Transportation Enhancement Program
LTF General Administration Documentation
| Contact: |
| Vermont Agency of
Transportation Information Technology 1 National Life Drive, Drawer 33 Montpelier, VT 05633-5001 Tel: (802) 828-2685 Fax: (802) 828-2334 |
 |
|
2010 Vermont SRTS Infrastructure Grants Announced
Due 12:00pm May 14, 2010
The Vermont Agency of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program is announcing approximately $1 million allocated to participating SRTS schools/communities for technical assistance, planning, design and construction of infrastructure projects with a goal of removing barriers that deter students from walking and bicycling to school in Vermont. Projects must be "in the vicinity of schools" which is defined as the area within bicycling and walking distance of the school (approximately 2 miles). The SRTS program is located in the Local Transportation Facilities (LTF) Section of the Program Development Division. The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) provides 100% of the funding for this program.
To be eligible to receive funding under this program, the project must provide improved access to a school that participated in 2006, 2008, or 2009 non-infrastructure phase of the Vermont Safe Routes to School program or provide improved access to a school that participated in the 2004-2006 Chittenden County MPO SRTS pilot program. The applicant should be the public entity (school or municipality) for which the project will be constructed. In addition, schools and municipalities that were not in the program but can prove they have: completed a current school travel plan, recently provided the WalkSmart/BikeSmart and BikeSmart-On-Bike Vermont Curriculum to appropriate students in their school, recently conducted two events (bike safety fair or walk to school day), and evaluated their Safe Routes to School program will be eligible to apply.
Checklist for a successful application
-
Read the entire 2010 Vermont Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Program Guide and Application.
Notice of Intent – Due to VTrans March 15, 2010. Describe the project for which you plan to apply and indicate if you have completed your travel plan and other requirements. Identify if you want Technical Assistance with developing a cost estimate and general expectation of project.
Attend one VIT workshop – April 5 from 7:15pm to 9:15pm or April 6 from 9:15am to 10:45am
Applications due date May 14, 2010
Announcement of awards estimated to be in July 2010
Submission Requirements
To the extent practical, all materials should be submitted on 8 1/2 by 11" (excluding maps) recycled/recyclable paper and photocopied two-sided to minimize use of resources. Twin pocket portfolios, stapling, or other simple, re-usable binding method is recommended.
A complete application will include the items below:
- Cover letter – providing an executive summary of your application
- Community contact information for applicant
- Answers to application questions related to the project category for which you are applying
- Project budget
- Answers to additional questions
- School Travel Plan
- Required letters of support (Local Government and School)
- Optional letters of support
For more information, please review the 2010 Vermont Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Program Guide and Application found at the bottom of this page, or contact the Vermont Safe Routes to School Coordinator (Aimee Pope - 828-5799 or
aimee.pope@state.vt.us ).What is it?
The statewide Safe
Routes to School program, as required by the recently passed Federal
Transportation Bill - SAFETEA-LU - is intended to benefit children in
primary and middle schools (K-8).
Safe Routes to School (SR2S) is about kids
walking and biking to school: regularly, routinely, and safely. SR2S integrates elements of transportation, economics, health and
physical activity, environmental awareness and safety into one program.
The Vermont SR2S
program will provide support in the form of funding and services to
participating schools around the state. Schools will evaluate existing
conditions and attitudes, actively encourage walking and bicycling by
students and will identify infrastructure projects to make walking and
bicycling safer. The Vermont SR2S program is being coordinated with
other statewide initiatives such as the VT Department of Health
Obesity Prevention Plan and the
Fit and Healthy Kids program.
Why is it
Important?
Nationwide, in one generation, the number of children walking or bicycling to school has dropped from over 70% to less than 15%. Nowadays many school systems offer widespread school-bus transport; at the same time, as many as 50% of school kids are routinely driven to school by their parents. In Vermont, this number can be as high as 65%.
The results have been costly both in dollars and our health.
School transportation operating costs in the U.S. exceed $14 billion annually - the 2nd biggest element of the school budget, behind salaries.
More than 1/3 of our school-aged kids are overweight or obese
Obesity rates have risen sharply over the last fifteen years - the results of poor diet and a lack of physical activity.
Obesity related illnesses in Vermont alone result in estimated medical expenditures of $141 million per year.
One of the best opportunities to address this obesity epidemic is to increase regular, routine physical activity like walking or bicycling to school.
Contact:
Aimee Pope, Safe Routes
to School Coordinator
Mailto:
Aimee.Pope@state.vt.us
(802) 828 5799
LINKS:
|
Email: Page Master regarding
information or comments about this page Last Modified:
|