SRTS Legislative Update: SRTS Legislative Update: SRTS Legislative - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

SRTS Legislative Update: SRTS Legislative Update: SRTS Legislative Update: Summing Up and Looking Forward SRTS Legislative Update: Summing Up and Looking Forward

Margo Pedroso, Deputy Director Safe Routes to School National Partnership Margo Pedroso, Deputy Director Safe Routes to School National Partnership Safe Routes to School National Partnership Safe Routes to School National Partnership

L i l ti U d t L i l ti U d t Legislative Update Legislative Update

Transportation Bill Transportation Bill

• Transportation bill expired September 2009

N ti d t i till D 31 2010

• Transportation bill expired September 2009

N ti d t i till D 31 2010

p

• Now operating under an extension till Dec 31, 2010
• Funds all programs at FY09 levels
• There is little traction for a full transportation bill
• Now operating under an extension till Dec 31, 2010
• Funds all programs at FY09 levels
• There is little traction for a full transportation bill

There is little traction for a full transportation bill

• Highway trust fund is no longer sufficient to fund transportation
• Members are not interested in raising the gas tax
• Thus far no other feasible solution has been found

There is little traction for a full transportation bill

• Highway trust fund is no longer sufficient to fund transportation
• Members are not interested in raising the gas tax
• Thus far no other feasible solution has been found

Thus far, no other feasible solution has been found

• Administration has not yet released “principles” for

reauthorization

Thus far, no other feasible solution has been found

• Administration has not yet released “principles” for

reauthorization

Legislative Platform Legislative Platform

• Reauthorize SRTS at $600 million

3 li t ti 4 f d il bl

• Reauthorize SRTS at $600 million

3 li t ti 4 f d il bl

g

• 3x as many applicants requesting 4x funds available now
• Just 6% of schools nationwide will receive a grant
• Would take $17 billion to award just 1 grant to every K-8 school
• 3x as many applicants requesting 4x funds available now
• Just 6% of schools nationwide will receive a grant
• Would take $17 billion to award just 1 grant to every K-8 school
• Expand to include high schools
• 17.6% of high school students are obese; activity levels low
• Would help transition to life-long habits
• Expand to include high schools
• 17.6% of high school students are obese; activity levels low
• Would help transition to life-long habits

Would help transition to life long habits

• Add Safe Routes to Bus Stops

Would help transition to life long habits

• Add Safe Routes to Bus Stops

Legislative Platform Legislative Platform

• Improve project delivery and reduce
• verhead
• Improve project delivery and reduce
• verhead

g

• verhead
• Reduce challenges and delays from

“title 23” highway regulations

• Exempt non infrastructure projects from
• verhead
• Reduce challenges and delays from

“title 23” highway regulations

• Exempt non infrastructure projects from
• Exempt non-infrastructure projects from

these regulations

• Require FHWA to work with DOTs to speed

implementation and reduce overhead

• Exempt non-infrastructure projects from

these regulations

• Require FHWA to work with DOTs to speed

implementation and reduce overhead p e e tat o a d educe o e ead

• Require states to track geographic and economic

distribution of funds

p e e tat o a d educe o e ead

• Require states to track geographic and economic

distribution of funds

• Strengthen research and evaluation
• Require a comprehensive evaluation plan

S t id 1 5 2 5% f ll f di f l ti

• Strengthen research and evaluation
• Require a comprehensive evaluation plan

S t id 1 5 2 5% f ll f di f l ti

• Set aside 1.5-2.5% of overall funding for evaluation
• Require grantees to collect basic data
• Set aside 1.5-2.5% of overall funding for evaluation
• Require grantees to collect basic data

Current Status - Senate Current Status - Senate

• Senate bill introduced, S. 1156

“M k ” bill f ti l tf

• Senate bill introduced, S. 1156

“M k ” bill f ti l tf

• “Marker” bill of entire platform
• Introduced by 5 Senators: Harkin (D-IA), Burr (R-NC), Sanders (I-

VT), Collins (R-ME), and Merkley (D-OR)

• Now have 25 total Senators as sponsors
• “Marker” bill of entire platform
• Introduced by 5 Senators: Harkin (D-IA), Burr (R-NC), Sanders (I-

