Policy 101: Why and How to Support Safe Routes to School

Oregon Safe Routes to School ConferenceJune 20, 2016

About the Safe Routes to School National Partnership

We are a nonprofit organization that improves the quality of life for kids and

communities by promoting active, healthy lifestyles and safe infrastructure that

supports bicycling and walking.

Agenda & OutlineOUTLINE

Why is policy important to Safe Routes to School work? Where can we look and where should we focus? (Kari)

How can Safe Routes to School be integrated into state health, wellness, and education policy? (Suzanne)

Case study of Safe Routes to School policy work in Springfield, OR – at the district & the city. (Emma)

About the Speakers

Kari SchlosshauerPacific Northwest Regional Policy

ManagerSafe Routes to School National

Partnership

Suzanne HiddeSchool Wellness Policy CoordinatorOregon Department of Education

Emma NewmanTransportation Planner

City of Springfield

WHAT IS SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL?

The long-term goal of Safe Routes to

School programs is to increase the frequency with

which students are able to walk, bike, and roll to school.

WHY WE’RE DOING THIS WORK

Why we’re doing this work

RECENT STUDIES: SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL WORKS

801 schools in DC, FL, OR, TX• Studied school travel data for five years (2007-2012)• Control group without Safe Routes programming• Walking & bicycling rates increased:

18% due to engineering improvements+ 25% due to education &

encouragement programs .= 43% total increase over five years

Crash data in NYC• 168,806 pedestrian injuries between 2001-2010• In census tracts with SRTS programs, pedestrian

injury rate decreased 44% between 2009-2010• No decrease in census tracts without SRTS

programs

Healthy kids learn better• Physical activity supports academic achievement. • When programs that support transportation are

implemented, e.g. Walking School Buses, they can reduce chronic absenteeism rates.

THE SIX E’S: EQUITY

The City of Portland developed a ranking process which considers several criteria to rank schools for Safe Routes to

School initiatives. The matrix is used in two distinct classes: programmatic

elements (encouragement/education) and capital improvements (engineering).

A combination of four basic categories to rank each school:• school demographics• existing conditions • past expenditures

• school support

Children from low-income families are twice as likely as children from wealthier families to walk to school, but they often face significant traffic and personal safety challenges on the trip to school.

SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL IN OREGON

2001first time the state directed local government to work with schools to look at safety issues. In 2005, Oregon Legislature established “Safe Routes to School Program”, in preparation for federal funding

$1 billionminimum amount of dedicated funding available federally from 2005-12 to state Departments of Transportation across the country

$15 million minimum amount allocated for Safe Routes to School infrastructure and non-infrastructure programming between 2005-14 in Oregon

260number of schools in Oregon that have received some Safe Routes to School funding. (There are more than 1300 schools in Oregon.)

83% of schoolsin Oregon have not received any Safe Routes to School funding or improvements

OREGON POLICY & FUNDING CONTEXT

• ORS 195.115 – directs local governments to identify barriers to bicycling and walking to schools in their jurisdiction.

Reducing barriers for pedestrian and bicycle access to schools. City and county governing bodies shall work with school district personnel to identify barriers and hazards to children walking or bicycling to and from school. The cities, counties and districts may develop a plan for funding of improvements to reduce barriers and hazards identified.

• ORS 184.740 & 184.741 / OAR 737-025 – Oregon Legislature established State Safe Routes to School Program and Safe Routes to School Fund

Managed by Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). No funding has been appropriated by the state.

• ODE – School District Transportation Departments (OAR 166-400 Transportation Records) Records document safety hazards and safe routes and monitor student safety when taking school transportation. Records may include but are not limited to safety check records which detail pedestrian routes taken by student to and from school and identify number of traffic lanes, posted speeds, and types of crossings; safe stop reports which identify bus stops with safety hazards; railroad crossing reports which consist of annual reports to the Oregon Public Utility Commission which list location of railroad track crossings on school bus routes, name of railroad, and names of intersecting streets; and related documentation.

• ODE Traffic Patrol – Crossing Guard training for adult and studentWhile the primary purpose of traffic patrols is ensuring our students’ safety on their way to and from school, these patrols also provide students with valuable opportunities to develop a sense of responsibility and good citizenship, foster student leadership, and instill important safety lessons.

• OSBA – Sample District Wellness Policy and Administrative Regulations

DISTRICT POLICY WORKBOOK

“I wish I’d had a greater understanding of how powerful local school policy could be to advancing the work of Safe Routes to School when I began.” ~ Klamath Falls SRTS Coordinatorwww.changelabsolutions.org/safe-routes/welcomePro-tip:

Write this down!

DISTRICT POLICY WORKBOOK

http://www.changelabsolutions.org/safe-routes/welcome

EVERYTHING IS COMING UP SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL

EVERYTHING IS COMING UP SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL

Thank You!

Kari SchlosshauerPacific Northwest Regional Policy ManagerSafe Routes to School National Partnershipkari@saferoutespartnership.org 503-734-0813

saferoutespartnership.org saferoutespacificnorthwest.org

Next up: Suzanne Hidde, ODE

Then: Emma Newman, Springfield