Safe Routes to School

School-based projects from a Transportation Act program

Federal master transportation actFunded by gas taxesIncluded roadway construction

and maintenance fundingSafety project funds“Enhancement” funding for trails

and sidewalksFirst time: Safe Routes to School

program

To encourage children, K-12, including the disabled, to walk and ride bikes to school◦Obesity cited as a major concern

• Florida Child Obesity (age 2-19): 18.3%

• Adult: 26% and rising

• Physically Active Florida Children (Age 6-17): 34.1%

• Increasing health care costs• shortened lifespan

Source: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: 2011

Funding began in 2005Funding flexibility

70-90% infrastructureSidewalks, trails, traffic

calming, bike storage

10-30% non-infrastructureEducation, outreach,

promotion

Focus on schools, new to Focus on schools, new to DOTDOTFDOT studies include preliminary design

and engineering (PD&E) phasePD&E manual barely mentions schoolsPedestrian and bike accommodation,

part of the PD&E process***

By statute, hazardous walking condition requires responsible agency to address the condition within a reasonable time

School transportation comes School transportation comes in many flavorsin many flavors

Program developmentProgram developmentInfrastructure projects, local

applications—filtered for constructability

Non-infrastructure—more difficult to find and carry out

All projects aimed to encourage change

Competing ideasCompeting ideasabout children walking or about children walking or bikingbiking

Culture of cars

Dependence on Others

World is essentially unsafe

Generational changes

Culture of flexibility in mobility

IndependenceWorld is complex

Past was different but instructive

ONE MEDIUM-ONE MEDIUM-SIZEDSIZED COUNTY COUNTY

• 49 Schools for 41,000 students

• 295 School buses transport 23,000 students daily

• 10,000 bus stops

• 29,000 miles per day/5.39 million miles per year

• Transportation Costs: $19.5 Million/year

Saving money when funds Saving money when funds are tightare tight

Ending courtesy busing, using Ending courtesy busing, using depot systemsdepot systems

A little about infrastructure A little about infrastructure (Needs)(Needs)

Many needs for pedestrian facilities

Challenges ◦Right of way◦Drainage impacts (environmental)◦Local opinions

Some sample projectsSome sample projects

Eustis Eustis Heights

Non-infrastructure and Non-infrastructure and bike parkingbike parking

Walking to School kits Better bike racks

Why Kids Don’t Walk to SchoolWhy Kids Don’t Walk to School

Factors affecting parents’ decision to let children walk to school:

•Distance (52%)

•Safety crossings (42%)

•Weather/climate (41%)

•Presence of sidewalks/pathways(38%)

•Traffic volume(36%)

•Speed along route(35%)

Security -- Surveys uncover Security -- Surveys uncover attitudesattitudesConcerns about

◦Bullying, verbal and physical threat, 32% of 12-18 year olds report being bullied

◦Gangs—23% report gangs in schools◦Personal violent crime—though reported,

significant decrease over past 10 years◦Abduction—2% are non-family, most are

missing for other reasons (lost, injured, stranded)

Diverse counter measures to avoid these situations

Overview of Overview of countermeasurescountermeasuresTeach children to speak upHelp children to be street smartInvolve families in designing safe

strategiesEncourage groups Practice with adult supervision

Long term benefit, independent ‘free range’ young people

Walking school busesWalking school busesSuccess depends on community characteristics, one size doesn’t fit

allSimple beginnings sometimes are

bestOrganized volunteers and

coordinatorsSmall incentives for participating

Bike trainsBike trainsSuitable for older students

http://guide.saferoutesinfo.org/walking_school_bus/index.cfm

DOT resourcesDOT resourceshttp://www.hhp.ufl.edu/safety/

◦Contacts for bike and ped teacher training

http://www.pedbikesrc.ce.ufl.edu/◦Many safety and best practice

handouts: tip sheets, pamphlets, curriculum guides, small items for promotion

Coming soonComing soonWorkshops around Florida about

walking school bus techniqueshttp://www.pednet.org/programs/

Contact FDOT SRTS coordinator for details

http://www.dot.state.fl.us/safety/SRTS_files/SRTS.shtm

Big Picture – long range Big Picture – long range coordination among coordination among

agenciesagencies

Source: Ruth Steiner, Ph.D, UF, 2006)

WHAT WE NEED FROM WHAT WE NEED FROM SCHOOLSSCHOOLS

Information, collaborative planning

Annual information about hazardous walking conditions

School representation during PD&E studies for new projects

Participation in transportation planning process at MPO

Coordination during school site selection and design (early and often)

Joan Carter, FDOT, District FiveBicycle and Pedestrian CoordinatorDeLand, 32720 (386) 943-5335