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Safe Routes to School Program
(Federal Funds)
2006 Call for Projects
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PROJECT PROPOSALS DUE OCTOBER 2, 2006
The Safe Routes to School program is supported by both the Federal Government and Washington State Legislature through recent legislation. The Federal Transportation Act (Safe Accountable Flexible Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU)) includes a new federal funding program for the Safe Routes to School program. The Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 6091, also includes a state funding commitment to support pedestrian and bicycle safety projects such as safe routes to school, transit and pedestrian and bicycle paths. The following provides details for the Safe Routes to School program. A separate call is available for the Pedestrian & Bicycle Safety grant program.
Purpose
The purpose of the Safe Routes to Schools program is to provide children a safe, healthy alternative to riding the bus or being driven to school. Eligible projects will address all of the following within two-miles of primary and middle schools (K-8):
A. Engineering improvements – improvements that reduce potential pedestrian and bicycle conflicts with motor vehicle traffic; reduce traffic volume around schools; and/or establish safer and fully accessible crossings, walkways, trails or bikeways. Projects may include items such as:
- Sidewalk improvements: new sidewalks, sidewalk widening, sidewalk gap closures, sidewalk repairs, curbs, gutters and curb ramps.
- Traffic calming and speed reduction improvements: roundabouts, bulb-outs, speed humps, raised crossings, raised intersections, median refuges, narrowed traffic lanes, lane reductions, full- or half-street closures, automated speed enforcement and variable speed limits.
- Pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements: crossings, median refuges, raised crossings, traffic control devices (including new or upgraded traffic signals, pavement markings, traffic stripes, flashing beacons, bicycle-sensitive signal actuation devices, pedestrian countdown signals and pedestrian activated signal upgrades), pedestrian and bicycle lighting and sight distance improvements.
- On-street bicycle facilities: new or upgraded bicycle lanes, widened outside lanes or roadway shoulders, geometric improvements, roadway realignment, traffic signs and pavement markings.
- Off-street bicycle and pedestrian facilities: exclusive multi-use bicycle and pedestrian trails and pathways that are separated from a roadway.
- Secure bicycle parking facilities: bicycle parking racks, bicycle lockers, designated areas with safety lighting and covered bicycle shelters.
B. Education efforts – teaching children about bicycling and walking safety skills, the health effects of walking and biking, the impact to the environment, the broad range of transportation choices and events and activities utilized to promote walking and biking to school safely. Projects may include items such as:
- Implementation of educational curricula in the classroom.
- Distribution of educational materials.
- Pedestrian safety field trips.
- Implementation/distribution of interactive pedestrian or bicycle safety video games (example: FHWA “Safer Journey,” National Safety Council “Step to Safety,” etc.).
- Events and activities such as: bicycle rodeo, Walk and Bike to School Day, school assemblies, walking school buses or bike trains, mileage clubs, etc.
- Walk or bike programs.
- Walk or bike audits.
C. Enforcement efforts – ensuring traffic laws are obeyed (including enforcement of speeds, yielding to pedestrians in crossings and proper walking and bicycling behaviors) and initiating community enforcement activities. Projects may include items such as:
- Establish an adult and/or student crossing guard program.
- Additional law enforcement or equipment needed for enforcement activities.
- Pedestrian sting operations.
- Vehicle speed feedback signs.
- Neighborhood watch program.
- Photo enforcement.
Eligible applicants
All public agencies in Washington are eligible to apply.
Funding
A total of approximately $7 million of federal funds is available. The Governor’s office and the legislature will make final determination for projects and awards. (Assume funding is available July 1, 2007.)
Match requirement
There is no match requirement. Projects are to be submitted as complete projects and fully funded.
Program Requirements
1. Applicants are required to report quarterly on the status of the project.
2. Applicants are required to evaluate the number of children biking and walking to school before and after the project is completed.
3. Applicants are required to place “Making Every Dollar Count” signs on all construction projects.
4. Applicants shall document the engineering component of the project in accordance with the Federal Safe Routes to School Administration requirements.
Project Proposals
The proposal shall be submitted as Microsoft Word documents or Adobe Acrobat pdf file and include the following to be considered:
1. A two-page completed and signed Safe Routes to School Report form.
2. A one-page project vicinity map (8.5” x 11”).
3. In five pages or less provide an essay that addresses the four areas below (current conditions, engineering component, education component and enforcement component). All work shall be within two-miles of the school(s) (K-8). Pages shall be 8.5”x11”, formatted with Arial minimum 12pt font, left, right, top and bottom margins at 1”. Please include a header that identifies the name of the project proposal and the lead agency and a footer that identifies the page number and the total number of pages (ex. pg 2 of 4).
A. Current conditions – Briefly describe the existing conditions and explain why the project is needed.
- What are the barriers for safely walking and biking to school?
- What are the current educational efforts for safely walking and biking to school?
- What are the current enforcement efforts for providing a safe environmental for walking and biking to school?
- What is the anticipated increase in biking and walking to school?
B. Engineering component – Describe the projects proposed improvements to the infrastructure within two-miles of the school(s) (K-8).
