safe routes to school: an update on programs, practice and how public health is playing a role nancy...
TRANSCRIPT
Safe Routes to School: An update on programs, practice and
how public health is playing a role Nancy Pullen, MPH, Program Manager
September 14, 2006
Today’s presentation
• What is Safe Routes to School?
• Federal program
• State programs
• Role of public health
• Resources
Safe Routes to School (SRTS)
Where it’s safe, get kids walking and biking
Where it’s not safe, make it safe
Goals of SRTS Programs
Comprehensive approach
• Engineering• Enforcement• Education• Encouragement• Evaluation
Engineering
Enforcement
Education
Encouragement
Evaluation
• Program-specific• Nationwide• Tools available
Federal program
• Federal transportation bill 2005
• $612 million total 2005-2009
See State-by-State breakdown at: http://
safety.fhwa.dot.gov/saferoutes/
Federal program goals
• Enable and encourage children to walk and bicycle to school
• Improve the safety of children walking and bicycling to school
• Facilitate projects and activities that will reduce traffic, fuel consumption and air pollution near schools.
Broad measures• Increase pedestrian and bicycle safety around schools
• More children walking and biking to schools
• Reduce congestion around schools
• Improve children’s health
• Improve air quality and reduce fuel consumption
• Enhance community accessibility
• Improve partnerships
Federal program parts1. Implement SRTS
program nationwide
2. Create Clearinghouse
3. Establish Task Force
State program implementation
• State Depts of Transportation lead
• Full-time coordinator
State program implementation
• State DOT encouraged to establish competitive application process.
• No matching required
• Eligible grant recipients include:– State, local and regional agencies and non-profits.
• Two funding categories: – Infrastructure Projects – Non-Infrastructure Projects
State funds
Infrastructure 70-90%
Non-infrastructure 10-30%
Infrastructure projects• Must be within 2 miles of
school (K-8)• Planning, design and
construction• Sidewalk improvements.• Traffic calming and speed
reduction measures.• Ped/bike crossing
improvements.• On-street bike facilities.• Off-street ped/bike
facilities.• Bike parking facilities.• Traffic diversion
improvements.
Non-infrastructure activities
• Public awareness campaigns.
• Outreach to press and community leaders.
• Traffic education and enforcement.
• Student sessions on ped/bike safety, health, and environment.
• Funding for training, volunteers, and managers of SRTS Programs.
Status varies by state
Coordinators hired
Applications in development
Application period open
Applications in review
Programs funded
www.saferoutesinfo.org
Roles for public health
• Overview of opportunities
• What’s BEEN happening (state and local)
• What public health brings to the table
• What’s to come
OpportunitiesInfluence or directly implement:• Policy• Changes to built environment• Education for parents, children, drivers,
community members• Program evaluation• Coalition building• Raising visibility for SRTS / role in PA• More
Current involvement at state level
1. Information sharing
2. Partner sharing
3. Program activity partner
4. Advisory committee membership
State-level involvement examples
1. Information sharing– Conferences– Meetings and listservs
2. Partner sharing– Linking agencies
3. Program activity partner– Walk to School Day– Data collection– Training delivery– Promoting walking/biking
4. Advisory committee
5. Other ways?
Local level involvement
1. Information sharing
2. Partner sharing
3. Implementing SRTS program or joint application for funds
4. Other ways?
What public health brings to the table (per SRTS Coordinators):
• School health partners
• School wellness policy committees
• Data• Evaluation tools• Statewide promotion• Networking
Future roles in SRTS for public health practitioners • Individual and population-level
behavior change methods• School wellness policies/school
health index• Data• Data collection methods• Evaluation expertise• Training delivery• Experience with schools• Experience with community
mobilization
National Center for Safe Routes to School
1. Role
2. Resources available
Center tasks
• Operate a National Safe Routes to School Clearinghouse
• Provide web-based resources (www.saferoutesinfo.org)
• Support State Coordinators
• Plan and conduct training
• Provide technical assistance
• Disseminate promising strategies
• Conduct other coordination, planning, tracking and evaluation activities
• Promote SRTS (including Walk to School Day)
Walk to School 2005
• Physical activity #1 motivator
• 52% ongoing programs
• 47% events result in engineering or policy changes
International Walk to School: October 4, 2006
Register at: www.walktoschool.org
Web-based resources
• Online library– Materials from programs around the country
• SRTS guide
• Promotional materials
• Data collection tools
• State SRTS program information
• Technical assistance
