1. Safe Routes to School Program 2012 Overview New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School Program

2. Overview SRTS Program Section 1404 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU) New York awarded $27.4m in 2008 to 70 Sponsors SAFETEA-LU Extensions provided additional funds –$24 million available Statewide, available by NYSDOT Region based on K-8 enrollment SRTS Program Oversight within NYSDOT Local Programs Bureau (LPB) New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School Program

3. SRTS Program Overview The SRTS program is to be administered by each State’s Department of Transportation Each state is required to have a full-time Safe Routes to School coordinator position: –Each DOT Region has a part-time SRTS coordinator (RLPL) 10 - 30 percent of program funds for non- infrastructure activities (statewide goal – not project specific) New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School Program Federal Program Structure

4. Mary Harding, Statewide Coordinator Coordinators in each Region (RLPL) https://www.dot.ny.gov/safe-routes-to-school –Manage application and contract process –Liaison for project Sponsors Metropolitan Planning Organizations http://www.nysmpos.org/ New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School program Contacts

5. SRTS Program Overview The Regional Local Projects Liaison (RLPL) – Interprets regulations, manuals and guidelines – Monitoring – Completeness reviews – Consulting with NYSDOT Main Office and FHWA – Standard Federal-Aid Local Project Agreement – Periodic Program Update Meetings New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School Program

6. SRTS Program Overview SRTS Program goals : 1.Enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school; 2.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.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. New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School Program

7. SRTS Guidebook New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School Program Guidebook Program Information Sponsor expectations Eligible costs How to apply Timeline and Expectations

8. SRTS Program – The 5 E’s SRTS efforts focus on five components, often referred to as the “5E’s”. The 5 E’s are: A.Engineering B.Education C.Enforcement D.Encouragement E.Evaluation New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School Program

9. SRTS Program – The 5 E’s Engineering Pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements Pavement markings, signs and signals Sidewalk improvements On and off street bicycle facilities and parking Traffic calming New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School Program

10. SRTS Program – The 5 E’s Education School assemblies Implementation of education curriculum Safety events and activities Efforts to teach safety and promote walking and bicycling to school New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School Program

11. SRTS Program – The 5 E’s Enforcement Law enforcement partnerships Crossing Guard Program Vehicle Speed Feedback Safety Patrols New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School Program

12. SRTS Program – The 5 E’s Encouragement Walk to School Day activities Promote walking and bicycling Complementary activities to Education New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School Program

13. SRTS Program – The 5 E’s Evaluation Review and Evaluation –Safety benefits –Behavioral changes –Student participation –Surveys (required) http://www.saferoutesdata.org New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School Program

14. SRTS Program Overview SRTS Program funds should supplement, rather than supplant, current funding streams that support bicycling and walking Existing state and local bicycle and pedestrian safety programs should be sustained and coordinated with the Federal SRTS program Existing program receiving Federal SRTS funds must satisfy the requirement and purpose of the SRTS program New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School Program Supplement Existing Programs

15. Section 2 Project Eligibility New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School program

16. Project Location Guidebook provides details Infrastructure projects must be: –within the public right-of-way Includes lands owned by public school districts or individual public schools* (if open to the public) –within a two mile radius of a primary or middle school (K-8) Schools with grades that extend higher than Grade 8, but include K-8, are eligible –a logical connection from homes to school New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School program New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School program

17. Project Location Infrastructure project sponsors must –Design and construct to State Highway Design Standards –Obtain authorization from NYSDOT if work is proposed on a State Roadway A Highway Work Permit is required: Start coordination early New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School program New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School program

18. Must Benefit the Public Interest Infrastructure projects funded under the SRTS program must be accessible to the public Joint public / private projects – SRTS funds are limited to use within the public ROW Infrastructure funds may only be used to support the intended purpose of the program, (e.g. initiatives which promote safety, or bicycling and walking to school) New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School program

19. Ineligible Expenses Maintenance and operation expenses (e.g. sweeping, snow & ice removal, etc) Crossing guard or law enforcement salaries (salaries for first two years only) Projects that reorganize pickup and drop-off areas near bus stops Improvements to bus stops Bus safety education programs New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School program

20. Ineligible Expenses Any costs incurred prior to Federal authorization approval (e.g. Application preparation) Acquisition and purchase of ROW Work conducted outside of the public ROW Any activities that do not specifically promote the stated purpose of the SRTS program Reoccurring expenses New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School program

21. Must Benefit the Public Interest The Failure to comply with SRTS Program and Federal requirements may result in the repayment of all or a portion of the Federal funds received for the project. New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School program This includes regular reporting of project status to the Regional Coordinator and progressing the project in a reasonable timeframe.

