FEDERAL PROGRAM OUTLINE

What is Safe Routes?

• A Federal transportation program to “…enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school…”

The 5 “E’s”

• Engineering • Education

• Enforcement • Encouragement

• Evaluation

Safe Routes to School Program Goals

1. To enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school

Program Goals

2. 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

Program Goals

3. 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.

Who is the program for?

Any Public or Private school with any combination of K-8

enrollment.

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

Funding Categories

• 70% infrastructure •Consists of engineering and

construction projects•Examples:

– Crosswalk improvements– Sidewalk completion and

maintenance– Signing– Bike lanes

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

Funding Categories

•20% for either category or “flex”

•These funds may be spent for either infrastructure or non-infrastructure projects

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.

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.

EXAMPLES OF ELIGIBLE PROJECTS

Connecting Neighborhoods

Route Completion

Providing a Route

Making Routes Inviting

Traffic Calming

Bike Racks

Sponsorship of a Walk To School Day!

The classic ‘Walking School Bus’

Make Routes Safer

Crosswalks- What the pedestrian sees:

Make Crosswalks Safer!

& what the vehicle sees at the same crosswalk

Some crosswalks look nice yet are still unsafe

Crosswalks- What the pedestrian sees:

& what the vehicle sees at the same crosswalk

A well marked crosswalk

Active Speed Monitor

MINNESOTA’S SRTS PROGRAM

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

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

Minnesota’s SRTS Development

• Federal Guidance received Jan. 2006

• Application development Jan.–Apr. 2006

Minnesota’s SRTS Development

• First solicitation May 6, 2006 ~ July 5, 2006

• Infrastructure Program total $1.4 million

• Non-Infrastructure Program total $250,000

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.

Minnesota’s SRTS Partners Cities 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

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

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.

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

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

Next Steps

• Development of a statewide outreach program.

• Improvements to application form

• Development of measures for communities

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

For additional information please visit For additional information please visit our website:our website:http://www.dot.state.mn.us/saferoutes/index.html

or contact Kristie Billiar, Safe Routes or contact Kristie Billiar, Safe Routes Coordinator at: Coordinator at: kristie.billiar@dot.state.mn.uskristie.billiar@dot.state.mn.us