Things you can do to Prepare for the Safe Routes to School Application

The MaineDOT Safe Routes to School Program is intended to provide resources for both encouragement activities and infrastructure improvements to increase the number of kids walking and bicycling to school. Schools statewide will have the opportunity to participate in encouragement activities intended to give incentives and provide opportunities for children to lead healthier lives through more active living. The application for infrastructure improvements such as school zone lights and sidewalk improvements are intended to be only part of a larger effort within communities to improve conditions and raise awareness of the benefits of walking and biking to school. The following suggestions are meant to give people ideas of how to prepare for an application.

• Make an evaluation of the factors that may be keeping kids from walking or bicycling to school.
• Make a list and prioritize improvements that would be helpful.
• Document how the project will improve the safety of students and encourage an increase in walking and biking.
• Town/City support is vital. Communicate and document support from town leaders.
• Work towards other funding (i.e. town) that can be directed towards the improvement (s)
• Take pictures of the areas of concern; develop a picture scenario for the application.
• Develop detailed cost estimates, including right of way acquisition (Public Works Directors are very helpful in this area).
• Is the road a town way or on the "state system"?
• If project is "on-road" is sufficient right-of-way available and what, if any, impact may the project have on abutting property owners?
• If project is "off-road" determine property ownership. Also work towards getting an easement for the project.
• Determine who will be responsible for the long-term maintenance and upkeep.
• Gather information on current school commute patterns (# of students who currently walk, bike, bus, or are driven to school).
• Show how the project will benefit the community. What neighborhoods and how many people will benefit?
• Identify an individual or individuals within your school or school district who can serve as a contact person to help coordinate a school program designed to encourage kids to walk and bicycle to school. This person will work closely with the MaineDOT Statewide Encouragement Program, which will provide supporting materials.
• Build project support from parents, town officials, School Departments, Police Department, Public Works Departments, and area health officials.
• Develop a working Safe Routes to School committee consisting of the appropriate individuals from the groups listed above.
• Begin gathering letters of support from all involved and those that will be affected by the safer route.

Bicycle and Pedestrian Improvement Information

If you feel that you have an idea to make the transportation system safer or easier to access for bicyclists and/or pedestrians, it is important that you get involved to make sure that bicycle and pedestrian improvements are an important priority for decision makers at the local, state and national level. Organizing and/or participating on a committee of local Bicycle, Pedestrian, and/or Safe Routes to School Committee is an important step in being successful in improving conditions. The following is a list of options that can help improve conditions to encourage more walking and bicycling in your community:

• Towns should require bike/ped improvements as part of the private development approval process, including subdivisions, commercial developments, and public road and infrastructure improvements.
• If the road is on the State System, it is important to find out if there are any plans to improve the road in the near future. If road improvements are planned, it is important to help make sure that accommodations for pedestrians and bicyclists are included in the project.
• If the road is in need of improvements and it is not currently funded, make sure that your town/city is working towards appropriating or acquiring funding to fix the road, including bicycle and pedestrian accommodations.
• Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School funding can be used for improvements along an existing road or for off road projects (trails and paths). Safe Routes to School funding can only be used for projects within 2 miles of K-8 schools. Both of these programs are very competitive.
• In most cases, pedestrian and bicycle improvements (shoulders and/or sidewalks) should be accommodated when a state highway is improved.

Funding Options

Local Municipal -- Most pedestrian improvements such as sidewalks, crosswalks, and traffic signals are constructed in local villages or cities and are the responsibility of local municipalities. Thus, local municipalities should be the first source of funding for desired pedestrian improvements. For projects beyond the scope of a municipal budget, it is possible to seek the funding athrough MaineDOT, but these funds are very competitive.

Funding available through competitive applications from MaineDOT

Safe Routes to Schools -- This is a new Federal Program. This funding is for infrastructure and educational improvements that will increase the number of children walking or bicycling to a Maine school (this program applies to only schools serving elementary or middle school students) or will provide greater safety for those already walking or bicycling. Applications for projects are expected to be released in early June 2006. For more information on this program, please visit http://www.maine.gov/mdot/opt/srts.php.

Transportation Enhancement Program -- This is a Federal program that provides funding for bicycle and pedestrian improvements or bicycle and pedestrian safety education. There is a 20% local match required with this program. MaineDOT solicits applications for these funds every two years (usually in the summer of even numbered years). Successful projects must demonstrate that they will provide for improved access or improve safety conditions. The next Transportation Enhancement application deadline is July 1st, 2006.

For more information on Transportation Enhancements: www.enhancements.org/.

MaineDOT application available at: www.state.me.us/mdot/planning-process-programs/documents/2ENHapp0809.pdf.

Projects Along Designated Scenic Byways
For information on funding to support projects along designated Scenic Byways, contact the Maine DOT Environmental Office, Landscape Architecture Unit.

Municipal Transportation Gateways
To apply for funds to support municipal transportation gateways, contact the MaineDOT Environmental Office, Community Gateways Program.

Additional funding programs to improve your community

It is also possible that some communities can fund pedestrian improvements, particularly in downtown areas through the Community Development Block Grant program (CDBG).
For more information visit www.meocd.org/.

The Maine Department of Conservation also has a Regional Trails Program to help build trails.
For more information visit www.maine.gov/doc/parks/programs/community/trailsfund.html.

The National Park Service also has a Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program to help communities/groups reach their goals.
For more information visit www.nps.gov/rtca.