OCTOBER 2013

www.virginiadot.org/saferoutes1

January 2015

IN THIS ISSUE

• Coordinator’sCorner• Calendar• CrossingGuardAppreciationDay

isFebruary11,2015• Non-InfrastructureGrantsand

Activities&ProgramsPlans• QuickStartMini-grants• Walkabouts

Coordinator’s CornerHappy New Year!IamwritingtosharesomeexcitingSafeRoutestoSchoolfundingopportunitiestogettheyearstartedoffright,andremindyouaboutCrossingGuardAppreciationDayonFebruary11.VDOThasjustannouncedanotheryearofNon-InfrastructureGrantfunding.Thesegrantsforamountsbetween$5,000and$100,000canbeusedtofundSRTS-relatedactivitiesandprograms,includingaSRTScoordinator.Moreinformationabouttheapplicationrequirementsisincludedbelow.TwootherpopularSRTSfundingopportunities-theQuickStartMini-grantprogramandtheWalkaboutMini-grantprogram-arebothcontinuingthroughthespring.LearnmoreaboutthemandhowtoapplyintherighthandcolumnundertheCalendar.IhopeoneormoreoftheseopportunitiesisrightforyourSafeRoutestoSchoolprogram.ExplorethemeachinmoredetailbelowandontheVirginiaSafeRoutestoSchoolwebsite.Asalways,pleasedon’thesitatetocontactusviathehotline,1-855-601-7787,orbyemail,info@virginiasrts.orgifyouhaveanyquestions.

Lastly,pleaseremembertonominateyourcrossingguardforVirginia’sMostOutstandingCrossingGuardAwardbyMonday, January 19.ThewinnerswillbeannouncedonFebruary6,2015.Areyoulookingforauniquewaytohonoryourcrossingguardinadditiontonominatingthemforanaward?ReadmoreaboutthePrinceWilliamCountyCrossingGuardBureauandtheir50thAnniversarycelebrationbelow.Regards,RobWilliamsVirginiaSRTSCoordinator

CalENdar

JANUARY19:OutstandingCrossingGuard

NominationsCloseFEBRUARY11:CrossingGuardAppreciationDay12:QuickStartMini-grantApplicationDue28:LastdaytosubmitActivities&

ProgramsPlanforoptionalreview

MARCH12:QuickStartMini-grantApplicationDue31:Non-InfrastructureGrantApplicationDue

APRIL9:QuickStartMini-grantApplicationDue22:EarthDay

LetusknowaboutSRTSeventsinyourcommunity!Clickheretosendyourinformationsowecanincludeitinourcalendar.

Virginia Safe routes to School Newsletter - January 2015

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Crossing Guard appreciation dayis February 11, 2015CrossingGuardAppreciationDayisastatewideeventdevotedtosaying‘thank you’ to those who helpstudents cross the street safely ontheirwaytoandfromschool.As part of the celebration, theVirginia SRTS Program sponsorsannualOutstandingCrossingGuardAwards. Do you know a crossingguard that deserves special recognition? Nominate himor her online before January 19, 2015. Winners will beannounced on February 6, 2015, to allow a few days forplanninganevent.

Checkout theCrossingGuardAppreciationDaywebpageto get ideas for your event, download flyer and postertemplates,andprintthankyoucardsthatstudents,parentsandadministratorscansign.

The Virginia SRTS Program has designated the secondWednesday of February as Crossing Guard AppreciationDay, butwe encourage schools and communities to plantheirowneventsonanydaythatworksforthem.

Forexample,thisyearthePrinceWilliamCountyCrossingGuardBureauiscelebratingits50thanniversarythroughoutthe spring with memorabilia displays, a CrossingGuardsNightOutataPotomacNationalsbaseballgame(completewithceremonialfirstpitch!)anda50thAnniversaryDinnerReception open to all of its former and current crossingguards.

1964

The Bureau started with just four crossing guards inManassasandhasgrownto89crossingguardsserving44schoolsthroughoutPrinceWilliamCountytoday.

2014

TheBureauestimatesithelped1.1millionstudentsperform28,232safecrossingsduringthe2013-2014schoolyear. Inaddition, the Crossing Guard Bureau conducted 310meetings with School Safety Patrol groups at schoolsthroughoutthedivision.TheSchoolSafetyPatrolprogramwasstartedbymembersoftheBureauinthelate1970’s.

1974

Special thanks to Lieutenant A. Marie Snyder and Sergeant Michelle Wheeler for providing the information and photos for this story.

Non-Infrastructure Grants and activities & Programs PlansWhat are Non-Infrastructure Grants and Activity & Program Plans?VDOT has just announced another year of Safe Routesto School Non-Infrastructure (Activities and Programs)Grants,withapplicationsduebyMarch31.Thesegrants,for amounts between $5,000 and $100,000 can be usedto fund education, encouragement, evaluation and

