Safe Routes to School Program
The Virginia Department of Transportation's (VDOT) Safe Routes to School Program (SRTS) assists interested localities and schools in the development of plans, activities, and infrastructure improvements to make bicycling and walking to school a safe and appealing transportation option for students in kindergarten through eighth grade.
Purpose
The Safe Routes to School Program is a federally-funded program created under Section 1404 of the 2005 Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).
As written in SAFETEA-LU, the purpose of the SRTS program to:
- Enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school
- Make bicycling and walking to school a safer and more appealing transportation alternative, thereby encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle from an early age
- Facilitate the planning, development, and implementation of projects and activities that will improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and air pollution in the vicinity of schools
Virginia’s SRTS Program: Two Phases
The Virginia SRTS Program is a phased program. The Safe Routes to School Program guidelines provides information on both phases as well as how to complete SRTS applications for funding.
The first step begins with the local development of a SRTS School Travel Plan.
After approval of the School Travel Plan, in the second phase, the SRTS Program provides funding to participating school divisions, localities and other eligible entities through a competitive application process.
The Virginia SRTS Program assists localities, schools, and non-profit organizations by funding both non-infrastructure programs and activities and infrastructure improvements.
School Travel Plan – Phase One
A completed School Travel Plan, also known as a SRTS plan, is a requirement for all applicants for non-infrastructure and infrastructure funding through the Virginia Safe Routes to School Program.
A School Travel Plan is a written document that outlines a school community's intentions for making bicycling and walking to school sustainable and safe.
The format for a plan has been included in the Virginia School Travel Plan. A worksheet and reference guide are included with the format. A SRTS Committee can use the guide to create a unique plan for its school or schools to advance safe biking and walking for students in kindergarten through eighth grade (K-8).
Information about submitting the plan to VDOT for approval is included in Virginia’s Safe Routes to School Program guidelines.
SRTS Implementation – Phase Two
Once a school and community has completed a School Travel Plan and received approval from VDOT, the plan can be used to apply for SRTS funding to implement identified strategies for improving walking and biking to school.
The Safe Routes to School Program guidelines contain information about SRTS: the Five E’s (the comprehensive approach of Education, Encouragement, Enforcement, Evaluation, and Engineering), sponsor eligibility, and what types of programs and projects are eligible for funding.
Eligible applicants may apply for program and/or project funding.
The SRTS Application Instructions included with the guidelines describe how to fill out SRTS funding applications for implementing strategies identified in the School Travel Plan, deadline dates and how to submit the applications.
The types of activities and projects funded include:
- Bicycle and pedestrian safety education
- Safe Routes to School workshops
- Activities such as a special "walk to school day" event
- Crossing guard training programs and equipment
- Evaluation of the impact of SRTS activities on student travel behavior
- Missing links in sidewalks
- Improved intersections and crossings
- Other bicycle/pedestrian facilities or safety improvements
SRTS Program Materials
20 fun facts 
(PDF, 121 KB)
Glossary of terms (PDF, 70 KB)
National Center for Safe Routes to School – a clearinghouse of information on programs and best practice
Previously Funded
2009 SRTS Program Materials
PDF
- 2009 Virginia Safe Routes to School Program guidelines (137 KB)
Word 
- Virginia School Travel Plan, second edition (402 KB)
Contact
Sarah Weisiger, AICP
Safe Routes to School coordinator
Transportation and Mobility Planning Division
Virginia Department of Transportation
1401 E. Broad St.
Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: 804-371-4868
Fax: 804-225-4785
TTY: 711
