Safe Routes to School E-News
Issue #34: October 2008
Safe Routes to School E-News is a monthly email newsletter published by the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, a growing national network of more than 350 non-profit organizations, government agencies, and professional groups that are working to set goals, share best practices, secure funding, and provide detailed policy input to implementing agencies for advancing the Safe Routes to School national movement.
Please forward Safe Routes to School E-News to others who may be interested!
To receive future issues of E-News, email info@saferoutespartnership.org.
In this issue:
1. Take Action Now to Support Health Outcomes in the Federal Transportation Bill
Sign onto our letter by October 31 and join 70 other organizations showing their support
2. Safe Routes to School National Partnership’s 2008 Annual Meeting
Minutes and notes from breakout sessions are now available
3. 2nd National Safe Routes to School Conference is August 19-21, 2009 in Portland, Oregon
Save the date and share ideas for conference session topics!
4. Walk to School Day a Resounding Success
Close to 3,000 schools registered their event with every state represented
5. US Department of Health & Human Services Releases Physical Activity Guidelines
Safe Routes to School can help children achieve recommended amounts
6. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Releasing “Active Transportation for America” Report to Congress
Report makes the case for increased federal investment in bicycling and walking
7. Deb Hubsmith is the OIWC’s 2008 Pioneering Woman for the Bike Industry
Please join us in congratulating her on this honor!
8. New NTHP Program to Encourage Community-Centered Schools
Grants will assist efforts in six states
9. New Jersey’s Safe Routes to School Program Makes Great Advances
Utilizing funds for an Urban SRTS Demonstration Project in NJ’s three largest cities
10. SRTS News Throughout the Country
Local and state SRTS program news links
1. Take Action Now to Support Health Outcomes in the Federal Transportation Bill
Sign onto our letter by October 31 and join 70 other organizations showing their support
Congress will soon be taking up the new transportation bill, and this is a critical opportunity to sustain and expand funding for Safe Routes to School and other programs that promote health and safety. Please sign your organization onto a letter to Congress that urges the inclusion of health performance outcomes in the next transportation bill. Currently, the U.S. federal government spends approximately $60 billion/year on transportation infrastructure. This outlay is dwarfed by the costs to our country resulting from the negative health impacts of transportation. Americans spend:
• $76 billion a year on health care costs related to physical inactivity, partly because many individuals cannot safely walk, bicycle, or access public transit;
• $164 billion a year on health care costs associated with traffic injuries and deaths; and
• Between $40 and $64 billion a year on health care costs associated with asthma and other health conditions related to high rates of air pollution.
70 national, state, and local organizations have already signed onto the letter, including some of the following national organizations: American Society of Landscape Architects, Campaign to End Obesity, League of American Bicyclists, National Recreation and Park Association, Smart Growth America, and Transportation for America.
If we work together, we can ask Congress to ensure that the next transportation bill recognizes these problems and sets strong goals to reverse these negative outcomes of our current transportation system. This will provide a strong foundation for increased funding and supportive policies for safe routes to school, smart growth, safer communities for bicycling and walking, and complete streets. Please review the letter and follow the sign-on instructions at: http://www.saferoutespartnership.org/national/45755/45848. The deadline for organizational signatures is October 31, 2008.
Thank you very much for your help. Please contact Margo Pedroso, SRTSNP Policy Manager, with any questions.
2. Safe Routes to School National Partnership’s 2008 Annual Meeting
Minutes and notes from breakout sessions are now available
The Safe Routes to School National Partnership held its Annual Meeting in conjunction with the Pro Walk/Pro Bike Conference in Seattle, Washington on September 2, 2008. The Annual Meeting was kicked off with updates on Partnership business from Deb Hubsmith, SRTSNP Director, and a group discussion on framing the school bus cuts and rising gas prices for SRTS advantage. The remainder of the morning was spent in break-out groups, talking about issues related to specific topics affecting SRTS. The following topics were discussed: Barriers to SRTS; Building Coalitions; Building State Networks; Intersections; Liability; Making the Case for SRTS; School Bus Cuts and Gas Prices; School District Based Planning and Evaluation; School Siting; Selling SRTS as a Big Picture Solution; and SRTS Grant Implementation. Discussions were productive and full of insight in all the break-out sessions, and thanks to the efforts of volunteer note-takers, we were able to capture much of what was discussed.
The afternoon segment included an overview from Andy Clarke, League of American Bicyclists, of the next transportation bill that will succeed SAFETEA-LU, and a time-period for questions and answers. Interactive sessions followed led by Margo Pedroso, SRTSNP Policy Manager, regarding the importance of working with Congressional members to plan field visits and to hear from constituents and to see Safe Routes to School projects in action. The afternoon session included role-plays, breakout groups, and an opportunity to begin planning for District meetings with Congressional members. Click here to access the Toolkit for planning meetings and events with Congressional members.
