Missouri Safe Routes to School Program

Transcription

1 Missouri Safe Routes to School Program Review of the 2 Types of Missouri SRTS Project Programs, 2012 Requests for Proposals & Administrative Guidelines The PedNet Coalition Missouri Department of Transportation

2 Goal of this Training Module Understanding the two different types of MoDOT SRTS project programs; including discussion of: Available funding - Funding request limits Terms for each - Eligible applicants program type Each type of project program s goals Examples of eligible program activities Cautions and issues of which to be aware within certain program types

3 Missouri Safe Routes to School Program More information about each of the MoDOT SRTS project programs may be found on the web site: PLEASE NOTE: Application guidelines presented during this workshop were for the 2012 grant round, which ended November 5, It is essential that applicants download the new 2014 project application forms and guides from the MoDOT SRTS web site when they become available in 2014!

4 Project Writing Assistance Program is for schools/school districts in which 50% or more of the student population receives free or reduced cost lunches. All PWAP project applications will be judged on the applicant s true need.

5 Project Writing Assistance Program The program intent is to: Host 5 PWAP workshops around the State of Missouri; Host a mini-grant round to identify 2 schools/school districts that will receive SRTS program design & project application writing technical assistance; and increase the competitiveness of said project applications for the fall 2014 MoDOT SRTS application round.

6 Project Writing Assistance Program The PWAP is an award of project application writing consultant services NOT an award of SRTS project funding. Consultant project writing support will be for the development of a competitive SRTS project application to improve the safety and walking/biking convenience of elementary and middle school students.

7 Project Writing Assistance Program The consultant will provide project writing assistance for next SRTS project application, and may recommend that you conduct or plan to conduct some of the following activities: - SRTS training sessions & community meetings; - Site/needs assessments of school areas; - Development of school walking & bicycling route plans and maps; - Non-infrastructure solutions to safety issues - School bicycle & /pedestrian education, enforcement, encouragement programs; and - Pre- and post- program/project evaluations;

8 Grant Writing Assistance Program The deadline for the PWAP mini-grant is February 28, It is anticipated that the next MoDOT SRTS project application round may be between 9/1/14 11/7/14.

9 Infrastructure Projects Infrastructure projects involve construction & capital improvements to encourage children to walk & bicycle to school. For the 2014 project cycle, applicants may apply for projects up to a maximum of $250,000. Infrastructure projects have a project term of up to 23 months to construction

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11 Infrastructure Projects Please Note: Funding requests for costs that are expected to be reoccurring in future years should include plans for how the costs will be funded in the future & a rationale for how federal funding of 1-2 years will enable leveraging of future financial security for the activity.

12 Infrastructure Projects: Eligible Activities Funding covers the planning, design & construction of infrastructure-related projects that will substantially improve the ability of students to walk/bike to school, including: - On-street bicycle facilities. - Off-street bicycle and pedestrian facilities. - Secure bicycle and pedestrian facilities. - Sidewalk improvements. - Traffic calming and speed reduction improvements. - Pedestrian/bicycle crossing improvements. - Traffic diversion improvements in the vicinity of schools.

13 Infrastructure Projects: Eligible Activities A partial list of potential infrastructure projects appears in a two-page table you ve received as a handout. The list is not comprehensive; and other project types may be eligible for SRTS funds IF their project outcome reduces speeds and improves pedestrian and bicycle safety and access.

14 Infrastructure Projects: Real Property Acquisition For real property acquisition, all project sponsors must comply with the provisions of the Uniform Relocation Assistance and Real Property Acquisition Policies Act of Regulations implementing this Act are found in 49 CFR Part 24. These regulations will be applied to evaluating the acquisition of real property & any potential displacement activities. Please see:

15 Infrastructure Projects: Ineligible Activities Funds for projects that reorganize pick-up & drop-off primarily for the convenience of drivers; and Funds for bus safety projects or improvements to bus stops.

16 Non-Infrastructure

17 Non-Infrastructure Projects Non-infrastructure projects are non-construction activities that focus on 3 areas of effort: Education Enforcement Encouragement

18 Non-Infrastructure Projects For the 2014 project round, applicants may apply for projects up to a maximum of $25,000. Non-infrastructure projects have a project term of up to 18 months.

19 Education

20 Non-Infrastructure EDUCATION Projects Education efforts include teaching children about: bicycling and walking safety skills; the health effects of walking and biking; the impact to the environment; the broad range of transportation choices; and events and activities that promote walking and biking to school safely.

21 Enforcement

22 Non-Infrastructure ENFORCEMENT Projects Enforcement efforts include ensuring that traffic laws are obeyed (e.g., speed enforcement; yielding to pedestrians in crossings; and proper walking and bicycling behaviors; as well as the initiation of community enforcement activities).

