From: Gerald Fisher
Sent: Thu Dec 06 12:25:03 2018
To: Dan Huff
Subject: Safe Routes to School Requirements
Importance: Normal
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Dan,
The OAR covering SRTS is 737-025. I recommend School District staff read and become familiar with the OAR if they wish to apply for any grants. Below is some important information in that OAR.
737-025-0050
Grant Application Requirements for Non-infrastructure Grants
An eligible applicant applying for a non-infrastructure grant from the SRTS Fund must submit an application following ODOT specifications in 737-025-0020 that may require a Safe Routes to School Action Plan which meets TSD requirements, a Safe Routes to School Infrastructure Plan, or a commitment to independently complete an Action Plan or Infrastructure Plan within a specified time, or a request for assistance to complete an Action Plan or Infrastructure Plan (as allowed by ORS 184.741).
737-025-0091
Eligible Entities, Projects, and Activities for Infrastructure Grants
(1) For the Rapid Response and Competitive Grant Programs:
(a) Eligible entities include: ODOT, cities, counties, transit district, tribes and any eligible road authority as defined under ORS 810.010.
(b) Eligible projects must:
(A) Be within one mile of a public school.
(B) Provide safety improvements that reduce barriers and hazards to children walking or bicycling to and from school including but not limited to: creation of or improvements to sidewalks or bikeways, reductions in vehicle speeds, and improvements to pedestrian and bicycle crossings.
(C) Fit within in a plan developed pursuant to ORS 195.115. Plans may include but are not limited to: a Safe Route to School Action Plan or Safe Route to School Infrastructure Plan (OAR 737-025-0060), Transportation System Plan, or other locally adopted plan.
(D) Be approved by the roadway authority (governing body).
(E) Include, in the application materials, a letter of support from the school district or impacted school.
(F) Provide a cash match of at least 40 percent of the total project’s costs; or
(G) The OTC may reduce an applicant’s cash match of at least 20 percent of the total project’s costs when one or more of the following conditions apply:
(i) The school is located in a city with a population of 5,000 or fewer;
(ii) The project reduces hazards within a Priority Safety Corridor; or
(iii) The school site qualifies as a Title I School.
(2) For the Project Identification Grant Program:
(a) Eligible entities include ODOT.
(b) ODOT must provide a cash match of at least 40 percent of the total grant award.
(c) ODOT or its consultants must use the grant award to provide technical assistance to cities, counties, tribes, school districts, or any public-funded agency in support of identifying infrastructure projects that reduce barriers and hazards of children biking or walking to school.
If the School District wants funding for non- infrastructure projects then they need to have their plan in place. If the School District wants funding for infrastructure projects on City and State roadways then they need to have the roadway authority apply for the competitive grant. Note that a School District that doesn’t have a SRTS Action Plan or a SRTS Infrastructure Plan in place that can pair with the TSP, is at a competitive disadvantage to other School Districts and, as the PW Director, I wouldn’t recommend spending any time on an application if we didn’t have all of the necessary documents that would put us at an advantage over others to secure funding. It’s a snooze, you lose process that the School District needs to seriously consider before they make the decision to do a plan or not do a plan. Thanks.
Regards,
Gerald Fisher, P.E. | Public Works Director
City of Molalla
117 N Molalla Ave. | PO Box 248 |Molalla, OR 97038
Office: 503.829.6855 | Direct: 503.759.0218
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