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Indiana Safe Routes to School Program

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What is the Safe Routes to School Program?

Crossing GuardThe Indiana Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program is based on the federal program designed to make walking and bicycling to school safe and routine. Walking and bicycling are viable transportation alternatives for travel to and from school with significant potential benefits, among them reductions in motor vehicle traffic, associated fuel consumption for school trips and improved air quality.

CrossingWhen SAFETE-LU was signed into law in 2005, the evidence was clear that disturbing weight gains among American children and a growing nationwide obesity epidemic threatened our health. Bicycling and walking to school helps establish a healthy, active lifestyle from an early age. Generally, increased physical activity among school-aged children contributes to their improved personal health. However, towns with established SRTS programs also report a stronger sense of community identity and increased social skills among school-aged children.

INDOT is responsible for administering the Indiana SRTS Program that makes federal funding available for eligible activities and improvements. INDOT will use an application process to evaluate candidate projects. An SRTS Advisory Committee will review applications and make recommendations to fund infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects.

Indiana Safe Routes To School Links

Bike Lot

Indiana

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Parent and Student Surveys

For evaluation purposes all schools awarded funding for Safe Routes to School activities and projects are required to conduct parent and student surveys. These surveys collect base information about how children travel to and from school and measure the parent's attitudes about student travel.  The surveys help generate interest and participation in the Safe Routes program while yielding useful information for schools. Following implementation of both infrastructure projects and non-infrastructure activities, the surveys must be repeated to measure changes in the number of children walking, bicycling and using other modes of transportation, and to examine any changes in parent’s attitudes toward these activities. Ideally, surveys will be administered during September or May when weather conditions are most favorable for bicycling and walking to school.  October and April are also reasonably good months to collect information on how children travel to school.

In November and December of 2007 the National Center for Safe Routes to School published new survey forms and instructions to replace those previously used nationwide. Major improvements include fewer days to count student travel patterns and a shorter parent survey form. The new survey forms will simplify data reporting requirements for applicants, who can input the survey data into the National Center for Safe Routes to School’s system and use the system to generate summary reports for their applications.  Schools that have recently completed parent or student surveys are not required to repeat those surveys simply because of the new forms, however all future surveys must use the new forms

Revised parent surveys and a revised student tally form to be completed by teachers in all classrooms of each target school are available here for download. An overview of the survey procedures and more detailed instructions are also available.

For the first time the National Center for Safe Routes to School is offering a means to report the data so that the information can be more easily submitted, later recovered and summarized at the local, state and national level.  Links to data entry instructions and cover sheets to accompany survey forms being sent to the National Center for tabulation are provided below.

Indiana Safe Routes To School Applications

Indiana’s 2008 application cycle will begin April 1, 2008 and end May 30, 2008.  New application forms and a new guide are being developed for 2008.  Infrastructure and non-infrastructure applications will use separate forms this year.  Completed applications with all necessary attachments will only be accepted during this time period.  Applicants are encouraged not to wait until the last week in May to submit their proposals. 

This year it is mandatory that student tally surveys and parent surveys be completed for each school applying for Safe Routes funding prior to submitting a 2008 application.  Please complete and use the SRTS Data Entry Forms provided under the Parent and Student Surveys and submit surveys to the National Center for Safe Routes to School.  The National Center may be able to verify if data or survey materials were properly submitted.  Only applicants who can document that student and parent surveys were completed in 2007 for the same schools applying in 2008 need not prepare new surveys.  If this is the case, the 2007 survey materials or survey data must be properly submitted and recorded by the National Center.

Remember, a copy of each application must be provided to the appropriate INDOT district office for their use.  Read the application guide carefully and please take note of the various changes listed on page two of the guide.

Indiana Safe Routes To School Program Awards

The 2007 Safe Routes to School awards were announced in November 2007.  View the press releases:

*Images provided by the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center (PBIC) unless otherwise noted.