- How will the improvements reduce potential pedestrian and bicycle conflicts with motor vehicle traffic?
- How will the improvements establish safer and fully accessible crossings, walkways, trails or bikeways?
C. Education component – Describe the projects additional educational efforts such as:
- teaching children about the broad range of transportation choices;
- instructing children of bicycling and walking safety skills;
- launching driver safety campaigns;
- utilizing events and activities (e.g., Walk and Bike to School Day, walking school bus, etc.) to promote walking and bicycling.
D. Enforcement component – Describe the projects additional enforcement efforts that will address traffic safety for children walking and biking to school.
- How will local law enforcement help to ensure that traffic laws are obeyed in the vicinity of schools?
- What will be done to enforce speeds, yielding to pedestrians in crossings, and proper walking and bicycling behaviors?
Submittal Process
Submittals must either be sent on CD’s or by e-mail (paper submittals will not be accepted). Project proposals must be received by midnight October 2, 2006.
Project proposals on CD’s may be submitted to the following address:
ATTN: Safe Routes to School
WSDOT Highways & Local Programs
310 Maple Park Ave SE PO Box 47390
Olympia, WA 98504-7390
OR
Project proposals may be sent by e-mail to hlpgrants@wsdot.wa.gov
Program Contacts
Region Local Program Engineers
or
Charlotte Claybrooke at 360-705-7302 or claybrc@wsdot.wa.gov
Selection Process
All proposals will be reviewed to ensure that they are complete and eligible for funding. The WSDOT Safe Routes to Schools Advisory Board (drawn from sponsoring agencies, local officials and advocacy groups) will evaluate the proposals and make recommendations. A prioritized list of projects will be submitted to the Governor’s office and the legislature by December 15, 2006, who will make final decisions on projects and grant awards. Announcements are expected by June 2007.
Project Evaluation
The following will be used to evaluate the project proposals.
A. Engineering Component. Projects will be ranked based on how the improvements will: reduce potential pedestrian and bicycle conflicts with motor vehicle traffic; reduce traffic volume around schools; and/or establish safer and fully accessible crossings, walkways, trails or bikeways.
- High: The project already or will provide substantial improvements to reduce potential pedestrian and bicycle conflicts with motor vehicle traffic, reduce traffic volume around schools, and/or establish safer and fully accessible crossings, walkways, trails or bikeways. Improvements are consistent with WSDOT Design Standards or the AASHTO “Guide for the Planning Design, and Operation of Pedestrian Facilities” or “Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities”.
- Medium: The project would provide moderate improvements to reduce potential pedestrian and bicycle conflicts with motor vehicle traffic, reduce traffic volume around schools, and/or establish safer and fully accessible crossings, walkways, trails or bikeways. Improvements are consistent with WSDOT Design Standards or AASHTO “Guide for the Planning Design, and Operation of Pedestrian Facilities” or “Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities”.
- Low: The project would provide few improvements to reduce potential pedestrian and bicycle conflicts with motor vehicle traffic, reduce traffic volume around schools, and/or establish safer and fully accessible crossings, walkways, trails or bikeways. Improvements are consistent with WSDOT Design Standards or AASHTO “Guide for the Planning Design, and Operation of Pedestrian Facilities” or “Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities”.
B. Education Component. Projects will be ranked based on how well the educational efforts teach children about bicycling and walking safety skills, the health effects of walking and biking, the impact to the environment, the broad range of transportation choices and events and activities utilized to promote walking and biking to school safely.
- High: The project already or will provide substantial educational opportunities to teach children about bicycling and walking safety skills, the health effects of walking and biking, the impact to the environment, the broad range of transportation choices and provide substantial encouragement activities to help increase the number of children walking and biking to school safely.
- Medium: The project already or will provide moderate educational opportunities to teach children about bicycling and walking safety skills, the health effects of walking and biking, the impact to the environment, the broad range of transportation choices and provide moderate encouragement activities to help to increase the number of children walking and biking to school safely.
- Low: The project already or will provide few educational opportunities to teach children about the bicycling and walking safety skills, the health effects of walking and biking, the impact to the environment, the broad range of transportation choices and provide few encouragement activities to help to increase the number of children walking and biking to school safely.
C. Enforcement Component. Projects will be ranked based on how well the enforcement efforts address traffic safety and help to increase the number of children walking and biking to school safely.
- High: The project already or will provide substantial enforcement efforts to address traffic safety and help to increase the number of children walking and biking to school safely.
- Medium: The project already or will provide moderate enforcement efforts to address traffic safety and help to increase the number of children walking and biking to school safely.
- Low: The project already or will provide few enforcement efforts to address traffic safety and help to increase the number of children walking and biking to school safely.
D. Implementation - Projects that are ready to proceed and can be accomplished expeditiously will rank higher.
- High: Project will be completed with the engineering, education and enforcement components between June 2008 and June 2009.
- Medium: Project will be completed with the engineering, education and enforcement components between June 2009 and June 2010.
- Low: Project will be completed with the engineering, education and enforcement components after June 2010.
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