Safe Routes to School State Programs

Background

Under the original federal Safe Routes to School program created in 2005 (SAFETEA-LU), each state’s department of transportation (DOTs) was required to have a full-time staff person focused on administering Safe Routes to School funding and given the flexibility to develop applications and distribute funding for infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects. When the federal Safe Routes to School program was folded into the new Transportation Alternatives Program in 2012 (MAP-21), states were allowed, but no longer required, to dedicate a full-time staff person to Safe Routes to School. Since that time, many states have continued to invest in Safe Routes to School through both federal and state funding sources.

Best Practices

Every other year the Safe Routes Partnership publishes state report cards detailing best practices that support walking, bicycling, and physical activity. This includes a section specifically on funding and supportive practices for state-level Safe Routes to School programs. Click here to see how your state is measuring up.

The Role of Dedicated Staff for Safe Routes to School Programs

State DOT Safe Routes to School coordinators and other staff or consultants play an important role in making sure that Safe Routes to School funding is accessible, liaising between school systems and transportation professionals, and providing technical assistance to schools and communities. States with at least one full-time staff or consultant dedicated to Safe Routes to School have been shown to implement more best practices that advance Safe Routes to School initiatives. These best practices have been found to help allocate more funding for implementing infrastructure changes near schools, supporting comprehensive education for walking and biking, and reducing barriers to funding. Click here to read more about how dedicated staff power up state-level Safe Routes to School programs.

The 2024 State Safe Routes to School Yearbook