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Home My WebLink About2013-05-01 PACKET 04.F.REQUEST OF CITY COUNCIL ACTION COUNCIL MEETING DATE 5/1/13 PREPARED BY: Community Development ORIGINATING DEPARTMENT AGENDA ITEM # • « Jennifer Levitt STAFF AUTHOR ************��****�*��*��*�********************* COUNCIL ACTION REQUEST Receive information on the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program grant. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Receive the information. BUDGET IMPLICATION: $N/A BUDGETED AMOUNT ADVISORY COMMISSION ACTION ❑ PLANNING ❑ PUBLIC SAFETY ❑ PUBLIC WORKS ❑ PARKS AND RECREATION ❑ HUMAN SERVICES/RIGHTS ❑ ECONOMIC DEV. AUTHORITY ❑ SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS DATE � MEMO/LETTER: Memo from John M. ❑ RESOLUTION: ❑ ORDINANCE: ❑ ENGINEERING RECOMMENDATION: ❑ LEGAL RECOMMENDATION: � OTHER: SRTS Flyer ADMINISTRATOR'S COMMENTS $ N/A N/A ACTUAL AMOUNT FUNDING SOURCE REVIEWED ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ APPROVED ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ Burbank dated 4/24/13 DENIED ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ ❑ �� Date **************************************�********* COUNCIL ACTION TAKEN: ❑ APPROVED ❑ DENIED ❑ OTHER Cottage / Grove � Pride andProsperity Meet TO: FROM DATE: RE: Mayor and Members of the City Council Ryan Schroeder, City Administrator John M. Burbank, Senior Planner April 24, 2013 Safe Routes to School Program Introduction The attached flyer describes Safe Routes to School (SRTS), which is a federally funded program administered by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT). Over the last few years, the City applied for Safe Route infrastructure grants for trail construction but was unsuccessful at obtaining any funding. Based on discussions with successful applicants, the City began meeting with a group of Safe Route Partners to create a coordinated effort to seek benefits from Safe Routes. This ad hoc partnership included the School District, Washington County, the City of Woodbury, and the City of Cottage Grove. The first step in the SRTS initiative was aided by planning assistance provided through MnDOT, which enabled existing schools to be inventoried from a walking and biking perspective. With coordination by the School District, this information was compiled, analyzed, and included in the planning grant application. On April 9, Cottage Grove was notified that the Safe Route Partners were awarded a grant in the amount of $62,000. The grant will fund the following primary activities: ➢ Create SRTS maps to promote the safest routes ➢ Embed biking/walking curriculum into Physical Education or other classes ➢ Participate in International Walk and Bike to School Days ➢ Encourage on-going walking and biking through school-based strategies such as Walking Wednesdays, park/walk options, etc. ➢ Training for school safety patrols ➢ Purchase of safety equipment There are currently no financial requirements of the City other than costs for staff time. Recommendation Receive the information. Safe Routes to School in Minnesota To increase opportunities for children to walk and bicycle to school safely, the 2005 federal transportation bill, SAFETEA-LU, provided funding for Safe Routes to School in all 50 states. The federal Legislature created SRTS, in part, to help reverse the alarming nationwide increase in childhood obesity and inactivity. The program has numerous benefits to local communities including reducing traffic congestion, improving air quality and helping kids arrive to school focused and ready to learn. Supporting SRTS in Minnesota Communities Since 2005, MnDOT has awarded $10.8 million in funds to communities to support SRTS. The majority of funding ($9.9 million) is for infrastructure projects, including sidewalks and crosswalks. The remainder is allocated for non-infrastructure items and activities, such as SRTS planning, education, encouragement and enforcement. In 2012-13, MnDOT will provide funding and resources in the following categories: • Infrastructure Grants: $3.7 million (included in the $9.9 million noted above) was awarded to communities for infrastructure improvements in 2012-13. • Statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Curriculum: Minnesota schools and their partners identified a need for curriculum that they can use to teach children about the benefits of bicycling and walking as well as safety skills. MnDOT will develop a template curriculum based on existing materials from other states. • Training for Communities: Many schools and their partners lack the technical expertise to plan and implement a SRTS initiative. Communities will receive assistance for specific activities such as walking audits, bicycle rodeos, walk to school day events and program evaluation. • Regional Planning: MnDOT will seek partnerships with Regional Development Commissions and Metropolitan Planning Organizations around the state to develop SRTS plans that guide infrastructure and non-infrastructure activities. • Local Implementation: Cities and counties will support SRTS implementation through activities such as crossing guard training, enhanced enforcement and encouragement events. Partnerships A broad coalition of transportation, health and education partners is helping Minnesota communities support SRTS, including: • Minnesota departments of Transportation, Health and Education • Minnesota Elementary School Principal's Association • American Heart Association • American Cancer Society • Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Non-Infrastructure Solicitation, Spring 2012 In March 2012, MnDOT will open applications for SRTS planning assistance and non-infrastructure implementation grants. Any government entity in MN may apply in coordination with schools, including schools, school districts, cities, counties and regional planning organizations. For each school, the applicant may apply for planning assistance or an implementation grant (but not both). Planning Assistance SRTS plans have been used successfully to identify barriers and opportunities for youth to walk and bicycle to school and have been used to leverage significant investments in infrastructure and non-infrastructure solutions. Planning applications should specify the specific school or schools that will be included in the plan. Applicants should be prepared to supply: - A list of the applicant's SRTS team - Summary of SRTS work to date - Description of the community's ability to implement a plan - A map of each school site - If known, the number of children who currently walk and bicycle to school - Letters of support from school sites MnDOT will seek partnerships with regional planning organizations to provide planning assistance to local communities. Planning assistance contracts will be directly managed by MnDOT, therefore no budget is required. Implementation Grants For communities that have completed planning or assessment and goal-setting work, non-infrastructure implementation grants will be available. Information about eligible activities is available from the Federal Highway Administration: http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/saferoutes/guidance/#toc123542199 Non-Infrastructure Implementation applications should specific the specific school sites and should be prepared to supply: - A list of the applicant's SRTS team - Summary of SRTS work to date - A map of each school site - If known, the number of children who currently walk and bicycle to school - Letters of support from school sites - A detailed budget Applications are expected to be available on March 19 with six weeks for response.