Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Works

TO:	Charles Soules, Public Works Director
FROM:	Jessica Mortinger, Transportation Planner
DATE:	March 23, 2015
RE:	Safe Routes to School Grant Agreement

Project Description

The City of Lawrence was selected and awarded a Phase I grant from the Kansas Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) Program in partnership with USD 497, the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department and the Lawrence Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Organization. The grant would provide funds to prepare a SRTS Plan. Upon completion of the SRTS planning process and plan development the City will be eligible to apply for a Phase II grant in the future which could pay for implementation of the plan, including infrastructure improvements and safety programs in the schools.

The reimbursable $15,000 grant funds will be used to create a plan addressing pedestrian and bicyclist safety at all our local K-8 schools. The primary products of the plan will address the “5 E’s” of SRTS and include:

§ A prioritized list of needed engineering improvements (sidewalks, crosswalks, traffic signals, etc.) along proposed routes. This list will assist the City in making capital improvement funding decisions.

§ A public education and encouragement program tailored to address the specific behaviors and problems identified during the data gathering efforts. The program will not only educate but encourage children and parents to make healthy and safe choices. The primary target populations will be students and parents. Secondary target populations will include drivers near the schools and public officials who have the power to implement the infrastructure and educational components of the SRTS Plan.

§ Evaluation will produce reliable before-and-after data regarding issues related to walking and bicycling to school.

§ Traffic data along with input from interested parties will specifically identify when, where and what types of greater enforcement are needed.

Project Funding

The project will be funded from $15,000 SRTS funds and $3,000 general fund and up to $10,350 additional local funding from: the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department, the Lawrence Schools Foundation and LiveWell Lawrence as well as in kind by staff time of Public Works, USD 497, the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department and the Lawrence Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Organization.

Project Schedule

The SRTS Planning process is currently ongoing, with the reimbursable portion of the project beginning as soon as possible. A plan will be developed to meet the Phase 2 deadline for KDOT funding. SRTS will be an ongoing program.

Action

Authorize the Mayor to sign the City/State Agreement for this project.