VT), Collins (R-ME), and Merkley (D-OR)

• Now have 25 total Senators as sponsors
• Now have 25 total Senators as sponsors
• SRTSNP Director Deb Hubsmith invited by EPW Chairman

Boxer to testify about safety and SRTS

• Now have 25 total Senators as sponsors
• SRTSNP Director Deb Hubsmith invited by EPW Chairman

Boxer to testify about safety and SRTS y y

• Ranking Member Inhofe

(R-OK) unlikely to oppose y y

• Ranking Member Inhofe

(R-OK) unlikely to oppose

• Overall progress stalled
• Overall progress stalled

Current Status - House Current Status - House

• House T&I Committee’s “Surface

Transportation Authorization Act (STAA):

• House T&I Committee’s “Surface

Transportation Authorization Act (STAA): Transportation Authorization Act (STAA):

• Released summer 2009; delayed since then
• Includes recommendations to improve project

delivery reduce overhead & strengthen program

Transportation Authorization Act (STAA):

• Released summer 2009; delayed since then
• Includes recommendations to improve project

delivery reduce overhead & strengthen program delivery, reduce overhead, & strengthen program

• Strengthens data collection and evaluation
• Moves SRTS under new office of livability
• No funding levels included at this point; Chairman Oberstar (D-MN)

delivery, reduce overhead, & strengthen program

• Strengthens data collection and evaluation
• Moves SRTS under new office of livability
• No funding levels included at this point; Chairman Oberstar (D-MN)

No funding levels included at this point; Chairman Oberstar (D MN) has spoken of significantly increasing funding

• H.R. 4021 – Safe Routes to High Schools

No funding levels included at this point; Chairman Oberstar (D MN) has spoken of significantly increasing funding

• H.R. 4021 – Safe Routes to High Schools
• Oberstar is not supportive of expanding to high schools

at this time; this standalone legislation is meant to build support Introduced by Rep Blumenauer (D OR) and Rep Bono

• Oberstar is not supportive of expanding to high schools

at this time; this standalone legislation is meant to build support Introduced by Rep Blumenauer (D OR) and Rep Bono

• Introduced by Rep. Blumenauer (D-OR) and Rep. Bono

Mack (R-CA) with 8 other cosponsors

• Now have 44 total cosponsors
• Introduced by Rep. Blumenauer (D-OR) and Rep. Bono

Mack (R-CA) with 8 other cosponsors

• Now have 44 total cosponsors

Building Support and Addressing Concerns Building Support and Addressing Concerns

• In summer 2010, House Republican Whip Eric Cantor

included SRTS in his “YouCut” initiative

• In summer 2010, House Republican Whip Eric Cantor

included SRTS in his “YouCut” initiative

Concerns Concerns

included SRTS in his YouCut initiative

• SRTS was not selected either time by the voters
• Advocates placed over 1500 calls and emails to Members of

Congress in support of SRTS in 36 hours

included SRTS in his YouCut initiative

• SRTS was not selected either time by the voters
• Advocates placed over 1500 calls and emails to Members of

Congress in support of SRTS in 36 hours Congress in support of SRTS in 36 hours

• SRTSNP has met with a number of House Republicans since then to

shore up support

• The program does have bipartisan support

Congress in support of SRTS in 36 hours

• SRTSNP has met with a number of House Republicans since then to

shore up support

• The program does have bipartisan support
• The program does have bipartisan support
• Twenty state networks are holding educational

Member site visits during October 2010

• The program does have bipartisan support
• Twenty state networks are holding educational

Member site visits during October 2010 g

• Particular focus on Republicans
• Examples: WI (Petri) and

FL (Mica)

g

• Particular focus on Republicans
• Examples: WI (Petri) and

FL (Mica)

Climate Bill Climate Bill

• Goal in a climate bill is to dedicate

funding to transportation planning

• Goal in a climate bill is to dedicate

funding to transportation planning funding to transportation planning and projects to reduce GHGs

