Update: January 2010
Established in May 2006 through funding from the Federal Highway Administration, the National Center for
Safe Routes to School (“National Center”) assists communities in enabling and encouraging children to safely
walk and bicycle to school. The National Center provides promotion, technical assistance and training to
state and local safe routes to school (SRTS) programs. It also conducts tracking, data collection, and
evaluation activities to document the progress and effectiveness of SRTS.
Located at the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center, the National Center for Safe
Routes to School is funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. For
more information, visit www.saferoutesinfo.org.
Tracking the Safe Routes to School Federal Program
The National Center releases quarterly SRTS Program Tracking Briefs to provide information about State
SRTS programs. Each report presents a different snapshot and a brief analysis of one key trend across all
State programs. To access the reports, see www.saferoutesinfo.org/resources/tracking-reports.cfm. As of
December 18, 2009:
 $27.8 million was rescinded from State SRTS programs as of September 30, 2009.
 $26.1 million was apportioned to State SRTS programs through a 79-day Continuing Resolution that
expired on December 18, 2009.
 Approximately $427 million has been announced by State SRTS programs for local and statewide
SRTS programs, which is approximately 72% of apportioned funds available post-rescission and via
the 79-day Continuing Resolution.
 All states and the District of Columbia (100%) have announced funding for local and/or statewide
SRTS programs.
 At least 6,489 schools are participating in state-funded SRTS programs.
Standardized National Data System
As part of ongoing efforts to help SRTS programs gather information and understand the results from their
SRTS programs, the National Center offers two standardized data collection instruments. The Student Travel
Tally allows programs to identify frequency of various transportation modes for travel to school. The Parent
Survey reveals parental perceptions that may influence whether children are given the opportunity to walk or
bicycle to school. Local SRTS programs may enter data into an online system or send data forms to the
National Center for entry. Data gathered from local SRTS programs are maintained in a database that also
captures detailed information about the projects.
As of December 31, 2009:
 Data has been submitted by 3,613 schools in 50 states and the District of Columbia.
 59,800 student travel forms and 319,000 parent surveys are in the database.
Research and Evaluation
In January 2008, FHWA launched a comprehensive research program that uses the standardized national data
system discussed above. This data set - along with key informant interviews, expert panel discussions, and
other methods - will be used to help determine the impact of SRTS programs. Below are descriptions of the
research and program evaluation efforts that are currently underway:
 Safety Monitoring Program: Develop a methodology and procedures for evaluating the programs and
activities once sufficient local SRTS program data, exposure and crash data are available.
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SRTS Strategy Evaluation: To identify effective SRTS strategies and describe conditions appropriate
for their use. In 2009, the National Center:
o Produced the resource Safe Routes to School Travel Data: A Look at Baseline Results from the
Parent Surveys and Student Travel Tallies, which is currently in press; and
o Conducted expert panel meetings with CDC and EPA representatives to discuss measurement of
any health and environment benefits of SRTS.
Safety Index: To provide a tool to assist local engineers in conducting an efficient, accurate, consistent
approach to the identification and prioritization of roadway segments or intersections within school zones
that most require improvements. In 2009, the National Center:
o Released a matrix of existing audits; and
o Produced a resource entitled Prioritizing Infrastructure Improvements Near Schools, available in
early 2010. This resource is based on key informant interviews, expert input, and pilot testing.
Evaluation Guide for Community SRTS Programs: The SRTS Guide (www.saferoutesinfo.org/guide)
includes a module funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that
describes steps and provides a worksheet to guide local programs in how they can evaluate their SRTS
program efforts. A web-based training created by the National Center instructs local SRTS programs in
data collection methods and program planning.
Another project, funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and conducted in partnership with the UNC
Department of City and Regional Planning, is to develop messages to reach parents of children ages 11 – 14
which encourage them to consider walking and bicycling to school.
NCSRTS Resources
The website www.saferoutesinfo.org continues to be the central distribution mechanism for technical
assistance for all audiences and includes a comprehensive online SRTS Guide. These and additional
resources are located at www.saferoutesinfo.org/resources.
 The Three Year Program Report provides an overview of the first three years of the National Center’s
activities.
 Several new resources were developed in 2009, including the following:
o Teaching Children to Walk Safely as They Grow and Develop: A Guide for Parents and
Caregivers (funded by NHTSA)
o Assessing Walking and Bicycling Routes: A Selection of Tools
o Tips for Engaging Middle School Students in Safe Routes to Schools Programs
o School Bicycling and Walking Policies: Addressing Policies that Hinder and Implementing
Policies that Help (co-developed with the Safe Routes to School National Partnership)
 A guide to school bus stop selection, also funded by NHTSA, will be released in early 2010.
