1. Expanding the
Complete Streets Network
with Safe Routes to School
Elise Bremer-Nei, AICP/PP
NJDOT Safe Routes to School Coordinator
NJ Complete Streets Summit - October 21, 2013

2. History of Safe Routes to School
Mid-1970s
Odense, Denmark





Worst child pedestrian crash rate in Europe
Created a network of non-motorized paths
Established slow speed areas, added traffic calming
In 10 years, child casualties fell by 80%
SRTS now implemented in 65 Danish towns

3. 1995 – Great Britain





Sustrans initiated 10 SRTS projects
Bike lanes, traffic calming, raised crossings
After 2 years, bicycle use tripled
Child cycling injuries fell by 28%
Child pedestrian crashes fell 70%

4. North America
Canada
 Go for Green (Toronto)
 Way to Go (British Columbia)
The Bronx
California
Florida

5. History of Safe Routes to School
Marin County,
California




Walk or Wheel Wednesdays
Frequent Rider contests
Walking School Buses
Huge increase in
 Number of children walking to school
 Number of children biking to School
 Number of carpools

6. Why We’re Doing This Work
Source: J. Pucher and R. Buehler, City Cycling (2012)

7. Children’s Health Risks
Related to Inactivity, Air Quality, and Traffic Safety
 The prevalence of overweight children
has tripled in the United States.
 There has been a sharp increase in cases
of type 2 diabetes in children.
 Asthma rates in children have increased
160% in the past 15 years.
 Pedestrian injuries are the 3rd leading
cause of unintentional injury-related
death among children in the U.S.

8. Incomplete School Zones
The Philadelphia Daily News

9. Incomplete School Zones

10. Incomplete School Routes

11. Incomplete School Routes
Irvington
Newark

12. Incomplete School Routes
Trenton
Camden

13. Incomplete School Sites

14. Travel to school can be up to
25% of morning traffic
(Parisi Associates, 2003)

15. Fewer kids are biking and walking.
More parents are driving.
2001:
15% walked to school
1969:
48% walked to school
(EPA, 2003)

16. Far more children are driven to
school than walk or bicycle
(school trips of 1 mile or less)
3%
1%
Auto
School Bus
31%
51%
Walk
Bicycle
Other
14%
Calculations from the1995 Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey. US Department
of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, unpublished data, 2000.

17. Safe Routes to School programs
are intended to …
… increase physical activity
… improve unsafe walking and biking conditions
… improve poor air quality by reducing vehicle emissions

18. Main Goals of the
Safe Routes to School Program
1. Where it’s safe, get kids walking and biking.
2. WHERE IT’S NOT SAFE, MAKE IT SAFE.
Trenton
Maplewood

19. 2005 U.S. Transportation Bill
First Federal SRTS Program
$612 Million divided among states based

upon student enrollment

$15 Million to New Jersey (2005 to 2009)

100% Federally Funded

Eligible use of funds:

Infrastructure related projects

Non-Infrastructure projects

20. Federal SRTS Funding for NJ
 FY 2005 $1 million
Brick Twp
 FY 2006 $2.4 million
 FY 2007 $3.3 million
 FY 2008 $4.1 million
 FY 2009 $5.1 million
 FY 2010 $5.1 million
 FY 2011 $5.6 million
 FY 2012 $4.7 million
TOTAL $31.3 million
Brick Township

21. 4 Rounds of SRTS Grants in NJ
 129 grants
 $19.26 million
 projects in 98 towns
 200+ schools
 in all 21 counties
 $3 million in statewide
programs

22. Engineering projects
 Create safer
conditions for walking
and bicycling
 Can influence the
way people behave
Westfield
Lambertville
Elmer

23. 2012 NJ SRTS Infrastructure Grants
Projects include installation of: ADA compliant
sidewalks, bike
paths, striping, signage, lighting, signals, traffic
calming improvements, etc.
Example Project Highlights:
Egg Harbor City
Sidewalk and bikeway to
connect ped bridge to school
Bergenfield
Extension of Bergenfield
Bikeway System
Boonton
Lighted crosswalks, flashing
crosswalk signs
Chatham Borough Permanent radar display, speed
tables

