CFDA#
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Funder Type
State Government
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IT Classification
C - Funds little to no technology
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Authority
Ohio Department of Transportation
Summary
The Safe Routes to School program provides resources, technical assistance and project funding to encourage and enable students in grades K-12 to walk or ride their bike to school. A comprehensive approach to SRTS includes both infrastructure and non-infrastructure countermeasures and programs.
Applications are broken down into the following program categories with different eligible exppenditures in each:
- Infrastructure - Eligible infrastructure projects include the planning, design, and construction phases of projects that will improve the built environment for students to walk and bike to school, including:
- New or improved sidewalk,
- Pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements,
- Off-street bicycle and pedestrian facilities,
- On-street separated bicycle facilities,
- Traffic calming and speed reduction improvements,
- Secure bicycle parking facilities, and
- Traffic diversion improvements in the vicinity of schools
- Non-Infrastructure - Eligible non-infrastructure projects include education, encouragement, enforcement, and evaluation activities. Funding is intended to develop and implement plans, programs, policies, and environments that are sustainable past the availability of SRTS funding. Eligible activities to encourage walking and bicycling to school, include:
- Development of school travel plans (STPs),
- Development and delivery of SRTS-related programs (walking school bus, bike trains, crossing guard)
- Public awareness campaigns,
- Traffic education and enforcement around schools (within approximately 2 miles)
- Student sessions on walking and biking, and
- Funding for coordinators of safe routes to school programs
History of Funding
None is available.
Additional Information
Infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects must serve the stated purpose of the SRTS Program and be identified in a School Travel Plan (STP), an Active Transportation (AT) Plan, or equivalent plan, approved by ODOT. Plans should be updated if five or more years old.
A majority of students must live within 2 miles of school and information on student travel and parent input must be documented (Parent Surveys and Student Travel Tallies).
Applications must be discussed with District SRTS Coordinator prior to applying. District SRTS Coordinators will approve AT or equivalent plans for eligibility purposes, help communities review and select their priorities for an application, review cost estimates for accuracy, and provide direction on the application process.
Applicants are not permitted to use funds for:
- Projects that do not specifically serve the stated purposes of the SRTS Program.
- Food or beverage or gift cards for food/beverage.
- Bicycles. Applicants are encouraged to work with local partners to leverage bicycles through other grants or donations.
- Giveaways with no safety or education value (hats, t-shirts, shoes).
- Reoccurring costs. For example, SRTS funds cannot be used for crossing guard salaries, however, funds may be used for crossing guard program development (training, supplies, etc.) Reoccurring costs for a program coordinator are ineligible for 100% funding. After one year, a sustainability plan demonstrating local investment must be submitted with any future applications.
- Projects that reorganize pick-up and drop-off primarily for the convenience of drivers rather than to improve safety for students walking and bicycling.
- Education programs that are primarily focused on bus safety.
- Improvements to bus stops.
- Projects whose only purpose is to upgrade curb ramps to be ADA-compliant.
Eligibility Details
Infrastructure applications must be sponsored by a local jurisdiction with the appropriate maintenance authority (city, village, township, county). Non-infrastructure applicants can be political subdivisions (city, village, township, county, school district, health district), or other non-profit or public agency affiliated with a jurisdiction, school, or school system.
Deadline Details
Applications became available January 6, 2023. Applications were to be submitted by March 3, 2023, at 5:00 PM. A similar deadline is anticipated annually.
Award Details
Award amounts vary based on program area:
- Infrastructure - Project limit: up to $500,000. Funds are available for all phases of project implementation.
- Non-Infrastructure - Project limit: $60,000 or $120,000 for a two year project.
Matching is not required.
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