• CLEAN-TEA marker bill – 10% of all

climate revenues for transportation

funding to transportation planning and projects to reduce GHGs

• CLEAN-TEA marker bill – 10% of all

climate revenues for transportation climate revenues for transportation

• Many variations of climate drafts since early 2009
• April 2010 Senate draft included transportation planning

climate revenues for transportation

• Many variations of climate drafts since early 2009
• April 2010 Senate draft included transportation planning

p p p g language and $6 billion per year for transportation

• Senate coalition of supporters fell apart; not enough votes
• Comprehensive climate bill is dead for this year

p p p g language and $6 billion per year for transportation

• Senate coalition of supporters fell apart; not enough votes
• Comprehensive climate bill is dead for this year
• Comprehensive climate bill is dead for this year
• Comprehensive climate bill is dead for this year

Other Legislative Vehicles Other Legislative Vehicles

• The Healthy CHOICES Act (H.R. 5209)

C h i b it bill

• The Healthy CHOICES Act (H.R. 5209)

C h i b it bill

g

• Comprehensive obesity bill
• Includes expansion of Safe Routes to School

to high schools

• Creates several new grant programs to fund play
• Comprehensive obesity bill
• Includes expansion of Safe Routes to School

to high schools

• Creates several new grant programs to fund play
• Creates several new grant programs to fund play

areas and bike/ ped access to playgrounds, joint use agreements, and comprehensive planning for physical activity (including bike/ ped and school siting)

• Creates several new grant programs to fund play

areas and bike/ ped access to playgrounds, joint use agreements, and comprehensive planning for physical activity (including bike/ ped and school siting)

• Livable Communities Act (S. 1619)
• Creates funding for comprehensive planning and sustainable

development projects

• Livable Communities Act (S. 1619)
• Creates funding for comprehensive planning and sustainable

development projects development projects

• Sen. Merkley (D-OR) added stronger language on

bike/ ped and school siting development projects

• Sen. Merkley (D-OR) added stronger language on

bike/ ped and school siting

• Complete Streets (HR 1443/ S584), ACT Act

(HR 4722)

• Complete Streets (HR 1443/ S584), ACT Act

(HR 4722)

Oth 2010 S Oth 2010 S Other 2010 Successes Other 2010 Successes

Successes Successes

Implementation of SRTS

• $550 million announced; 7500 schools benefit

Implementation of SRTS

• $550 million announced; 7500 schools benefit
• $550 million announced; 7500 schools benefit
• $300 million obligated
• 20 state SRTS networks building relationships

with DOTs and SRTS coordinators

• $550 million announced; 7500 schools benefit
• $300 million obligated
• 20 state SRTS networks building relationships

with DOTs and SRTS coordinators with DOTs and SRTS coordinators

• US DOT leadership – LaHood event in April;

Mendez event in August

L t’ M C i

with DOTs and SRTS coordinators

• US DOT leadership – LaHood event in April;

Mendez event in August

L t’ M C i Let’s Move Campaign

• First Lady as a spokesperson for solving childhood obesity
• April 9 Childhood Obesity summit – SRTSNP invited; much

disc ssion of SRTS as a sol tion

Let’s Move Campaign

• First Lady as a spokesperson for solving childhood obesity
• April 9 Childhood Obesity summit – SRTSNP invited; much

disc ssion of SRTS as a sol tion discussion of SRTS as a solution

• Federal Childhood Obesity Task Force released in May
• Recommendation 5.11 mirrors our SRTS platform to

expand and strengthen the program discussion of SRTS as a solution

• Federal Childhood Obesity Task Force released in May
• Recommendation 5.11 mirrors our SRTS platform to

expand and strengthen the program expand and strengthen the program

• Sets a benchmark of increasing by 50% by 2015 the

number of children 5-18 who walk and bicycle to school expand and strengthen the program

• Sets a benchmark of increasing by 50% by 2015 the

number of children 5-18 who walk and bicycle to school

Successes Successes

Health agency leadership

• CDC transportation policy

Health agency leadership

• CDC transportation policy
• CDC transportation policy
• Demonstrates the health impacts of transportation
• Has whole section on active transportation, including SRTS
• CDC transportation policy
• Demonstrates the health impacts of transportation
• Has whole section on active transportation, including SRTS
• Communities Putting Prevention to Work grants
• Comprehensive approaches to obesity prevention and

tobacco control

• Communities Putting Prevention to Work grants
• Comprehensive approaches to obesity prevention and

tobacco control

• Focus on policy, systems and environmental change
• $400 million for 44 communities; $120 million for states
• Many include SRTS, complete streets, active transportation
• Focus on policy, systems and environmental change
• $400 million for 44 communities; $120 million for states
• Many include SRTS, complete streets, active transportation
• Example: Cook County, IL
• CPPW model being used for