24. 2014 SRTS Infrastructure Grants
NJDOT wants to see:
 Partnerships/Agreements
 Comprehensive approach
 School Travel Plans
Extra points for:
 Urban Aid Communities
 Good record on past grants
 Complete Streets Policy
 Demonstrated commitment
Haddonfield

25. Enforcement programs
 Increase awareness of pedestrians and bicyclists
 Improve driver behavior
 Help children follow traffic rules

26. Educational programs




Impart safety skills
Create safety awareness
Foster life-long safety habits
Include parents, neighbors
and other drivers
Camden
Pemberton

27. Encouragement programs
 Increase popularity of walking
and bicycling
 Are an easy way to start SRTS
programs
 Emphasize fun and community
New Brunswick

28. International Walk to School Day
Maplewood
Montclair
Chesterfield
Garfield

29. National Bike to School Day
Montclair
Wharton
Medford Lakes
Fairhaven

30. Walking School Bus Programs
Van Derveer Elementary School
Somerville, NJ
RIDEWISE TMA
 Researched the safest
walking routes
 5 route maps with timelines
 Groups led by adults
 Kick-off events

31. New Jersey SRTS Resource Center
VTC supports NJDOT through research,
training and outreach to maximize
the effectiveness of the New Jersey
Safe Routes to School program.

32. Safe Routes to School Research
 Supportive Walk and Bike
to School Policies
 Can I Bicycle to School?
A Review of School Bicycling Policies in
Middlesex Co.
 SRTS & School Busing Cuts
 Crossing Guard Training
Needs in New Jersey
 The Effects of Parental
Attitudes on School Travel

33. Crossing Guard Program
 Focus Group Research
 Model Municipal Policy
 Training Manual
 Pilot Training

34. 2011 - Expanded Resource Center
A partnership with NJ’s Transportation
Management Associations to provide
outreach, program and technical assistance
to local communities.

35. NJ’s TMAs
 8 Regional SRTS
Coordinators
 Direct technical assistance
to communities
 Assistance with SRTS
programs and events
 Assistance with monitoring
and evaluation
 Assistance with grant
funding applications
 Assistance with School
Travel or SRTS Action Plans

37. Statewide TMA School Outreach
2011
96 schools
2012
354 schools

38. Regional Coordinator Outreach
In 2012, TMAs contacted:
 237 municipalities
 76 disadvantaged communities
 354 schools
TMAs conducted:
 240 bicycle and pedestrian events
 167 safety education events
Jersey City, NJ

39. Regional Coordinator Outreach
Most Popular Forms of Assistance:
 Walk to School days
 Walking school buses
 Educational safety
presentations/assemblies
 Encouragement programs –
“Golden Sneaker Awards”
 Bike Rodeos
Pemberton, NJ
 School Travel Plans

40. School Travel Plans/Action Plans








Existing conditions
Existing attitudes
Problem areas
Potential solutions
Involved parties
Schedule
Funding options
Maps, photos

41. October Walk & Bike to School Month
New Jersey Registered
Walk & Bike to School Events
2003-2012
140
134
120
Netcong, NJ
100
80
78
60
67
67
57
40
20
83
11
35
39
47
0
2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

42. NJ SRTS Recognition Program
58 Total SRTS Recognition Program Winners for May
2013
13 Gold Level Winners
21 Silver Level Winners
9 Bronze Level Winners
15 First Step Level Winners

43. NJ SRTS Resource Center website

44. SRTS and Complete Streets
Safe Routes to School Programs are a good way
to prioritize your Complete Streets efforts.
Jamesburg

45. Safer routes to school are
safer routes for everyone.
Elise Bremer-Nei, AICP/PP
Safe Routes to School Coordinator
NJ Department of Transportation
elise.bremer-nei@dot.state.nj.us
Leigh Ann Von Hagen, AICP/PP
Senior Research Specialist
NJ SRTS Resource Center
Voorhees Transportation Center
lavh@ejb.rutgers.edu
Sean Meehan, smeehan@ejb.rutgers.edu
Trish Sanchez, trish.sanchez@ejb.rutgers.edu
Catherine Bull, catherin.bull@ejb.rutgers.edu