|
It’s back to school time, take advantage of the ‘Fresh Start Effect’ to get your Safe Routes To School program soaring this year. Fresh start effect is a phenomenon where we get a burst of motivation to start new habits each time we begin something new. Now is the time to capitalize on the fresh start effect!
-
Transportation mailings – families are receiving their school transportation information in the mail and figuring out their plans for the new year. Work with school transportation directors to send out safe routes maps, safety tips, and encouragement materials for children in the walk/bike boundary.
-
Establish a remote drop off location – work with the school to set up a remote drop off location. This helps children get an extra 10 minutes of physical activity, it is quicker for parents to drop off and allows more students to participate in Safe Routes efforts for health and academic improvement. Additionally, this can reduce congestion if more parents are driving during the pandemic.
-
First school newsletter – encourage school staff to develop and include Safe Routes maps for their school, safety tips and encouragement for walking and biking in school newsletters. Include parents participating in remote drop offs to reduce congestion around schools and give their children some extra steps.
-
Walking School Bus – work with PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) or principal to identify and establish Walking School Buses to start the year off. This will create a healthy routine to be used throughout the year as parents integrate a Walking School Bus into their schedules. Even just one day a week is a great way to start!
-
Meet the teacher & back to school events – encourage physical education teachers to promote their Walk! Bike! Fun! curriculum and have a table promoting walking and biking to school, safety tips and safe routes maps for parents and students to take home and make their plan.
-
Crossing guard and school patrol training – the start of the school year means training your adult crossing guards and student school patrol leaders to help walkers and bikers cross busy streets. MnDOT has free, online training that you can implement or allow individuals to train on their schedules and obtain completion certificates for your records.
Back to school resources from the SRTS National Partnership
The return to school for the 2021-22 school year is about safe walking, rolling and so much more! Together we will make a Socially-connected, Active, Future for Everyone, with SAFE routes connecting kids to learning, to health, and to each other again. The Safe Routes Partnership has provided key messaging, resources, and Zoom discussion sessions to prepare all of us for the return to school.
MN League of Cities features Safe Routes
In the most recent issue of ‘Minnesota Cities’ three communities share their stories of on how Safe Routes has impacted the livability of their cities.
Walk to School Day is Oct. 6 – start planning!
Minnesota’s annual Walk to School Day is coming soon, it’s a great time to start planning your even. MnDOT will send marketing posters, educational bookmarks and stickers (on a first come, first serve basis) to hand out the day of the big event.
It’s time to start planning event details at your school! The National Center for Safe Routes to School developed this helpful guide to get you started with planning a Walk to School Day event, including steps for planning, event ideas, safety tips and more.
Upcoming solicitations
Stayed tuned to this newsletter as we will have many upcoming solicitations for Safe Routes this October!
Fall funding opportunities include:
-
Planning Assistance solicitation to help you develop a SRTS Plan.
-
Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) solicitation for infrastructure funding.
-
Boost mini-grants to help with any implementation needs from bike fleets to stipends.
Training announcement – SRTS infrastructure solicitation & project application webinar
These webinars are targeted towards county, city, and township engineering, city management staff and SRTS team members.
This is a one-hour Safe Routes to School infrastructure webinar offered on three separate dates. The content presented in each session will be the same, and attendees would only need to attend one of these sessions. Topics include:
- Key dates for the upcoming 2021-22 Minnesota State Safe Routes to School infrastructure program solicitation
- Overview of the program and application requirements
- Eligible program funding uses and project readiness
- How to apply for county, city, and township Safe Routes to School projects
- Navigating the letter of intent process
- Instructions on completing a full application
- Scoring process for selecting projects to receive program funding
Aug. 26, 2021 from 1:00 – 2:00 P.M.
Sept. 8, 2021 from 1:00 – 2:00 P.M.
Sept. 21, 2021 from 10:30 – 11:30 A.M.
Upcoming events
Aug. 12, 10-11:00 A.M. – MN SRTS Network Call
Share and learn with whose working on SRTS from across Minnesota.
To join the Minnesota Safe Routes to School Network, email erikt@movemn.org.
More about MnSRTS
Visit: mnsaferoutestoschool.org
Follow us on Facebook!
MnDOT invites and encourages participation by all. If you need an ASL, a foreign language interpreter, or other reasonable accommodation, or need documents in an alternative format (such as braille or large print), please email your request to Janet Miller at ADArequest.dot@state.mn.us or call 651-366-4720.
|
