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Mapping the Way to Success: the Arkansas Safe Routes to School Program
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Mapping the Way to Success: the Arkansas Safe Routes to School Program
Active Commuting
1970: ~ 50% of students walked or biked toschool
2000: <15% of studentswalked or biked toschool
Safe Routes to Schools
Program GoalImprove the health and well-being of children by enabling and encouraging them to walk and bicycle to school
• Facilitate planning, development, and implementation of projects and activities that improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and air pollution in the vicinity (~ 2 miles) of schools (K-8)
Program Structure$612 million over 5 years (2005-2009)
• Each State administers its own program and hires full-time State Coordinator
• Develops procedures to solicit and select projects for funding• Infrastructure projects (engineering improvements) • Non-infrastructure activities (education, enforcement, and encouragement programs)
AR hired the first State Coordinator in October 2006
State 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 Total
Arkansas $ 1,000,000 $ 990,000 $ 1,028,419 $ 1,272,745 $ 1,591,846 $ 5,883,010
SRTS Framework (the 5 E’s)
Using this framework helps ensure sustainability of most built environment endeavors
Encouragement —Using events and activities to promote bicycling and walking
Education—Teaching individuals about the broad range of health and transportation benefits as well as safety skills
Engineering—Creating infrastructure improvements that reduce speeds and establish safer areas
Enforcement—Partnering with local law enforcement to ensure drivers obey laws and initiating community safety enforcement campaigns
Evaluation—Monitoring and researching safety and utilization outcomes and trends
“ The City of Davis has even dispensed school buses because of safe access by bicycle and foot to local schools”
Safe Routes to Schools
Nationally Funded SRTS Activities: • Walkability and bikeability audits of street safety around schools • Local programs to improve sidewalk conditions near schools • Use of traffic calming and pedestrian priority devices• Walk and bike safety education and fitness challenges • "Walking school buses" • Increased traffic enforcement around schools • Cooperation between school officials, law enforcement officials, and transportation planners
Arkansas SRTS Program
The goal of the Arkansas SRTS Program is to provide a safe environment in which children can
safely walk and bike to school
Three types of projects are funded in Arkansas:
Educational Projects Infrastructure Projects
Start-up Projects
Who is Eligible?
Individual schools School clusters School districts Communities
Counties State Agencies Cities Non-Profit Agencies
Applicants need to notify their cities and get the proper easements and maintenance agreements. All applicants are responsible for maintenance of all project infrastructure.
Start Up
Form school-specific SRTS Coalition Perform self assessment of bicycle and
pedestrian environment Develop prioritized lists of educational programs
and infrastructure projects Organize and hold one SRTS event such as
Walk to School Day $3,000 lump sum payment upon completion
Education
Education Programs are designed to create awareness of the benefits and goals of your Safe Routes to School Plan
Activities include teaching pedestrian, bicyclist and traffic safety.
Education
Promotional and educational materials
Bike and pedestrian safety curricula
Training for school and community audiences
Modest participation incentives
SRTS data collection, analysis, evaluation, and reporting
Law enforcement and equipment
Crossing guard training and equipment
Allowable Expenses
InfrastructureAll infrastructure projects must be within two miles of the school.
Types of projects include: Sidewalk improvements Crossings, Median refuges, Raised crossings, Raised intersections, Traffic control devices and sight distance improvements
new or upgraded traffic signals pavement markings traffic stripes, in-roadway crossing lights, flashing beacons, bicycle-
sensitive signal actuation devices, pedestrian countdown signals, vehicle speed feedback signs, and pedestrian-activated signal upgrades),
• Arkansas SRTS Advisory Committee initial review• Applications rated using a point system• Arkansas Highway Commission approves scores• Federal Highway Administration appropriates funds
Project Selection Process
AR Safe Routes to Schools
Mapping the Way to Success: Arkansas’s SRTS “Walking and Wheeling Toolkit and Online Resource Guide”
2008 Grant Specific Aims:
To increase statewide awareness of the Arkansas SRTS program by adapting existing SRTS products to better serve an Arkansas audience
• specifically address rurality and other identified barriers
Funded Grant Activities: 4 Components • Formative Evaluation (focus groups)
• Arkansas-specific SRTS Toolkit (print and CD)
• Arkansas-specific SRTS Website
• Arkansas SRTS Training Curriculum/Workshop Development
AR Safe Routes to Schools
Mapping the Way to Success: Statewide Dissemination and Evaluation Planning for the AR SRTS Program
2009 Grant Specific Aims:1. To develop dissemination and communication/marketing
strategies for the Arkansas-specific SRTS program materials currently under development • Partner with the ADE, AHTD, ADH to distribute AR- specific SRTS program
materials, to advertise their availability, and to promote/market these materials at various venues
2. To develop an evaluation plan for those materials and programs currently funded by the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) SRTS program
www.arsaferoutes.org
SRTS Marketing and Promotion
SRTS National Partnership
The Safe Routes to School National Partnership was launched in the summer of 2005 after two years of planning meetings. The Partnership brings together diverse non-profit organizations, government agencies, businesses and professionals to advance the Safe Routes to School movement in the United States.
2010–2011 State Network Project Participants
Network Activities
• Create a network of partners including government agencies,
non-profits and policy-makers
• Research state policies to identify best practices for the network.
Assemble detailed briefs to help network assess policies related to
SRTS issues in Arkansas
• Prioritize state policies based on opportunities and need
• Develop and implement a state action plan to address state policies
and engage partners
• Evaluate progress, look for new state policy and funding
opportunities and revise state action plans regularly
Safe Routes to Schools Contacts
Infrastructure and Funding Questions—Kim Sanders 501-569-2000
Education and Communication—Mechelle Winslow 501-364-4954 [email protected]
Evaluation and Community Coalitions—Jennifer Shaw 501-526-2246 [email protected]
State Network and Policy—Julie Hendrix 501-350-0713 [email protected]