3. 2nd National Safe Routes to School Conference is August 19-21, 2009 in Portland, Oregon
Save the date and share ideas for conference session topics
The Safe Routes to School National Partnership and the National Center for Safe Routes to School, co-presenting sponsors of the National Safe Routes to School Conference, are pleased to announce that the Bicycle Transportation Alliance (BTA) has been selected through a competitive application process to host the 2nd national conference from August 19-21, 2009 in Portland, Oregon.
The BTA is currently planning the agenda for the conference and would appreciate your input. Please share the top three topics you would like addressed at the conference by October 31, 2008 by emailing Scott Yelton at scottyelton@bta4bikes.org. Please consider areas that include hot topics, best practices, or issues that you are facing or have heard about in implementing a SRTS program in your community or state.
4. Walk and Bike to School Day a Resounding Success
Close to 3,000 schools registered their event with every state represented
The Partnership has been very pleased with reports coming in from throughout the country on the success of International Walk and Bike to School Day, which took place on Wednesday, October 8. Media articles have been immensely positive, and our list serve has been active with reports of local activities; www.walktoschool.org shows that all 50 states and the District of Columbia had schools register for Walk and Bike to School Day with a total of close to 3,000 schools registered!
Partnership staff all attended Walk and Bike to School Day events in our local communities and enjoyed experiencing firsthand the excitement of walking and bicycling to school. Deb Hubsmith, Director, was active in facilitating an event in Sacramento, CA at Bannon Creek Elementary School. The event was a huge success with Congressional Representative Doris Matsui (D-CA) and California State Senate President pro Tem-elect Darrell Steinberg in attendance. Caltrans Director Will Kempton was also present, and announced awards of California’s Federal SRTS Cycle 2 funds for $46 million to an audience of approximately 600 elementary school students, teachers and administrators.
If your Walk and Bike to School Day had a Congressional Representative or their staff in attendance, please contact Margo Pedroso at margo@saferoutespartnership.org so she can keep track for advocacy work on the Hill. Congrats to all of you who planned and participated in an event last week. We encourage you to keep the momentum going in the coming weeks while your communities are excited about walking and bicycling to school. Let’s all make walk and bike to school day an every day event with ongoing Safe Routes to School programs!
5. US Department of Health & Human Services Releases Physical Activity Guidelines
Safe Routes to School can help children achieve recommended amounts
The Federal Government has issued its first-ever Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. They describe the types and amounts of physical activity that offer substantial health benefits to Americans.
Children and adolescents are recommended to get one hour or more of moderate or vigorous aerobic physical activity a day, including vigorously intense physical activity at least three days a week. Examples of moderate intensity aerobic activities include bicycle riding, brisk walking, hiking, and skateboarding. Vigorous intensity aerobic activities include bicycle riding, jumping rope, running and sports such as soccer, basketball, and ice or field hockey. Children and adolescents should incorporate muscle-strengthening activities, such as rope climbing, sit-ups, and tug-of war, three days a week. Bone-strengthening activities, such as jumping rope, running and skipping, are recommended three days a week.
What better way to achieve these recommended amounts through walking or bicycling to and from school each day! Click here to view the complete guidelines.
6. Rails-to-Trails Conservancy Releasing “Active Transportation for America” Report to Congress
Report makes the case for increased federal investment in bicycling and walking
On October 20, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy (RTC) is releasing the “Active Transportation for America” report to Congress with Representative James Oberstar (D-MN), Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.
Funded by Bikes Belong Coalition, the report findings quantify for the first time the significant contribution that bicycling and walking can make to our nation’s transportation system. Presentations on October 20 will be made by: Keith Laughlin, President, RTC; Tim Blumenthal, President, Bikes Belong; Marianne Fowler, Senior Vice President of Federal Relations, RTC; Kevin Mills, Vice President of Policy, RTC; Thomas Gotschi, Director of Research, RTC.
When the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission released a report to Congress in January 2008 with recommendations for the future of transportation in America, the Commission unfortunately neglected to address bicycling and walking. This RTC “Active Transportation for America” report will provide the “missing chapter.” To access the report on the morning of Monday, October 20 at 8 a.m. EDT, please visit www.railstotrails.org/ATFA.
7. Deb Hubsmith is the OIWC’s 2008 Pioneering Woman for the Bike Industry
Please join us in congratulating her on this honor!
Deb Hubsmith, Director of the Safe Routes to School National Partnership, was recognized for her leadership with the third annual Pioneering Woman Award for the bike industry presented by the Outdoor Industries Women’s Coalition at Interbike in Las Vegas.
Deb is the founding director of the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) National Partnership and provides oversight and direction for all programs, policies and staff. She has worked on SRTS program implementation and legislative development for more than ten years. She helped lead the successful Marin County SRTS pilot program, and then took the results to the national level where she worked extensively to secure the $612 million in federal funds for SRTS that were approved by Congress in 2005 as part of the federal transportation bill SAFETEA-LU. Deb serves as an energetic spokesperson for SRTS and has presented on the program at numerous conferences. She hasn’t owned a car since 1996 and uses a bicycle as her primary means of transportation.
Outdoor Industries Women’s Coalition (OIWC) created the Pioneering Woman Award to honor women who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to mentoring female colleagues. Deb will receive a $1000 scholarship to use towards additional leadership training of her choice. Congratulations Deb!
