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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPR 12012:SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOLINTER OFFICE MEMO To: Mayor, City Council & City Manager From: Mark T. Sokolow, City Attorney Subject: P.R. No. 12012 Council Meeting November 26, 2002 Date: November 22, 2002 Attached is P.R. No. 12012 authorizing the City Manager to apply for funding through TxDOT for the Safe Routes to School Program (Requested by Councilmember Linden). MTS/ts Attachment Z .pr12012 .memo P. R. 1;o. 12012 11/22/02 ts RESOLUTION NO. A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZINa THE CITY MANAaER TO APPLY TO TXDOT FOR SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PRO~RAM FUNDS (REQUESTED BY COUNCILMEMBER LINDEN) WHEREAS, the City has received information that there is funds available for construction projects under the TXDOT Safe Routes to School program; and WHEREAS, this is a construction program administered by TXDOT to increase the safety of the ride to school; and WHEREAS, the Safe Routes to comprehensive program that looks at all safety and security while on the way to WHEREAS, the City citizens of the City of Port Manager to apply for funding for described as attached in Exhibit availability of funding NOW THEREFORE, routes children walk or School Program is a aspects of children's school; and deems it in the best interest of the Arthur to authorize the City Safe Routes to School, "A", subject to the for any matching funds requirements. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS: Z .pr12012 Section 1. are true and correct. Section 2. That the City Manager is to apply to TXDOT for funding under the Safe That the facts and opinions in the preamble herein authorized Routes To School Program(SRS), as denoted in Exhibit "A". Section 3. That a copy of the caption of this Resolution be spread upon the Minutes of the City Council. READ, ADOPTED AND APPROVED on this __ day of , A.D., 2002, at a Regular Meeting of the City the City of Port Arthur, Texas, by the following Council of vote: AYES: Mayor ' Councilmembers ' ; NOES: ATTEST: MAYOR CITY SECRETARY APPROVED AS TO FORM: CITY ATTORNEY z.pr12012 APPROVED FOR ADMINISTRATION= CITY MANAGER APPROVED AS TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS: DIRECTOR OF FINANCE z.pr12012 EXHIBIT "A" ~ateRoutes I exas.org- Home Page Page Giving school children 'l:he -icjh : of'way in Texas! · tax deductible donations through Texas Bicycle Coalition Education Fund biketexas.orG Call for projects issued August 2, 2002 Applications are due December 6, 20021 What ia Safe Routes to School? For a quick overview of the Safe Routes to School program. Ask youmelf these questions? · Are there sidewalks for my children? · Are the intersections and crosswalks wall marked? · Are the cars going slow enough? · Can I drop my child off without waiting in line? The Texas Department of Transportation official site for Safe Routes to School is now active. If you answered "NO!" to any of these questions you need to submit a Safe Routes to School program application. There are $3,000,000 available for construction projects under the TxDOT Safe Routes to School program. This funding is designed to help you fix the major safety problems with your children's school routes. But you must hurry, TxDOT is on a very fast time line for this first call for projects. To get on the ~.iS__t for future notices Tasks for first call Review any safety problems with your school routes Consider the eligible projects Talk with your lSD/City/County traffic safety personnel Download the A~Pj)lication/Manual/Evaluation (when they are available) Get approval from City/County Submit an Application (call Aug 2,' must be submitted by December 6, 2002) overview I projects I criterie I toolkit I maps I _4~E_s I _F~ I links [ site map all co~te~ts ~ 2002 T~emS Bicyale Cealitk~ Sal~RoutesTexas.0rg - Overview Page 1 of 2 Giving school children the right oFway in Texas! · SefeRouteaTexas accepts tax deductible dmations through Texas Bicycle Coalition Education Fund bikete~as.org SafeRoutesTexas.org Overview What is Safe Routes to School? Today, Safe Routes to School (SRS) is a construction program administered by TxDOT to increase the safety of the routes your children walk or nde to school. However, you can make SRS a systematic community-based effort to evaluate and implement changes to transportation modes and facilities around local schools. Typically, the evaluation will look at all aspects of community safety and secudty within a cimle with a radius of two miles centered on the school. Steps to Success. Who gets involved? SRS project proposals for funding of facilities by TxDOT can only be submitted by a city or county. Although any one of several entities can initiate a project, a successful SRS project team will involve students, parents, school administration, law enforcement, traffic engineers and local governments in the evaluation and planning stages. If you are with an individual school or school district, contact your city or county officials now! They will have engineering personnel who can help design and develop your application What kinds of projects are included? SRS is a comprehensive program that looks at ail aspects of our children's safety and security while on the way to school and employs the 4E elements (Engineering, Education Enforcement, Encouragement) to create change. Recommendations may include · traffic calming, · walking busses, · safety education, · law enforcement, · crossing guards, · local ordinances · safe houses, · bike lanes, · separating bus and automobile access, or · pedestrian overpasses. Link for a list of the projects available for funding under the TxDOT SRS program. Not every Iflan will result in spending money on facilities, some may decide that the roadways are safe enough and education, encouragement or enforcement