22. Safe Routes to School Guidebook Procedures for Locally Administered Federal-Aid Projects (PLAFAP) –Referred to as “The Manual” –http://www.dot.ny.gov/plafaphttp://www.dot.ny.gov/plafap Regional Safe Routes to School Coordinator New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School program Resources and Tools

23. Section 3 Roles and Responsibilities of the Sponsor, Applicant, & NYSDOT New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School program

24. Sponsor/Applicant Each infrastructure project must have a municipal sponsor – County, City, Town or Village –School Districts may partner with a municipality as an Applicant Non-Infrastructure projects may be sponsored by a school, school district or municipality. New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School program

25. Sponsor/Applicant All Sponsors must have –Knowledge of federal process: Federal Aid 101 Uniform Act SRTS specific rules NYSDOT will enter into a formal agreement with each sponsor prior to project implementation New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School program

26. Sponsor The sponsor must be willing to assume responsibility for all aspects of an approved SRTS project, including –Development and Implementation –Compliance with federal requirements –First instance project costs Infrastructure projects must be sponsored by a municipality New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School program

27. Applicant A project applicant may be: – A county, city, town or village – A public school district – A charter, private or parochial school – A not-for-profit organization The applicant and sponsor should: –Clearly describe both the sponsor – applicant responsibilities (i.e. resolution or agreement) –Agreement /resolution must be in place prior to initiating any SRTS work New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School program

28. NYSDOT NYSDOT engineering and landscape architecture services –Request and cost estimates must be included in your application –Counts toward maximum amount requested Services include: –Preparing design approval documents –Preparing final Plans, Specifications, & Estimate (PS&E) package and contract bid documents –Compliance with the NEPA process New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School program

29. Section 4 Financing Projects New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School program

30. General Information The SRTS Program is a reimbursement program, not a grant program The SRTS program will reimburse for 100 percent of eligible costs: – No local match is required – SRTS program monies cannot be used as a match for other fund sources New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School program

31. General Information The SRTS program has maximum project participation limits is: – Infrastructure maximum fixed total cost; $500,000 – Non-infrastructure maximum fixed total cost; $150,000 – The maximum amount for combined infrastructure and non- infrastructure projects is $650,000 New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School program

32. General Information NYSDOT expects each SRTS project to be delivered in compliance with the approved scope SRTS funding for a project is capped at approval All proposed modifications to the scope of a project must be approved by the NYSDOT New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School program

33. Project Progress Information Every SRTS project is expected to progress through development in a reasonable time frame –All work complete within 5 years of award for Non- Infrastructure and Infrastructure projects –Timeline is noted in the Guidebook. Be sure you can comply with the process and the steps before applying The failure to deliver SRTS project within a reasonable time frame may result in a withdrawal or repayment of Federal funds for the project. New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School program

34. Project Progress Information Implementation expectations for SRTS Infrastructure project include: – The NYSDOT and Sponsor agreement (State-Local Agreement) is to be (locally) executed within 3 months of the project award funding approval – Sponsor should complete the development and design work within 18 months of project award and funding approval – The total project is to be completed within 5 years of funding award New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School program

35. Private Property and Facilities Where private investment of joint-use activities are part of the proposed SRTS project: – SRTS funds are limited to the portion of the project that benefits the public interest – Privately owned or commercially used portions of a project must be paid for with private investment New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School program

36. Section 5 Project Selection Process New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School program

37. Project Rating Criteria 1.Evaluation of Proposed Safety Benefits 2.Cost effective/high impact solutions 3.Comprehensive proposal 4.Community outreach and support 5.Relationship to the 5 E’s 6.Sponsor Prior Performance with Federal Aid 7.Proposed Schedule and Budget Accuracy New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School program

38. May 2012Program Announcement May-June SRTS Information Workshops August 31Pre-Submission Review Deadline October 5Application Deadline Oct – NovRegional Review Process NovemberMain Office Final Review December Announce Awards New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School program Timeline

39. Regional Review Committee – MPO – NYSDOT – FHWA – Partner Agencies – Advocates Review and Rank Applications using Rater’s Guide Recommendations to Main Office Review by Commissioner Announce Awards by December 2012 New York State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to School program Review Process

40. Questions?

41. Thank You for Your Interest in the Safe Routes to School Program! Mary Harding Statewide Safe Routes to School Coordinator NYSDOT Main Office, Albany, NY Phone: (518) 485-8291 Email: mharding@dot.state.ny.us