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Safe Routes to School Programs

crossing guard watching over children crossing a street at a crosswalk

Announcements:

  • December 20, 2011, The Cycle 10 SR2S “Call for Projects” was announced. Announcement. The call is for $45 Million in projects for a two-year cycle of funds. Application Deadline is March 30, 2012. Apply Now
  • October 17, 2011, The Cycle 3 SRTS Approved Project List was announced. 139 projects worth $66 million was funded this cycle out of 332 project applications submitted.
  • Program assistance is available through a new SRTS website at: http://www.casaferoutestoschool.org/. The website was funded through a Non-Infrastructure SRTS statewide grant to help communities plan, develop, and implement successful SRTS projects
  • New Office Bulletins have been published for non-infrastructure project implementation procedures.
  • September 30, 2011: Updated Project Delivery Requirements have been posted for the SRTS Program. Refer to: http://www.dot.ca.gov/hq/LocalPrograms/HSIP/delivery_status.htm

Quick Links to:
 

What is Safe Routes to School?

Safe Routes to School is an international movement that has taken hold in communities throughout the United States.  The concept is to increase the number of children who walk or bicycle to school by funding projects that remove the barriers that currently prevent them from doing so.  Those barriers include lack of infrastructure, unsafe infrastructure, lack of programs that promote walking and bicycling through education/encouragement programs aimed at children, parents, and the community. 

Why is Safe Routes to School important?

Thirty years ago, 60% of children living within a 2-mile radius of a school walked or bicycled to school.  Today, that number has dropped to less than 15%.  Roughly 25% commute by school bus, and well over half are driven to or from school in vehicles.  And back then, 5% of children between the ages of 6 and 11 were considered to be overweight or obese.  Today, that number has climbed to 20%.  These statistics point to a rise in preventable childhood diseases, worsening air quality and congestion around schools, and missed opportunities for children to grow into self reliant, independent adults.
Safe Routes to School Programs are intended to reverse these trends by funding projects that improve safety and efforts that promote walking and bicycling within a collaborative community framework.  It is through local champions working with a coalition of parents, schools, professionals in transportation, engineering, health, and law enforcement, that the most sustainable projects are expected to emerge.

State and Federal Safe Routes to School Programs

There are two separate Safe Routes to School Programs administered by Caltrans.

There is the State-legislated program referred to as SR2S and there is the Federal Program referred to as SRTS.

While both programs are intended to achieve the same basic goal of increasing the number of children walking and bicycling to school by making it safer for them to do so, they differ in the following respects. 

Program Features State-Legislated Program - SR2S Federal Program - SRTS
Legislative Authority Streets & Highways Code Section 2330-2334 Section 1404 in SAFETEA-LU
Expires AB 57 extended program indefinitely Pending SAFETEA-LU reauthorization.  Extensions have been granted through September 30, 2011.
Eligible Applicants Cities and counties State, local, and regional agencies and Native American Tribes experienced in meeting federal transportation requirements. Non-profit organizations, school districts, and public health departments must partner with a city, county, MPO, or RTPA to serve as the responsible agency for their project.
Eligible Projects Infrastructure projects Stand-alone infrastructure or non-infrastructure projects
Local Match 10% minimum required None
Project Completion Deadline Within 4 ½  years after project funds are allocated to the agency Within 4 ½ years after project is amended into FTIP
Restriction on Infrastructure Projects Must be located in the vicinity of a school Infrastructure projects must be within 2 miles of a grade school or middle school
Targeted Beneficiaries Children in grades K-12 Children in grades K-8
Cycles Completed 9 cycles 3 cycles
Current Status Cycle 9 Final Project List dated 10/14/2010 Cycle 3 Final Project List dated 10/11/2011
Funding $24.25M annual funding $23M annual funding

How to get started

While every community is unique, the basic steps to consider prior to submitting an application for Safe Routes to School funds are:

  • Identify community stakeholders and form a multidisciplinary team of partners committed to working together in developing a community vision, developing project applications, and implementing those projects if selected for funding.
  • Inventory and identify safety needs/hazards around schools; get information and seek out resources; and propose alternatives that would correct those needs/hazards.
  • Prioritize alternatives and select the best alternative that proposes short-term and long-term safety solutions in the form of projects.
  • Develop a plan for the project.
  • Submit an application to compete for funding for the project when a call for projects cycle is underway.

Program Assistance

If you have any questions regarding the funding or implementation of SRTS/SR2S Projects, please contact your Caltrans District Safe Routes to School Coordinator. The SRTS Technical Assistance Resource Center (TARC) at the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is available to assist communities with SRTS program related questions.

If you have any problems downloading files or other questions, please e-mail Local.Programs@dot.ca.gov or see the Local Programs Help Page.

Continue to check this site periodically for any program updates.

This page last updated on October 17, 2011.