LTF Projects

Bike/Ped Program Documents

Safe Routes to School Program

Transportation Enhancement Program

Historic Bridge Program

LTF General Administration Documentation

Park & Ride Program

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*****As part of the Vermont Safe Routes to School program, the VT Agency of Transportation is providing an opportunity for past and current participating schools to apply for bike parking to encourage more students to bike to school.  The racks will consist of the inverted – U and will be paid for directly by the Agency.  All schools have to do is pay for the shipping charge.  To find out more, contact Aimee Pope at 828-5799 or review the application.  The application is at the bottom of the page labeled 2009 bike parking application.  The applications are due June 5. *****

2009 Non-Infrastructure Awards Announced!!!

 The Agency of Transportation announced the third round of non-infrastructure funding within the Safe Routes to School Program on May 1.  These schools will begin their programs in the fall of 2009.  Their programs will consists of bicycle and pedestrian safety education, walking and biking events in their community, encouragement, enforcement, and evaluation activities.  Schools will work with their community to develop a travel plan that will identify barriers that will outline why students do not walk or bike to school and then develop a plan that will identify activities or infrastructure projects that will make walking and biking to school safe.  The list of awarded schools is below.

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

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