The document summarizes a Safe Routes to School forum held by the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission (MVRPC) on June 19th 2013. About 60 people attended, including representatives from 14 area communities, school districts, and transportation organizations. The forum featured success stories and legal frameworks for safe routes projects. It provided an overview of MVRPC's Transportation Alternatives Program funding for safe routes infrastructure projects requiring a 20% local match. MVRPC will help with travel planning but not approve plans. Applicants can apply to both MVRPC and the Ohio Department of Transportation for different phases of projects. The forum was deemed a success in bringing stakeholders together and informing MVRPC's funding policies.

1. Kjirsten Frank & Matt
Lindsay
Safe Routes to School
Forum Overview,
June 19th 2013

2. Why a ‘Forum’ for Safe Routes?
Met with local school coordinators, summer 2012, who are “too busy for
regular meetings”
TAP created an opportunity for MVRPC to set new policy for funding local
projects, including Safe Routes
Hoped to get a Round Table together to inform our TA policy with local
project information and best practices
Hoped to bring more schools & communities on board
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3. How did we do it?
Asked for volunteers for a Steering
Committee – city staff, school
superintendent, consultant, advocate
Held 4 conference calls to plan content
and program
Found speakers from the Dayton,
Cincinnati, and Columbus areas
willing to come for the day
Advertised to all area school districts, our
full list of city managers, and our bike-
friendly communities list
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4. 4

5. How did it go?
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It was a success! About 60 attendees, including
 14 area communities & school districts represented
 2 superintendents, 1 school board president, school nurse, school counselor,
several site coordinators, and 2 directors of transportation
 5 police officers from various communities
 ODOT, Public Health, RAPCA, AAA, LEC, Safe Routes National Partnership
 Consultants from Kleingers (lunch sponsor!!), LJB, Barr & Prevost
Great Speakers
 Safe Routes to School: a Testimonial – Mr. James Fowler & Ms. Teresa
Wendell, Kiser PreK-8
 Legal framework for cycling and safe routes – Mr. Steve Magus, Esq.
 Transporation Alternatives funding at MVRPC – Mr. Matthew Lindsay
 Effective PTO involvement - Kate Moening, Tina Muldoon & Tim Casto
Round Table in the Afternoon – we fit it in after all

6. What will the MVRPC Safe Routes Program look like?
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• Will not be reserving a portion of TAP funds for Safe Routes
projects
• Safe Routes projects will apply for MVRPC funding under the
TAP program and will compete against all other TAP-eligible
applications
• Applicants must be member jurisdictions
• School Districts will need to partner with a member
municipality or county
• All MVRPC projects require a minimum 20% match (80-20)

7. What will the MVRPC Safe Routes Program look like?
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• MVRPC will likely encourage applicants to apply for
infrastructure projects
• Non-infrastructure projects are eligible, but less likely to score well in the
project evaluation system
• Planning projects are eligible, but less likely to score well in the project
evaluation system
• Looking for opportunities to award certain points for SRTS
projects
• Non-motorized infrastructure projects within 2 miles of a school
• Projects consistent with an approved SRTS School Travel Plan
• Others…?
• MVRPC can assist with School Travel Plan development
 Planning facilitation
 GIS resources and Mapping services
 Walking audits and biking audits
 Regional trainings, forum and other collaborative efforts

8. How does this mesh with ODOT’s Safe Routes
Program?
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• Applying to MVRPC for TAP funding does not preclude also applying to
ODOT SRTS program.
• MVRPC will likely be able to inform TAP applicants that are not going to
get funded by January each year – in time to submit an application to
ODOT.
• Will require filling out ODOT’s application form (not the same as
MVRPC form)
• Multi-phase projects could be broken up to receive some funding from
each agency.
• School Travel Plans: MVRPC will not be getting in the business of
reviewing and approving School Travel Plans. That role will remain at
ODOT.

9. Thank You!
Kjirsten Frank, kfrank@mvrpc.org, 937‐531‐6524