Department of Transportation
Division of Planning
PUBLIC NOTICE
proposed
Delaware Safe Routes to School Regulations
Background
Under Title 17 of the Delaware Code, Section 1021 and 1022, and Public Law 109-59, the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT), through its Division of Planning, is seeking to establish a Safe Routes to School Program (Program) and has developed draft Program Guidelines.
These Guidelines establish the Program and outline how DelDOT will administer the Program. It defines the purpose of the Program, funding availability and eligibility, and how projects will be selected.
Public Comment Period
The Department will take written comments on the draft Safe Routes to School Program Guidelines from March 1, 2006 through March 31, 2006.
Any requests for copies of the Draft Program Guidelines, or any questions or comments regarding this document should be directed to:
Erin Fasano, Project Planner
Division of Planning
Delaware Department of Transportation
PO Box 778
Dover, DE 19903
(302) 760-2236 (telephone)
(302) 739-2251 (fax)
Delaware Safe Routes to School
1.0 Introduction
Delaware’s Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program was established September 10, 2002 when Governor Ruth Ann Minner signed Senate Bill 353 of the 141st General Assembly of Delaware (73 Del. Laws, c. 435). As directed, the Department of Transportation (DelDOT) began developing a program that would enable DelDOT to work with schools to encourage children to walk and bicycle to school safely. Three years later similar federal legislation was passed (Pub. L. No. 109-59). Delaware’s legislation authorizes DelDOT to make SRTS grants available for bicycle and pedestrian safety and traffic calming measures in the vicinity of schools (17 Del.C. §1022). The federal SRTS program was established August 10, 2005 under the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). This law describes the purpose of the program as follows: (1) to enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school; (2) to make bicycling and walking to school a safer and more appealing transportation alternative, thereby encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle from an early age; and, (3) to facilitate the planning, development and implementation of projects and activities that will improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and air pollution in the vicinity of schools (Pub. L. No. 109-59, §1404 (b)). The federal program employs a multi-faceted approach that addresses infrastructure needs as well as implements non-infrastructure activities to achieve the program goals.
These Program Requirements establish the Delaware Department of Transportation SRTS program and outline how DelDOT will administer the program. This document provides information regarding eligible recipients of funding, the availability of funds, and the project selection process.
2.0 Eligibility
2.1 Eligible Participants
Any public or public charter school recognized by the Department of Education may participate in the SRTS program; however, participation is restricted to projects and activities that benefit elementary and middle school children in grades kindergarten through eighth grade.
2.2 Eligible Funding Recipients
Funding is available to the organization or agency that is administering the SRTS program; this may be the participating school or an organization acting on behalf of the participating school. Eligible funding recipients include state, regional, or local agencies, including nonprofit organizations, and schools or school districts. An organization may receive funding to implement part or all aspects of a SRTS program at a school or multiple schools, as long as the organization is able to demonstrate that the funding request is based on a comprehensive SRTS plan that addresses a set of core components.
3.0 Program Components
3.1 SRTS Plan
A comprehensive program is established by developing a SRTS plan. A plan should be created with a group representing different aspects of the school community. This group or committee may include parents, teachers, school administrators, neighboring residents, and local government representatives. The committee works through a process to identify areas of concern or need, and then prioritizes activities and projects. SRTS program participants are encouraged to utilize the “Delaware Safe Routes to School Program Sourcebook” when developing a SRTS plan. The “Delaware Safe Routes to School Program Sourcebook” provides guidance on how to develop a SRTS plan and references other resources. It is available on the DelDOT website (URL address to be determined).
3.2 The “5 E’s”
The “5 E’s” are divided into infrastructure projects (the Engineering component), and the non-infrastructure activities, which are the remaining components of Education, Enforcement, Encouragement, and Evaluation. A general description of the components that make up the “5 E’s” is provided below.
3.2.1 Engineering – Creating operational and physical improvements to the infrastructure surrounding schools that reduce speeds and potential conflicts with motor vehicle traffic, and establish safer and fully accessible crossings, walkways, trails and bikeways.
3.2.2 Education – Teaching children about the broad range of transportation choices, instructing them in important lifelong bicycling and walking safety skills, and launching driver safety campaigns in the vicinity of schools.
3.3.3 Enforcement – Partnering with local law enforcement to ensure traffic laws are obeyed in the vicinity of schools (this includes enforcement of speeds, yielding to pedestrians in crossings, and proper walking and bicycling behaviors), and initiating community enforcement such as crossing guard programs.
3.3.4 Encouragement – Using events and activities to promote walking and bicycling.
3.3.5 Evaluation – Monitoring and documenting outcomes and trends through the collection of data, including the collection of data before and after the intervention(s).
4.0 Project Funding
DelDOT is expected to receive $1 million dollars in federal monies each year for five federal fiscal years (FY 2005 – FY 2009) to administer the SRTS Program. While the majority of these funds will be expended towards infrastructure (capital) projects, ten to thirty percent must be dedicated to non-infrastructure projects. No matching funds from the participant are required.
5.0 Funding Limitations
5.1 There is no limit on the number of projects for which a sponsor can submit proposals. However, no project or activity will be eligible for funding unless it has been identified through a SRTS planning process and identified in a SRTS plan.
5.2 Individual SRTS projects may be funded up to $125,000. If a project has been identified in the SRTS plan that exceeds this limit, the project shall not be administered or funded through the SRTS Program. Instead, DelDOT will seek to combine the project with other ongoing work in the area, or submit the project to compete for funding with other Delaware capital improvement projects
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6.0 Eligible Costs
6.1 Infrastructure Costs
Infrastructure projects should directly support increased safety and convenience for elementary and middle school children, in kindergarten through eighth grades, to bicycle and/or walk to school. Project limits must be within two miles of the participating school. Planning; design; engineering expenses, including consultant services associated with developing the project; and construction costs are eligible infrastructure expenses. Eligible projects include:
6.2 Non-infrastructure Costs
The federal legislation requires that all non-infrastructure activities that are eligible for funding must be “activities to encourage walking and biking to school.” Eligible activities include:
7.0 Project Selection and Prioritization
7.1 Limits on funding have been set to enable more participants to develop a SRTS program, without having to prioritize applications. However, if popularity of the Program creates a demand for funding that outweighs Delaware’s limited resources, DelDOT shall implement the evaluation process for project selection as set out in the Delaware legislation. At such time, the following factors will be used to rate submitted proposals: (1) demonstrated needs of the applicant; (2) potential for reducing child injuries and fatalities; (3) potential of the proposal for encouraging increased walking and bicycling among students; and, (4) completion of a “Safe Routes to School” plan that identifies safety hazards, and current and potential walking and bicycling routes to school, and involves students, parents, teachers, local transportation agencies, law enforcement agencies and school officials in the plan development process.
7.2 Proposals for SRTS funding will be accepted continually. DelDOT will arrange a meeting with each project sponsor to discuss the eligibility of any proposed project and activities. DelDOT shall provide a written response to all applicants.
7.3 All inquiries are welcome. The state coordinator is available to provide information, answer questions, participate in meetings, and assist potential SRTS participants in initiating a SRTS program. Please direct any questions or comments to:
Safe Routes to School Program, Division of Planning
Delaware Department of Transportation
P.O. Box 778
Dover, DE 19903
(302) 760-2121 (telephone), (302) 739-2251 (fax)
