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 nationwide2. Create Clearinghouse3. 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 fundsInfrastructure 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 hiredApplications in developmentApplication period openApplications in reviewPrograms 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 sharing2. Partner sharing3. Program activity partner 4. Advisory committee

membership

State-level involvement examples1. 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 committee5. Other ways?

Local level involvement

1. Information sharing2. Partner sharing3. 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. Role2. 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

Questions? Nancy Pullen

pullen@hsrc.unc.edu 919 962-7419

Thank you.