23 Non-Infrastructure ENFORCEMENT Projects Following are examples of ENFORCEMENT kinds of projects: Equipment and training needed for establishing a crossing guard program. Provide regular training for crossing guards. Law enforcement or equipment needed for enforcement activities. Targeted driver actions at crosswalks and intersections. Neighborhood watch programs. Photo enforcement.

24 Non-Infrastructure ENCOURAGEMENT Projects Encouragement efforts include bike, pedestrian, and school-related giveaways and other materials. Following are examples of ENCOURAGEMENT kinds of projects: Mileage clubs. Bicycle helmet giveaways and fittings. Caught You Being Good incentive giveaways.

25 Non-Infrastructure Projects There s a broad range of project types suggested on the following slides. Several national information sources provide further guidance on non-infrastructure activities: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration s (NHTSA) Safe Routes to School: Practice & Promise NHTSA s Safe Routes to School Toolkit

26 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration s (NHTSA) Safe Routes to School: Practice & Promise Routes-2004/index.html

27 NHTSA s Safe Routes to School Toolkit Routes-2002/index.html

28 Non-Infrastructure Projects: Ineligible Activities Program funds should NOT be used to pay for crossing guards. Fire/police officer salaries or overtime are ineligible if the duties are part of their normal, regular, day-to-day responsibilities. Funding requests for costs that are expected to be reoccurring in future years should include plans for how the costs will be funded in the future & a rationale for how federal funding of 1-2 years will enable leveraging of future financial security for the activity.

29 How the SRTS Project Applications Differ Project Writing Assistance Program: A one-time mini-grant through the PedNet Coalition in collaboration with MoDOT; Due earlier than the other 2 SRTS grants (February 28, 2014); Only 1 grant copy needs to be submitted directly to Mr. Lawrence Simonson and NOT to MoDOT; NOT a reimbursement grant; instead the mini-grants provide consultant technical assistance; Has a short 8-page RFP, which provides no breakdown of the MoDOT SRTS Program s point scoring; Grant applications require only 3 signatures; and These PWAP mini-grants will be awarded by mid-march

30 How the SRTS Project Applications Differ Infrastructure Program: Due with the SRTS Non-infrastructure projects (In 2012, on November 5, 2012); May require that an electronic project submission be made on the MoDOT SRTS website, and that an original hard copy be submitted to Mr. Jeff Cremer; Is a reimbursement project; May/may not have an online application process and share the 63-page non-infrastructure Administrative Guidelines for Applications & Procedures project guide, which provides a scoring points breakdown; Project applications require certain attachments; e.g., drawings; maps; MPO and RPC statements; Walkability Checklist; and Project & School Information Form(s); SRTS infrastructure grants typically are awarded in January of the following year; Are not to exceed $250,000; and Need to be completed within a 23-month term (to start of construction)

31 How the SRTS Project Applications Differ Infrastructure Program: Requires the following: Specific, detailed Project & School Information forms; Description of your proposed infrastructure solution, as well as project; Walkability Checklist; Description of your project approach to the 5Es; Your estimated walking/biking trips; and Designation of the Fiscal Agent. Needs a description of sustainability & how ongoing maintenance costs will be paid. Has unique Budget line items; including, but not limited to: costs for preliminary engineering, right of way, and construction.

32 How the SRTS Grant Applications Differ Non-Infrastructure Program: Due with the SRTS Infrastructure projects (In 2012, on November 5, 2012); May requires that an electronic project submission be made on the MoDOT SRTS website, and that an original hard copy be submitted to Mr. Jeff Cremer; Is a reimbursement project; May/may not have an online application process and share the 63-page infrastructure Administrative Guidelines for Applications & Procedures grant guide, which provides a scoring points breakdown; Project applications require certain attachments; e.g., drawings; maps; MPO and RPC statements; Walkability Checklist; and Project & School Information Form(s); SRTS infrastructure projects typically are awarded in January of the following year; and Are not to exceed $25,000 and need to be completed within two school years.

33 How the SRTS Grant Applications Differ Non-Infrastructure Program: Requires the following: Specific, detailed Project & School Information forms; Description of your proposed non-infrastructure project; Walkability Checklist; Description of your project approach to the 5Es; Your estimated walking/biking trips; An Evaluation Plan with evaluation data; and Designation of the Fiscal Agent Requires an Operations Plan that emphasizes sustainability of financial and personnel resources. Has unique Budget line items; including, but not limited to: travel expenses, contractual services, equipment, other direct costs (e.g., for Education, Enforcement, Encouragement and Evaluation) and voluntary contributions.

34 Need Help? Contact Us! Contact Information: Mr. Jeffrey Cremer, SRTS Coordinator Missouri Department of Transportation Design Division P.O. Box 270 Jefferson City, Missouri Office Phone: Contact Information: Ms. Michia Casebier, President M.G. Tech-Writing, L.L.C. Office Phone/Cellular: Fax:

35 QUESTIONS?