Fall 2008 | Vol. 11 | No. 3
National Safe Routes to School Task Force Shares Strategy
The National Safe Routes to School Task Force has recently published its report of recommendations to increase safety and physical activity among American youth through the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program.
The Task Force, a federally chartered national advisory committee established through SAFETEA-LU, was charged with developing a national strategy to support and advance SRTS programs nationwide and to report its recommendations to the U.S. Department of Transportation and Congress. The published report represents a culmination of nearly two years of work by Task Force members.
The Task Force, citing program successes, recommends the SRTS program become a permanent feature of future transportation legislation. It offers the following five strategies to enhance the program:
- Spend current Federal SRTS funds effectively by building on successful implementation strategies;
- Improve Federal support for SRTS by strengthening forthcoming transportation legislation;
- Promote and encourage support for SRTS programs among other partners with a stake in the success of these programs;
- Address other challenges that SRTS programs face; and
- Look towards the future: advance innovative solutions that support SRTS.
The overarching vision of the National Safe Routes to School Task Force is to "improve safety and encourage more American youth to walk and bicycle to school, thereby resulting in higher levels of physical activity, less traffic congestion, a cleaner environment, and an enhanced quality of life in our communities."
The full report is available online at www.saferoutesinfo.org.