Virginia Safe routes to School Newsletter - January 2015

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enforcementprogramsrelatedtoSafeRoutestoSchool.The Non-Infrastructure Grant can also be used to funda SRTS coordinator. A SRTS Coordinator is a part- orfull-timeSRTS advocatewhoworkswith, orwithin, theschool division to promote and facilitateSafeRoutes toSchoolactivitiesataminimumofthreeschools.DetailedinformationabouteligibleapplicantsandactivitiescanbefoundintheVirginiaSRTSProgramGuidelines.How do I apply for a Non-Infrastructure Grant? ThefirststepistocompleteaSRTSActivities&ProgramsPlan(APP).TheAPPisthefirstphaseofanySRTSeffortandoutlinesaschoolorcommunity’sintentionsformakingtraveltoandfromschoolsaferandmoresustainable.It’sa greatway to organize programs, projects, and peoplein support of SRTS. Once complete, the Activities andProgramPlanalso servesasa legacydocument fornewpeoplebecomingpartoftheschool’sSRTSprogram.TheVirginiaAPP ReferenceGuide andTemplate, containingtherelevantinformationneededinordertocompleteanAPP,areavailableontheVirginiaSRTSwebsite.LTACs will once again be available to review your draftorfinalAPP. TheAPPshouldbesubmittedtoyourLTACviaemailbyFebruary28th.APPswillbereviewedastheyare received,buta responsewillbeprovidedwithin twoweeks of the request.Those received by February 28thwillbeguaranteeda responsebyMarch11th,and thosesubmittedwellinadvanceofthedeadlinewilllikelyhaveaquickerturnaroundtime.

Once yourAPP is complete, you will submit it throughour online grant application system as the first step inthe completion of your application. Please note thattheNon-InfrastructureGrantApplicationwill draw frominformation contained in the Activities and ProgramsPlan, but also requires detailed cost estimates for thesubmitted programs and activities. Applicants seekingfundingfora localcoordinatorwillalsoneedtodescribeher/hisintendedroleintheSRTSprogram.

ThegrantapplicationsystemwillbeopenforsubmissionsonMarch1.AllapplicationsmustbesubstantiallycompleteandsubmittedbyMarch31.

ImportantDates:• February 28:DeadlineforoptionalreviewofAPP• March 1:OnlineNon-InfrastructureGrantApplication

systemopensforsubmissions• March 31: Non-InfrastructureGrantApplicationDue

WherecanIfindmoreinformation?Please read the Virginia SRTS Program Guidelines andvisittheVDOTActivitiesandProgramsPlanwebpagefortheAPPtemplate,aFAQsheetandmoreinformation.

What is a QuickStart Mini-grant?QuickStartMini-grantsare$1,000grantsforschoolsthatareinterestedinfundingasmall(orlarge)SafeRoutestoSchoolactivity.ThesegrantsareeasytoapplyforandareagreatwaytostartupaSRTSprogram!

Walk to School Day at Cardinal Forest Elementary School , West Springfield

How can a QuickStart Mini-grant be used?QuickStartMini-grantsmay be used to fund a range ofactivities that encourage and enable children to safelywalkandbicycletoschool,includingactivitiesthat:Encouragesafewalking,bicycling,anddrivinghabits,Increasethenumberofstudentswalkingandbicyclingtoschool,andoccurwithin90daysofaward.

TheVirginiaSafeRoutes toSchool programencouragesapplicantstousethecreativityofstudentandadultleaderstoidentifyissuesandproposesafewalkingandbicyclingactivitiesthataddressthem.

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Bicycle Safety Program at Minnick Education Center, Harrisonburg

CheckouttheQuickStartMini-grantswebpagetoseealistofeligibleitemsandlearnmoreabouttheactivitiesfundedtodate.

When and where can I apply for a QuickStart Mini-grant?Theupcomingspring2015duedatesare:

• February 12• March 12• April 9

However,applicationsareevaluatedintheordertheyarereceived(hint:applyearly!)YoucanapplyforaQuickStartMini-grantonlinethroughthislink.

WalkaboutsWhat is a Walkabout?AWalkabout is awalking andbicycling audit led by theLocal Technical Assistance Coordinator (LTAC) servingyourregion.ApplyingforaWalkaboutMini-grantisagreatwaytobringtogetherschoolandcommunitystakeholdersto learn about the walking and bicycling environmentaroundaschool,shareperspectives,buildconsensusandstartidentifyingpotentialsolutions.

SchoolsthatparticipateinWalkaboutsreceiveaWalkaboutReportthatincludesphotosoftheareaaroundtheschool,an overview of walking and bicycling conditions, anddescriptions of locations for improvements. Planninglevel cost estimatesmay also be included in the reportif the applicant intends to apply for a specific fundingopportunitysuchasaTAPgrant.

Grant applications for SRTS-related infrastructureprojects have been submitted for November 2013 and2014TAPgrantcycles.TwoofthefourVirginiaschoolsthatparticipatedinaWalkaboutandappliedforTAPgrantsinNovember 2013 were tentatively allocated funding forfiscalyear2015toimprovetheinfrastructurearoundtheirschools.

• Rocky Gap Elementary School, in partnership withBlandCounty, applied for aTAP grant to fund newsidewalksontheroadclosesttotheschool,connectingto the other edge of town. In addition to adding asidewalk,thisprojectwillbepartofthetown’splanforanewshared-usegreenway.

• Jackson Via Elementary School,alongwiththeCityof Charlottesville, applied for a TAP grant to buildbicycle and pedestrian improvements including bikelanes,crosswalks,curb ramps,andnewsidewalks tofillingapsintheexistingnetwork.

Participants during a Walkabout at Walker Upper Elementary School, Charlottesville

Wow, I think my school would really benefit from aWalkabout. What should I do next?You can see a sample report and learn more aboutWalkabouts on the School Travel Plans and Grantswebpage.

ThereyouwillalsofindthelinktoapplyforaWalkaboutMini-grantonline.ApplynowtobeeligibleforoneofthreeWalkaboutsthisspring!