 Safe Routes Forums continue to facilitate discussion among local SRTS programs across the U.S.
 Safe Routes to School Case Studies that highlight state and local SRTS programs across the U.S. are
continuously being produced.
Training
A series of courses on SRTS are available including: the National SRTS Course and a companion Instructor
Training Course; Skills for Local SRTS Program Development Course; Training for Engineers and other
transportation professionals; Coaching Action Network Webinars; and Media Training for Community
Leaders. The NCSRTS offers two free trainings to each state SRTS coordinator.
 Two courses were updated and enhanced in 2009: the National SRTS Course and the Media Training
for Community Leaders course.
 There are now more than 165 trained SRTS National Course Instructors in the U.S.
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James L. Oberstar Safe Routes to School Award
The National Center established the James L. Oberstar
Award in 2007 to recognize outstanding achievement in
creating safer environments for walking and biking to school
and encouraging children to walk and bike to and from
school.
 The 2009 award recognized Ben W. Murch
Elementary School in Washington, DC, for
achieving success while overcoming challenges in
implementing its program.
Parent volunteer Robin Schepper, Principal Dawn Ellis, and the members
of the student safety patrol accept the 2009 Oberstar SRTS Award from
Chairman Oberstar and DC Representative Eleanor Holmes Norton.
SRTS Mini-Grants
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The National Center selected 25 mini-grant recipients for activity implementation in Spring 2010.
Successful applications included one or more of the following: student-led activities, concern for the
environment, promotion of physical activity, and/or safety concerns.
A second round of mini-grant applications will be offered in Spring 2010 for activity implementation
in Fall 2010.
National Review Group
The National Center established a National Review Group (NRG) comprised of more than 30 transportation,
education, health, and advocacy leaders to provide advice and feedback on the goals and objectives of the
National Center. Organizations represented include the U.S. EPA, U.S. CDC, U.S. Department of Education,
American Diabetes Association, American Occupational Therapy Association, YMCA of the USA, U.S.
Access Board, National PTA, Safe Routes to School National Partnership, and the National Center for
Walking and Biking. The NRG convened twice in 2009.
SRTS National Conference and SRTS State Coordinators National Meeting
The National Center plans and facilitates the annual meetings of the SRTS State Coordinators and cosponsors and helps to plan the SRTS National Conference, which is held every other year.
 Nearly 550 people attended the 2nd SRTS National Conference, held in August 2009, in Portland, Ore.
 The annual SRTS State Coordinators Meeting was held in conjunction with the National Conference.
International Walk to School Day
The National Center coordinates International Walk to School events in the USA and maintains the U.S. and
international websites, www.walktoschool.org and www.iwalktoschool.org. Walk to School Day occurs
every October.
 In its 13th year, U.S. participation reached a record
high of nearly 3,400 registered events.
 Approximately one-half of events were part of SRTS
programs.
 With Livable Streets Education, the National Center
hosted a Walk to School celebration in New York City
in conjunction with the Walk 21 Conference.
Students and parents from North Wales Elementary School (North Wales,
Penn.) participate in the 2009 International Walk to School Day.
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Projects with Subcontractors
America Walks: In conjunction with America Walks, the National Center produces 10 webinars annually.
Topics in 2010 include the following:
 Overcoming Institutional and Policy Barriers to SRTS (January)
 Evaluation Webinar #1 - Health and Physical Activity (February)
 Ensuring Your Program Includes Children with Disabilities (March)
 Evaluation Webinar #2 - Environmental Measures (April)
 What Does it Take to Get Drivers to Yield? Engineering Measures that Work (May)
 Joint-Use Agreements - Making the Most of School Campuses (June)
 Preparing Children for a Lifetime of Walking (August)
 Going High Tech - Technologically Savvy SRTS Programs (September)
 School Campus Designs to Support Bicycling and Walking (October)
 Understanding Parent Perceptions - 10-14 Year Olds (November)
AASHTO and GHSA: American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO)
and the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) are working with the National Center to develop a
guide to successful strategies implemented by State SRTS Programs. The purpose of this effort is to identify
noteworthy infrastructure and non-infrastructure programs and projects that State SRTS Coordinators have
had success in developing and implementing in order to share the material with other Coordinators.
ITE: The Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) plans and implements related webinars and develops
briefing materials for transportation professionals.
 In February 2010, ITE will host the webinar Multi-Modal School Site Planning, Design and
Transportation for Primary Grades (Grades K-8).
 ITE will develop briefing sheets addressing school site design.
Toole Design Group: The National Center will host a website developed by Toole Design Group and funded
by NHTSA that provides a resource for law enforcement officers on how to get involved with and implement
SRTS programs.
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