is what is needed. SafeRoutesTexas.org - Overview Page 2 of 2 The evaluation and planning process can be as short as 6 months or may last up to 18 months. · Changes in student and parent habits (enforcement and education) can begin immediately. ,, Crosswalk and roadway striping can normally be done within six months. · Changes requiring construction of calming devices or roadways typically take two years or more to plan and execute. This year, because it is the first time Safe Routes to School money has been available, the time frame for planning has been compressed. Link to a flow chart of the proposed 2002 TxDOT call for $3 million in facilities construction money. How long does it last? This is not just a Band-Aid fix. SRS will be with your school as long as the students. Actually, it is important to institute SRS before finishing the design of a new school. Traffic infrastructure lasts for 35 to 50 years. It is best to get it right from the beginning instead of trying to retrofit safety measures. Who pays for the changes? Many of the changes are simple and nan be funded through local safety funds. Additional funds for major changes are available on a competitive basis through federal Transportation Enhancement funds. Legislation supported by Texas Bicycle Coalition, Texas Association of Health, Physinal Education, Recreation and Dance and Texas Medinal Association, among others, created a law that requires the Texas Department of Transportation to create and administer a Safe Routes to School program. Currently TxDOT has allocated approximately $3 million from Transportation Enhancement funds to this efforL How do we get etarted? SRS is mostly common sense, it is being successfully implemented in both European and American cities with stdking results in injury and congestion reduction. The first step is to review the information available on this site. Pay particular attention to the Tool Kit at this site. from ~aae I overview I oroiects I criteria ~ toolkit I ~ 14J~_s I FAQ I links I site map all con{eats ~ 2002 Tm~s Bicycle Coalition SafeRoutesTexas.org- Eligible Projects Page 1 of 3 Giving school child -en the right of way in Texas]' Texas Bicycle Coalition What Projects are Eligible for TxDOT Safe Routes to School Funding? When ia It going to happen? Link for a current timeline. Who may apply? The proposed TxDOT rules say projects will only be accepted from political subdivisions. That means that school communities will have to work with the city or county to submit a proposal to TxDOT. But many projects will be done locally and will not require TxDOT funding. How to submit a proposal The proposal must be submitted to the District Engineer in the proper TxDOT Distdct Office, using the application form prescribed by the department and must be submitted within the deadline. Applications and the rules for submiSfflon and selection will be available at each distdct office and at the division office in Austin and on this v~b site. The following rules determine what projects can be submitted: · Projects may be located on- or off-system but must be located on public property · Must be located within a two mile radius of a school · Project cost will be limited (currently to $500,000 but this may char~ge with the cell in August) · Projects can cover multiple school sites if similar work is performed at each site · Local project funding match of 20% is required unless the project is located on the state highway system in which casa TxDOT will provide the match · A project on the state highway system will not be eligible if the distdct finds that the project interferes or disrupts any planned improvements or existing infrastructure There are six categories of projects that are eligible for funding under the Texas Safe Routes to School program: l. Sidewalk Improvements 2. Pedestrian/Bicycle Crossing Improvements 3. On-Street Bicycle Facilities 4. Traffic Diversion Improvements 5. Off-Street Bicycle/Pedestrian Improvements 6. Traffic Calming Measures for Off-System Roads Follow the links to review the items that ara allowed under of these six categories. Sidewalk Improvemente ~ -- i-- ~ *~, I SafeRoutesTexas,org - Eligible Projects New Sidewalks Widened sidewalks Sidewalk gap closures Sidewalk repairs Curb cuts for ramps Curbs and gutters Return to top Pedestdan/Bicycle Crossing Improvements New or upgraded traffic signals Crosswalks Pavemark markings Traffic signs Pedestrian/bicycle over- and under-crossings Flashing beacons Traffic signal phasing extensions Bicycle sensitive actuation devices Pedestrian activated signal upgrades Sight distance improvements Return to top On-Streat Bicycle Facilities New bicycle lanes Upgraded bicycle lanes Widened outside lanes Widened roadway shoulders Geometric improvements Turning lanes Traffic signs Pavement markings Return to top Traffic Diversion Improvements Improved pick-up/drop-off areas Separation of pedestrian/bicyclists from vehicular traffic adjacent to school zones or designated routes to a school Return to top Off-Street Bicycle/Pedestrian Improvements Exclusive multi-use bicycle or pedestrian trails and pathways Return to top Page 2 of 3 Click on pl~tore to ~ additional photos of Sidew~k Impmvemerd, projects Click on picture to see additional pho~es of Cm~lng projects Click on picture to see additional photos of On- Stme~ Bicycle prejects Click( on picture to see addtUonal ph~c~ of Trat~ D~e~Z~ projects Traffic Calming Measures for Off-System Roads Click on picture to see ad~lonat photo~ of Off- Stre~ projects Roundabouts SafeRoutesl'exas.org - Eligible Projects Curb extensions at intersections Center islands Full and half street closures Other speed reduction techniques Return to top Page 3 of 3 Click ~ picture to ~ additional photos Traffic Calming projects ~r_o~ page I overview I ~roie~_s_ I criteria ] toolkit I ~ 14Es I FAQ I links I sje map all contents ~ 2002 Texas Bicycle Coalition