTS? • Reduced air pollution from automobile emissions

  9. Safe Routes to School Programsa Key to the Solution • Start by developing a Safe Routes to School Plan

  10. Whatis a SRTS Plan? • Describes existing conditions • Identifies existing problems • Proposes solutions • Describes coordination efforts • Details evaluation methods

  11. Example of SRTS Activities • Walkability & bikeability audits of safety around the schools • Programs to improve sidewalk conditions near schools • Use of traffic calming devices to slow traffic • Programs to educate children on safely walking & bicycling

  12. SRTS Activities (cont.) • Develop walking school buses • Increase traffic enforcement around schools • Enhance cooperation among school officials, law enforcement, & transportation planners

  13. Texas SRTS Funding • FY 04-07 Committed $24,139,123 in Federal SAFETY-LU & State funds for total of 244 projects • “God Bless America” and “God Bless Texas” license plates, $32 per plate is used for the SRTS Program.

  14. 2007 Funds Approved in the H-GAC Area • Infrastructure: • City of Houston-Carrillo Elementary • Sidewalks, crosswalks, signs, traffic calming & bike racks • City of Houston-Briscoe Elementary • Sidewalks, crosswalks, signs, traffic calming & bike racks • City of Houston-Burnet Elementary • Sidewalks, crosswalks, signs, traffic calming & bike racks • City of Houston-Franklin & Tijerina Elementary • Sidewalks, crosswalks, signs, traffic calming & bike racks • City of Houston-DeZavala Elementary • Sidewalks, crosswalks, signs, traffic calming & bike racks

  15. Non-Infrastructure Projects from the H-GAC Area • 1 application received-not funded

  16. Next SRTS Program Call • Probably in the Fall of 2008 • If considering a Infrastructure or a Non-Infrastructure application, start now to develop SRTS Plan • Conduct a SRTS Planning Conference • Submit Plan to State SRTS Program Coordinator for review

  17. Internet Resources • Texas Safe Routes to School website www.dot.state.tx.us/services/traffic_operations/ safe_routes_to_school/default.htm • National Center for Safe Routes to School Clearinghouse www.saferoutesinfo.org • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration www.nhtsa.gov

  18. Contact Information Texas SRTS Coordinator Tonna Marcyes 512/416-3207 tmarcye@dot.state.tx.us

  19. Questions?

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