Safe Routes to School Program Grants • Each state receives a portion of the funds based on its percentage of the national total of school-aged children in Grades K-8, but not less than $1 million each year. • A total of 54 projects and activities have been awarded by the Governor affecting about 30,000 students in 55 elementary and middle schools in 24 counties. • Received 135 applications during the past five grant cycles requesting triple the amount of funding available. The sixth cycle begins September 2011. Safe Routes to School Program Grants PURPOSES OF THE PROGRAM Provides funds to the states to substantially improve the ability of primary and middle school students (Grades K-8) to walk and bicycle to school safely; Piedmont Elementary Walk to School Event Safe Routes to School Program Grants PURPOSES OF THE PROGRAM To enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school; Martinsburg North Middle School To make walking and bicycling to school a safer and more appealing transportation choice, which will encourage a healthy, active lifestyle starting at an early age; and Safe Routes to School Program Grants PURPOSES OF THE PROGRAM 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 (approximately 2 miles) of primary and middle schools (Grades K-8). Safe Routes to School Program Grants Two types of Grants (“The Five Es”) Infrastructure-Related Projects – Engineering Non-Infrastructure-Related Activities – – – – Education Encouragement Enforcement Evaluation Engineering Pleasant Valley Elementary Nutter Fort Primary & Intermediate Schools Operational and physical improvements to the infra-structure surrounding existing schools that: Reduce speed/noise and potential conflicts with motor vehicle traffic Establish safer and fully accessible crossings, walkways, trails and bikeways Engineering Alderson Elementary Ranson Elementary School zone Along the routes & streets Crosswalks Vehicle speed reduction Engineering – new sidewalks Pineville Middle Ripley Elementary Paw Paw Schools Engineering August 2009 January 4, 2011 Secure Bicycle Facilities – R. L. Bland Middle School Safe Routes to School Program Grants Education – teaching children about the broad range of transportation choices, instructing them in important lifelong bicycling and walking safety skills, and launching driver safety campaigns in the vicinity of schools (Non-Infrastructure-Related Activities) Who needs educational messages? 1. Children 2. Parents 3. Neighbors Pedestrian Safety Education for Children Where and how to cross Choosing where to walk Facing traffic Sidewalks preferred Bicycle safety education for children Rules of the road Proper helmet fit Jefferson Elementary Parkersburg Health and environment • Health benefits of physical activity • Concern for the environment Piedmont Elementary Bicycle Safety Class Educate Parents and the Community Terra Alta/East Preston Pedestrian and bicyclist safety guidelines to reinforce with children Safe driving near the school School drop-off and pick-up procedures Educate the neighbors Watch for/yield to pedestrians and cyclists Drive slowly Keep sidewalks clear Prune plants Integrate walking and bicycling education into traditional subjects using WV Dept of Education CSOs (Policy 2510) in PE, Wellness, Health, Math, Science, Social Studies, English/Language Arts, Art Sources of instructors Teachers Police or fire personnel Local bike club/advocate Public health professional Local Safe Kids coalition League of American Bicyclists (LAB) instructor Martinsburg North Middle School Bicycle Safety Class Encouragement Events/activities to promote walking and bicycling: Walk to School Month – October 5, 2011 Walking School Buses Bicycle Trains Mileage Clubs Contests Park and Walk Sites Walking Wednesdays Route Map Promotion Alderson Elementary Piedmont Elementary St. Agnes School Romney Elementary Romney, September 2010 Overbrook Elementary October Walking School Bus/Walk to School Note changes in light over the three week period and time differences of one minute each week Walking School Bus/Bicycle Trains Safe Routes to School Program Grants Enforcement – partnering with local law enforcement to ensure traffic laws are obeyed in the vicinity of schools such as enforcement of speeds, yielding to pedestrians in crossings, proper walking and bicycling behaviors, and initiating community enforcement such as adult crossing guard programs. (Non-Infrastructure Related Activities) Safe Routes to School Program Grants ENFORCEMENT Increases awareness of pedestrians and bicyclists Improves driver behavior Helps children follow traffic rules Increases the parent’s perceptions of safety Enforcement includes students, parents, school administration, adult crossing guards, law enforcement officers Overbrook Elementary Performance Class 2 Safety Vests and Walking School Bus Vests Evaluation Monitoring/documenting outcomes/trends through collection of data, before and after interventions Use Standardized Student Travel Tally & Parent Surveys • Distance from the school is #1 factor preventing walking to school • 84% of our enrolled students are bussed to school (WVDE, 2011) • Results indicate more children are driven to school in the a.m. • More middle school children walk home after school Safe Routes to School Program Grants Who Can Apply? Any state, local and regional agency, including nonprofit organizations registered with the WV Secretary of State’s Office and having Department of Treasury IRS Tax determination as a Non-Profit Organization 501 (c). Reimbursable grant program is 100% federally funded – No matching funds required Safe Routes to School Program Grants Safe Routes to School funding is supplemental to existing funding streams Funded by the Federal Highway Administration Managed through the West Virginia Division of Highways Grants are awarded through a statewide competitive process Safe Routes to School Program Grants Intent-to-Apply Form for Infrastructure-Related Projects and Non-Infrastructure-Related Activities deadline: 15 November each year If approved by WVDOH, then Application for Infrastructure-Related Projects and NonInfrastructure-Related Activities deadline: 15 January each year Review Board meets in February Commissioner of Highways Governor announces grant recipients IAW his schedule Safe Routes to School Program Grants Seventy to 90 percent of funds are for Infrastructure-Related Projects, which may range from a minimum total cost of $10,000 to a maximum total cost of $100,000. No less than 10 percent and no more than 30 percent of funds are required to be spent on Non-Infrastructure-Related Activities, which may range from a minimum total cost of $10,000 to a maximum total cost of $30,000. Safe Routes to School Program Grants INAPPROPRIATE USES OF SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL FUNDS Reoccurring costs such as paying crossing guard salaries; Projects that reorganize pick-up and drop-off primarily for the convenience of drivers rather than to improve child safety and/or walking and bicycling access; Education programs that are primarily focused on bus safety; and Improvements to bus stops. Safe Routes to School Program Grants Complements WV Dept of Education’s strategic Goal #3: All students and school personnel shall develop and promote responsibility, citizenship, strong character and healthful living Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of 2004 WV Department of Health and Human Resources’ Healthy Schools Program West Virginia Action for Healthy Kids Cardiac Initiative What’s good/bad with this picture? Harpers Ferry Middle School, Bolivar Safe Routes to School Program Grants Rebecca A. Davison Safe Routes to School Coordinator West Virginia Division of Highways Program Planning and Administration Division Grant Administration Unit 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East Building 5, Room A-863 Charleston, WV 25305-0430 304-558-9600 304-558-3783 Fax Rebecca.a.davison@wv.gov