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Connecticut receives a set allocation of SRTS funding from the federal government each year. Most of this funding (about 70 percent) is spent on infrastructure, or engineering, improvements near schools. The remaining funds are allocated to non-infrastructure activities, or those that fall under the Education, Encouragement, Enforcement, and Evaluation activities.
In Summer 2009, the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CT DOT) hired a Connecticut SRTS Team to offer program assistance to schools wanting to develop our SRTS plan or wanting assistance with the non-infrastructure components (Education, Encouragement, Enforcement, and Evaluation) of their SRTS program.
The CT SRTS Team will offer program assistance through a number of offerings that include:
• SRTS Overview Presentation and Q & A
• SRTS Committee and Champion Assistance
• SRTS Plan Walk Audit Support (Engineering Recommendation Assistance)
• SRTS Plan Mapping Support (Geographic Information Systems Software Assistance)
• Evaluation - Pre-/Post-Analysis of Success
• SRTS Plan Review and Critique
• Bicycle Education - Rodeo Event
• Walking Education - Structure Skills Practice
• Walking Education - Walking School Bus / Walk-to-School Event
• Encouragement Assembly / Walk Across America Contest
Some of these offerings, such as a bicycle rodeo event, are only available to schools who have adopted a SRTS Master Plan. Other offerings, such as mapping technical assistance, are open to any school wishing to develop a SRTS Master Plan. It is expected that a total of 30 schools will be able to participate in the non-infrastructure assistance program CT DOT has established beginning in Fall 2009 through Summer 2011.
SRTS Overview Presentation and Q & A
For this offering, the Team will give a PowerPoint presentation to a school, district, or town on one occasion. This support service is ideal for schools or districts that are considering developing a SRTS Plan, or would like to apply for SRTS funding, but are not sure where to begin. This service can occur at any time during the year.
The presentation will provide an overview of the federal program as well as how to get started developing a program within a school/district and the required components of a SRTS Master Plan. The presentation will be followed by an informal question and answer period. The total time of the presentation and question and answer period will run approximately three hours. The session will include some handout materials.
SRTS Committee and Champion Assistance
The Team will provide assistance to a school’s or district’s SRTS Committee. This support service is ideal for schools or districts that are planning to begin, or have just begun, a SRTS Master Plan. This service can occur at any time during the year.
The Team will educate and inform the Committee on their roles and responsibilities for the Plan development and program implementation. The Team will assist the Committee in selecting a champion and guide the champion about how to best implement the Plan to keep it on peoples’ agenda, especially when SRTS funds are spent or not being utilized. Upon request, the Team can assist the Committee in determining the evaluation components and tools to include in their Plan. Simply put, The Team will provide tips and general assistance to the committee and chair on how to get their Plan completed, implemented, and evaluated/updated as necessary.
The Team will initially meet with a committee to discuss their needs and concerns. The Team will then provide information and guidance as necessary. Assistance and guidance will occur throughout the Master Plan development, but not to exceed the length of the SRTS contract.
SRTS Plan Walk Audit Support (Engineering Recommendation Assistance)
The Team will provide walk audit assistance to a school. This support service is ideal for schools or districts that are planning to begin, or have just begun, a SRTS Master Plan. This service can occur at any time during the school year.
The Team will walk the streets near the school during arrival and/or dismissal. Appropriate school personnel and at least one member of the committee should participate in the walk audit. After the streets have been walked and the campus observed during arrival and/or dismissal, the Team will meet with the committee to discuss their observations. Finally, the Team will provide a technical memorandum to the committee noting areas of safety concern and potential engineering recommendations.
SRTS Plan Mapping Support (Geographic Information Systems Software Assistance)
The Team will create the maps that will be included in one SRTS Master Plan. This support service is ideal for schools or districts that are planning to begin, or have just begun, a SRTS Master Plan. They should have the willingness and personnel to complete a Master Plan (including the report creation), but not the GIS software or technical ability to complete the map required. Such items that CTDOT recommends for inclusion in Master Plan maps are school enrollment boundaries, student locations, walking and busing streets, walking/biking routes, sidewalk inventory, and safety hazards. The Team can advise and create any combination of layers for maps for the SRTS Plan (up to five maps). This service can occur at any time during the year.
