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Safe Routes to School (SRTS) in Minnesota <br />To increase opportunities for children to walk and bicycle to school safely, the 2005 <br />federal transportation bill, SAFETEA-LU, provided funding for Safe Routes to School <br />in all 50 states. The federal Legislature created SRTS, in part, to help reverse the <br />alarming nationwide increase in childhood obesity and inactivity. The program has <br />numerous benefits to local communities including reducing traffic congestion, <br />improving air quality and helping kids arrive to school focused and ready to learn. <br />Since 2005, MnDOT has awarded over $15 million to Minnesota communities to <br />support SRTS projects that will reach more than 313 schools statewide. As of August <br />2013, we've received funding requests for over $100 million in SRTS projects since <br />the program began in 2006. <br />Elevating SRTS through Partnerships <br />- SRTS Steering Committee includes 27 active members representing cities <br />and counties, regional planning organizations, non-profit organizations, <br />educators and health professionals <br />- Partnership with the Minnesota Department of Health and local agencies <br />maximizes program reach and leverages resources <br />SRTS Comprehensive Planning and Technical Assistance <br />MnDOT developed a new SRTS Evaluation Tool to collect statewide data on <br />school travel patterns, barriers and opportunities <br />In 2012-2013, SRTS planning began at 70 elementary schools in Minnesota, <br />in partnership with nine Regional Development Commissions in rural areas <br />An additional 34 schools will begin SRTS plans during the 2013-2014 school <br />year <br />MnDOT offers statewide technical assistance through partners Blue Cross <br />Blue Shield and the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota <br />Supporting SRTS through Education <br />- In 2012, MnDOT and MDH trained 35 educators and 20 regional trainers in <br />bicycle and pedestrian safety curriculum from Florida <br />- Pilot implementation is underway in eight communities. A curriculum advisory <br />committee is overseeing development of Minnesota lesson plans based on <br />feedback from pilot community educators, students and teachers. <br />- Through partnership with MDH, Minnesota Department of Education, and the <br />Bicycle Alliance of MN, MnDOT will disseminate lesson plans and train more <br />teachers beginning fall 2013 <br />What's Next: Development of the state program <br />- In 2013, the state legislature provided $250,000 per year to the new state <br />SRTS program created in 2012 <br />