until they are obligated, rescinded, or expended.
While the SRTS was eliminated by Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21, P.L. 112- 141), the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) was created and makes eligible SRTS activities and projects. These projects and activities must follow the TAP requirements. See the Transportation Alternatives Program.
PROGRAM CODES:
• HU10, HU20, HU30, HU40, HU50 - FY 2005:
• LU10, LU20, LU30, LU40, LU50 - FYs 2006-2009: (SAFETEA-LU)
• LU1E, LU2E, LU3E, LU4E, LU5E - SAFETEA-LU Extension (P.L. 111-068)
• LU1R, LU2R, LU3R, LU4R, LU5R - SAFETEA-LU Restored (P.L. 111-147 Sec. 413) • See Transportation Alternatives Program for TAP codes under MAP-21
FEDERAL SHARE: 100 percent (apportioned SRTS funds only) PERIOD AVAILABLE: Until expended (apportioned SRTS funds only) FUND: Highway account of the Highway Trust Fund
FUND DISTRIBUTION METHOD: Apportioned to State DOTs by formula (apportioned SRTS funds only) AUTHORITY: Contract Authority.
SUBJECT TO OBLIGATION LIMITATION: Yes.
STATUTORY REFERENCE: Pub. L. 109-59, SAFETEA-LU Section(s): 1101(a)(17), 1404 (apportioned SRTS funds only); See Transportation Alternatives Program for TAP statutory references.
CFR REFERENCE: N/A
ELIGIBILITY: Funds are made available for infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects, and to
administer Safe Routes to School programs that benefit elementary and middle school children in grades K - 8.
Pre-MAP-21, each State was required to use a sufficient amount of the funds (infrastructure) to fund a full-time position of coordinator of the State's safe routes to school program. TAP funds may be used to fund the coordinator position, but the full-time position is no longer a requirement. Also Pre-MAP-21, not less than 10 percent and not more than 30 percent of each State's SRTS apportionment was required to be spent on non-infrastructure activities. While this split still applies to remaining SRTS funds, this requirement does not exist in MAP-21.
Infrastructure -Eligible infrastructure-related projects include the planning, design, and construction of
infrastructure-related projects that will substantially improve the ability of students to walk and bicycle to school, including:
• sidewalk improvements,
• traffic calming and speed reduction improvements, • pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements, • on-street bicycle facilities,
• secure bicycle parking facilities, and
• traffic diversion improvements in the vicinity of schools
For pre-MAP-21 funds, construction and capital improvement projects must be located within approximately two miles of a primary or middle school (grades K - 8).
Noninfrastructure -Each State must set aside from its SRTS annual apportionment not less than 10
percent and not more than 30 percent of the funds for noninfrastructure-related activities to encourage walking and bicycling to school, including:
• public awareness campaigns and outreach to press and community leaders,
• traffic education and enforcement in the vicinity of schools (within approximately 2 miles) • student sessions on bicycle and pedestrian safety, health, and environment, and
• funding for training, volunteers, and managers of safe routes to school programs.
BACKGROUND: The Federal-aid Safe Routes to School program was created by Section 1404 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU, Pub. L. 109-59).
Program Purpose : To enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school; to make walking and bicycling to school safe and more appealing; and to facilitate the planning, development and implementation of projects that will improve safety, and reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and air pollution in the vicinity of schools.
Program Features: The SRTS Program was funded at $612 million and provided Federal-aid highway funds to State Departments of Transportation (DOTs) over five Federal fiscal years in accordance with a formula specified in the legislation. SAFETEA-LU extensions provided additional funding through 2012. Remaining funds are available for infrastructure and noninfrastructure projects, and to administer SRTS programs that benefit elementary and middle school children in grades K - 8.
The SRTS legislation required three major initiatives:
• Implement SRTS Program nationwide. This section also required that each State DOT and the
District of Columbia use a sufficient amount of its annual SRTS apportionment to fund a full-time position of coordinator of the State's safe routes to school program.
• Create Clearinghouse. Made grants to a national nonprofit organization engaged in promoting safe
routes to school to operate a national safe routes to school clearinghouse, develop information and educational programs on safe routes to school, and provided technical assistance and disseminated techniques and strategies used for successful safe routes to school programs.
• Established a Task Force and submitted a report. The FHWA will formed a national SRTS Task Force
composed of leaders in health, transportation, and education. The Task Force will studied and developed a strategy for advancing Safe Routes to School programs nationwide and was responsible for submitting to the Secretary of Transportation a report for Congress detailing the results of their work.
Funding/Formula: The pre-MAP-21 SRTS program was funded by contract authority, to remain available until expended. This contract authority is not subject to transfer and is subject to the overall Federal-aid obligation limitation. Each year after deducting $3 million for the administrative expenses of the program, the Secretary apportioned the funds to States based on their relative shares of total enrollment in primary and middle schools (kindergarten through eighth grade), but no State received less than $1 million. Funds were administered by State departments of transportation to provide financial assistance to State, local, and regional agencies, including nonprofit organizations, which demonstrate the ability to meet the requirements of the program.
The Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21, P.L. 112-141) eliminated apportioned funding for the SRTS program. The Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) was created and makes eligible SRTS activities and projects, but those projects and activities must follow the TAP requirements. See the Transportation Alternatives Program.