FEDERAL PROGRAM OUTLINE

2. FEDERAL PROGRAM OUTLINE

3. What is Safe Routes? • A Federal transportation program to “…enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school…”

4. The 5 “E’s” • Engineering • Education • Enforcement • Encouragement • Evaluation

5. Safe Routes to School Program Goals • To enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school

6. Program Goals • 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

7. Program Goals • 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 of schools.

8. Who is the program for? Any Public or Private school with any combination of K-8 enrollment.

9. Who Can Apply? • Schools, both public and private • School Districts • Cities • Counties • State Agencies • Regional Development Commissions • Metropolitan Planning Organizations • Public and non-profit entities working on behalf of a school(s) or school district

10. Funding Categories • 70% infrastructure • Consists of engineering and construction projects • Examples: • Crosswalk improvements • Sidewalk completion and maintenance • Signing • Bike lanes

11. Funding Categories • 10% non-infrastructure • Projects focused on; education, enforcement, and encouragement. • Examples: • Bike rodeo • Walk and bike to school day • Incentives • Training and equipment for crosswalk guards

12. Funding Categories • 20% for either category or “flex” • These funds may be spent for either infrastructure or non-infrastructure projects

13. Reimbursement • SRTS funds are 100% reimbursable • Reimbursements can be made incrementally. • All costs submitted for reimbursement are subject to eligibility requirements. • Any costs incurred prior to a project’s authorization are not eligible for reimbursement.

14. Reimbursement SRTS grants are Title 23 funds and are distributed on a reimbursable basis. This means that the bills for the project must be paid up front and the receipts and/or invoices must be sent in to State Aid for reimbursement of project expenses.

15. EXAMPLES OF ELIGIBLE PROJECTS

16. Connecting Neighborhoods

17. Route Completion

18. Providing a Route

19. Making Routes Inviting

20. Traffic Calming

21. Bike Racks

22. Sponsorship of a Walk To School Day!

23. The classic ‘Walking School Bus’

24. Make Crosswalks Safer! Make Routes Safer Crosswalks- What the pedestrian sees: & what the vehicle sees at the same crosswalk

25. Some crosswalks look nice yet are still unsafe Crosswalks- What the pedestrian sees: & what the vehicle sees at the same crosswalk

26. A well marked crosswalk

27. Active Speed Monitor

28. MINNESOTA’S SRTS PROGRAM

29. Minnesota’s SRTS Funding • Minnesota is expected to receive $8.3 million over the life of SAFETEA-LU (2009). • 2005: $850,000.00 • 2006: $1,224,901.00 • 2007: $1,644,551.10 • 2008: $2,035,255.30 • 2009: $2,545,531.55

30. Minnesota’s SRTS Development • Development and oversight of the program is the responsibility of two internal committees. • The Working Group • 12 Mn/DOT staff • assist the coordinator in developing program content and procedures. • The Executive Committee • 6 Mn/DOT senior staff • Provide policy recommendations

31. Minnesota’s SRTS Development • Federal Guidance received Jan. 2006 • Application development Jan.–Apr. 2006

32. Minnesota’s SRTS Development • First solicitation May 6, 2006 ~ July 5, 2006 • Infrastructure Program total $1.4 million • Non-Infrastructure Program total $250,000

33. Minnesota’s SRTS Partners • Application is designed to ensure that key stakeholders are in agreement prior to submitting an application. • Applications must clearly identify and have agreement from the school or school district and the roadway authority.

34. Minnesota’s SRTS PartnersCities and Counties • May apply for SRTS funds • May partner with others • Develop cost estimates for application • Make Design Recommendations • Sign Off on Construction Projects • Liaison with DSAE

35. Minnesota’s SRTS Partners Cities and Counties • Sponsors for infrastructure projects • Financial Support • Similar to the Enhancement program. • Act as the financial agent, fronting funds until reimbursed

36. Minnesota’s SRTS Partners Metropolitan Planning Organizations(MPO) • If your community is in: • East Grand Forks • St. Cloud • Rochester/Olmstead • The seven county metropolitan area • Moorhead • Duluth Please contact your MPO to let them know about your application so they may help you coordinate with existing plans.

37. Minnesota’s SRTS 1st Solicitation • First solicitation outcomes: • Mn/DOT received 77 applications with requests totaling $8 million. • 17 projects have been identified for funding totaling $1.7 million • 12 Infrastructure; 5 non-infrastructure • More projects in Greater MN; than Metro • Award announcement September 2006

38. Minnesota’s SRTS 1st Solicitation • Lessons Learned • Application form is too long • Stronger requirements on how application should be submitted. • Revisit grant floors and ceilings

39. Next Steps • Development of a statewide outreach program. • Improvements to application form • Development of measures for communities

40. Next Solicitation • There will be another solicitation prior to the end of calendar year 2006 • The funding available will be approximately $1.2 Million • Opening of the new solicitation is based on the completion of a revised application • All future solicitations will follow the Fall time line to coordinate with the STIP development

41. For additional information please visit our website: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/saferoutes/index.html or contact Kristie Billiar, Safe Routes Coordinator at: kristie.billiar@dot.state.mn.us