Evaluation - Pre-/Post-Analysis of Success
The Team will review and evaluate specific strategies outlined in a SRTS Master Plan. This support service is ideal for schools or districts that already have completed, or are almost finished developing, a SRTS Master Plan. The Team will evaluate the problem or issue area before and after the strategies are implemented, and provide a critique of their success. This can be rolled into the final “E”, Evaluation, which is required of the overall Master Plan. The team can also suggest on how to improve the Master Plan, based in the evaluation of strategies, in the future. This service can occur at any time during the year.
Plan Review and Critique
The Team will review and critique one SRTS Master Plan. This support service is ideal for schools or districts that already have completed, or are almost finished developing, a SRTS Master Plan. The Team can advise on the strengths of the Plan, as well as areas that could use improvement. The Team will offer suggestions on how to improve these areas. This service can occur at any time during the year.
Bicycle Education - Rodeo Event
The Team will organize and administer a bicycle rodeo at one school. A bicycle rodeo is a bicycle safety clinic that functions to educate and empower children (and parents) to ride safely on roadways. The rodeo features bike and helmet safety inspections, a quick lesson on rules of the road, and a riding course where the cyclists can apply the rules learned.
This support service is ideal for schools that have an existing SRTS Plan and want to educate their student on safe bicycle habits in a fun environment. The bicycle rodeo should invite elementary school students age 8-9+ as the training targets children beginning to ride on their neighborhood streets. This event should occur on a Saturday morning in the Spring. Some volunteers from the school are essential on site on the day of the rodeo to assist with registration and refreshments. Parents, especially of the youngest students, will be encouraged to accompany their children through the course. In addition, the Team will reach out to CCBA and local Police Bicycle Patrols for assistance at the rodeo.
Walking Education - Structure Skills Practice
The Team will provide skills practice on walking safely in their school environment. Skills practice gives children a safe, supervised environment in which to learn safety behaviors. Pedestrian skills practice includes where and when to cross a street and proper crossing procedure. This practice typically stresses eye contract and other “waving” or acknowledgment communications with drivers. Skills practice may be included in the following ways:
• Part of classroom or physical education class-based lessons.
• Part of an after-school program.
• A one-time event such as a bicycle rodeo.
This support service is ideal for schools that have a SRTS Plan and would like to implement some student education strategies of that Plan. This service is best in the Fall or Spring.
Walking Education - Walking School Bus / Walk-to-School Event
The Team will assist one school in organizing a Walk to School Event or assist in the creating one or more walking school buses. This support service is ideal for schools or districts that have a SRTS Master Plan and would like to implement education strategies of that Plan. This service should occur in the Fall as International Walk to School Day occurs on 10/08/2009, and events could occur in conjunction with that. In addition, walking school buses should be encouraged to occur at regular intervals after throughout the school year (once a week or once a month).
The project team will attempt to coordinate the events with the school principal, parents, and perhaps the police to ask them to be partners in the walking event. In addition, the project team will assist the school in choosing a focus for the walk, such as promoting physical activity or pedestrian safety. The team will assist the school in promoting the event if it is single large event and even plan a small celebration with goodies / refreshments for those who participate.
Encouragement Assembly / Walk Across America Contest
The Team will assist one school in organizing a Walk Across America Contest. The project team will offer to speak at an assembly to explain the contest between the classrooms. This support service is ideal for schools or districts that have a SRTS Master Plan and would like to implement encouragement strategies of that Plan. This service is best suited for grades 4 and up, thus, a middle school or junior high might consider this program. This service should occur in the fall so that the classes have the entire year for the contest.
The project team will work with the schools and classes to implement the program and set up their classrooms on the Walk Across America website.
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