Prevention and Public Health

• Example: Cook County, IL
• CPPW model being used for

Prevention and Public Health Investment Fund grants Investment Fund grants

Successes Successes

DOT/ HUD/ EPA Partnership

• Partnership sent letter requesting the agencies focus

DOT/ HUD/ EPA Partnership

• Partnership sent letter requesting the agencies focus
• Partnership sent letter requesting the agencies focus
• n SRTS, built environment and school siting
• New funding and opportunities:
• Partnership sent letter requesting the agencies focus
• n SRTS, built environment and school siting
• New funding and opportunities:
• HUD regional sustainability officers
• HUD Sustainable Community Challenge planning grants
• HUD Choice Neighborhoods pilot grants
• HUD regional sustainability officers
• HUD Sustainable Community Challenge planning grants
• HUD Choice Neighborhoods pilot grants
• DOT TIGER Grants
• Example: City of Philadelphia
• EPA school siting focus
• DOT TIGER Grants
• Example: City of Philadelphia
• EPA school siting focus

EPA school siting focus

• Grant to National Trust for Historic Preservation
• SRTSNP participated in School Siting Task Group to push

for “healthy” school siting aspects EPA school siting focus

• Grant to National Trust for Historic Preservation
• SRTSNP participated in School Siting Task Group to push

for “healthy” school siting aspects y g p

• Voluntary school siting guidelines forthcoming
• Example: Nashville, TN

y g p

• Voluntary school siting guidelines forthcoming
• Example: Nashville, TN

L ki F d L ki F d Looking Forward Looking Forward

Transportation Bill Transportation Bill

• Current transportation extension expires Dec. 2010
• CBO says trust fund is solvent till mid-2012
• Current transportation extension expires Dec. 2010
• CBO says trust fund is solvent till mid-2012

p

CBO says trust fund is solvent till mid 2012

• May make it easier for Congress to do another long extension
• No easy funding solution for a long-term bill, unlikely in

CBO says trust fund is solvent till mid 2012

• May make it easier for Congress to do another long extension
• No easy funding solution for a long-term bill, unlikely in

the near future. Other options:

• Piecemeal short extensions?
• Long extension?

the near future. Other options:

• Piecemeal short extensions?
• Long extension?
• Shorter 2-3 transportation bill with some policy change?
• Elections will have major impact on next steps

H h l

• Shorter 2-3 transportation bill with some policy change?
• Elections will have major impact on next steps

H h l

• House may change control
• Will have to reintroduce all

marker bills May have to be nimble

• House may change control
• Will have to reintroduce all

marker bills May have to be nimble

• May have to be nimble
• May have to be nimble

What You Can Do What You Can Do

• Stay tuned to www.saferoutespartnership.org and

alerts for when we need advocates to weigh in

• Stay tuned to www.saferoutespartnership.org and

alerts for when we need advocates to weigh in alerts for when we need advocates to weigh in

• Get to know your Member of Congress and share

SRTS clips stories and news alerts for when we need advocates to weigh in

• Get to know your Member of Congress and share

SRTS clips stories and news SRTS clips, stories and news

• Invite your member of Congress to attend SRTS

events—groundbreakings, WTSD events, ribbon- SRTS clips, stories and news

• Invite your member of Congress to attend SRTS

events—groundbreakings, WTSD events, ribbon- g g cuttings

• Be patient yet persistent…

g g cuttings

• Be patient yet persistent…

For More Information For More Information

• Questions or comments? Contact:

M P d

• Questions or comments? Contact:

M P d Margo Pedroso Deputy Director Safe Routes to School National Partnership Margo Pedroso Deputy Director Safe Routes to School National Partnership margo@saferoutespartnership.org 301-292-1043 margo@saferoutespartnership.org 301-292-1043

• Go to www.saferoutespartnership.org and sign

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