8. New NTHP Program to Encourage Community-Centered Schools
Grants will assist efforts in six states
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is announcing a new technical assistance and grant program to promote community-centered schools in six states – California, Illinois, New Hampshire, Oregon, Pennsylvania, and South Carolina. America’s community-centered schools—which strengthen neighborhoods, encourage environmentally-responsible development patterns, and promote the preservation and use of existing older schools—have been increasingly abandoned in recent decades, replaced by schools built on the outskirts of communities (where children cannot walk or bicycle to school). The six recipients will use the funds to research barriers to community-centered schools and to develop state-level policy recommendations.
A total of $33,000 was awarded through the new grant program:
• Local Government Commission, $6,000, to provide recommendations to the California Department of Education related to revisions of state-level school siting policy guiding documents;
• Healthy Schools Campaign, $6,000, to develop model state-level policies which encourage sustainable schools throughout Illinois;
• Innovation Partnership, $3,000, to educate the Oregon public and decision-makers about the many benefits of coordinated planning between school districts and local governments;
• New Hampshire Preservation Alliance, $6,000, to enhance school building aid and siting policies;
• Preservation Pennsylvania, $6,000, to determine how state-level fiscal policy affects school siting decisions across Pennsylvania; and
• South Carolina Design Arts Partnership and South Carolina Arts Foundation, $6,000, to develop model policies that eliminate design barriers and encourage collaboration among governmental entities for educational facility planning.
The grant program, called Helping Johnny Walk to School: Sustaining Communities through Smart School Siting Policies, has been funded by the EPA and will assist states in finding new strategies for tackling the complex—and often competing —goals surrounding school siting policies and practices. The grant recipients will help citizens and officials make informed choices on the siting of school facilities.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation has been actively involved in this issue for many years. Since publishing the seminal work of Why Johnny Can’t Walk to School and listing the threat to neighborhood schools on its list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places in 2000, the National Trust for Historic Preservation has continually sought ways to raise awareness about the important link between community vitality and walkable neighborhood schools. To learn more about the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s work on this issue, visit our website at www.preservationnation.org/issues/historic-schools. To see how school siting affects Safe Routes to School, see this school siting resource on the Partnership’s website.
9. New Jersey’s Safe Routes to School Program Makes Great Advances
Utilizing funds for an Urban SRTS Demonstration Project in NJ’s three largest cities
When the federal government provided funds for the SRTS program, the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) and the New Jersey SRTS Coalition spread the word via e-mails, websites, listserves, and public open houses. The response was 274 applications in 2007 requesting almost $75 million! NJDOT funded projects at over 60 schools in 29 communities across the state with $4.15 million in its first round of SRTS grants.
The 2007 projects included sidewalks, traffic calming, walking school buses, bicycle and pedestrian safety programs, and an innovative “Newspapers in Education” program of curriculum-based SRTS activities that teachers can use in their classrooms to teach students how to safely walk and bicycle to school. The “Get Up and Go” series (by the City of Garfield Health Department and the Bergen Record) has reached over 30,000 students in the North Jersey area and over 400,000 daily readers so far.
Demand for Safe Routes to School has not waned. 263 applications were submitted for Round Two, totaling $44.5 million. NJDOT hopes to award an additional $4 million in SRTS grants this year.
NJDOT is expanding its reach in two ways. First, the Department is utilizing federal planning funds for an Urban SRTS Demonstration Project in three of New Jersey’s largest cities. One of the goals of the program is to gain insight into the unique needs of disadvantaged urban areas to ensure that these communities can compete fairly for SRTS funding. The demonstration program will be profiled in an America Walks webinar on October 21, there’s still time to register for this event.
The second NJDOT planning effort is the NJ SRTS Resource Center at the Alan M. Voorhees Transportation Center at Rutgers University. A help desk can be reached by phone or e-mail to answer any questions related to SRTS. The center also provides an SRTS list serve, publishes a bi-annual newsletter, and holds workshops to train local program leaders and walking school bus coordinators to organize effective programs in their communities.
To learn more about New Jersey’s Safe Routes to School program, contact the NJDOT SRTS Coordinator, Elise Bremer-Nei at Elise.Bremer-Nei@dot.state.nj.us. Program information is also available at: www.state.nj.us/transportation/community/srts/.
10. SRTS News Throughout the Country
Local and state SRTS program news links
Safe Routes to School news around the country keeps growing! Updated regularly, see our new SRTS in the News media center for the latest in local, state, and national SRTS news.
Help Grow the Partnership!
Joining the Partnership is free. Please encourage other organizations, schools, businesses, and government agencies to join the Safe Routes to School National Partnership.
Funding for the Safe Routes to School National Partnership has been generously provided by the Bikes Belong Coalition, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Kaiser Permanente, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and partner affiliates.
For more information, contact:
Deb Hubsmith, Director
Safe Routes to School National Partnership
deb@saferoutespartnership.org
www.saferoutespartnership.org
(415) 454-7430