VT Safe Routes to School Year One Review

1

Vermont Safe Routes to SchoolResource Center Year One Review

The VT SRTS Resource Center, created by VTrans in the spring of 2011, offers one-on-one support to school communities interested in encouraging walking and biking through Safe Routes to School.

The Resource Center is a one-stop shop for schools to find out about SRTS, get practical advice and information on training and funding opportunities, and learn about available resources in their region to help make walking and biking popular and practical choices for students and families traveling to and from school.

2

In 2011-2012, the VT SRTS Resource Center helped schools get 11,593 students involved in Safe Routes to

School across Vermont.

Launched Facebook Page 84 Followers

Launched Newsletter400 Recipients

Relaunched Website and Partner CD100 Resources

Travel Plan Assistance Offered7 Schools Produce Travel Plans

2 WalkSmart/BikeSmart Trainings

National Bike to School Day34 Schools Celebrate VT

WRTSD Carbon Cup

Logo ContestOver 50 entries

submitted

Launched Resource Center50 Partners and 43 Friends

May 2011

June2011

July2011

August2011

September2011

January 2012

March2012

May2012

October 2011

International Walk to School Day41 Schools Participate, more than

double the number in 2010

Progress

3

50 Partners Across Vermont

Rutland

Windham

Lamoil

le

Addison

Windsor

Caledonia

Orange

Washington

Franklin

Orlea

ns

Essex

Gran

d Isle

BenningtonChittende n

Friends of the Resource Center assist schools with planning, events, low cost incentive items, enforcement activities, or just helping to spread the word about Safe Routes to School.

4

The Vermont Safe Routes to School Partnership Program, launched in August of 2011, was designed to guide schools through the activities required to create a meaningful and sustainable Safe Routes to School program. All Program Partners begin at the Basic level and progress through to Bronze, Silver, Gold, and Platinum levels depending on their completed SRTS activities.

Each partnership level is designed to include elements of the SRTS non-infrastructure “E’s”: Encouragement, Enforcement, Evaluation, and Education. Depending on interest, schools can choose to maintain or increase their partnership level through the school year. Assistance and incentive items are provided to schools based on their commitment and the level attained.

VT SRTS Resource CenterPartnership Program

26 BasicPartners

7 BronzePartners

15 SilverPartners

2 GoldPartners

In year one, nearly one

in five Vermont schools

partnered with the VT

SRTS Resource Center.

5

In their first year of Safe Routes to School participation, Burke Town School of West Burke, VT has rocketed to the top of its class by getting the school community fired-up and involved with one Safe Routes to School event after another.

Burke Town School kicked things off by celebrating International Walk to School Day in October and Vermont Walk and Roll to School Day in May. During these wildly successful group commutes, students biked 1½ miles and walked ½ mile in style with their mascot. Teachers and staff led walking school buses and bicycle trains to a healthy breakfast at school.

The school partnered with the conservation non-profit organization Kingdom Trails to connect their community with the existing Northeast Kingdom trail network, and plans are in place to present designs to the town this summer.

Burke Town School also participated this June in the Kingdom Sense of Place Workshops – mountain biking classes for 2nd through 8th graders.

The SRTS team is currently working with Local Motion to plan a three-day WalkSmart-BikeSmart Curriculum Training, making sure kids have the skills they need to stay safe while walking and biking to school.

These activities would not have been possible without a SRTS team that includes staff members and town officials eager to push the envelope and make their school community a haven for safe walking and biking. The dedicated team collected student tallies in both fall and spring to get a feel for the current experience of students walking and rolling to school. They drove participation with flyers, school announcements, incentive items, and school assemblies to make sure everyone knew about all the exciting SRTS events on the calendar. Presentations to the PTO keep the broader community talking about the goals and needs of the school’s SRTS program.

Burke Town School:Rookie of the Year

6

PartnersAlbert D. Lawton Intermediate School

Allen Brook SchoolBenson Village School

Bradford Elementary SchoolBrowns River Middle School

Burke Town SchoolC. P. Smith School

Central Elementary SchoolChamberlin SchoolChamplain School

Edmunds Elementary SchoolDothan Brook School

Fayston Elementary SchoolFerrisburgh Elementary School

Folsom Educational and Community CenterFrederick H. Tuttle Middle School

Green Street SchoolHiawatha Elementary School

Isle La Motte Elementary SchoolJay/Westfield School

Jericho Elementary SchoolLincoln Community School

Malletts Bay SchoolMary Hogan School

Middletown Springs Elementary School

Milton Junior/Middle SchoolMonument Elementary SchoolMoretown Elementary School

Newton SchoolNortheast Primary School

Orchard SchoolOttauquechee School

Rutland Intermediate SchoolSaxtons River Elementary School

Sharon Elementary SchoolShelburne Community School

Summit Street SchoolThatcher Brook Primary School

Thetford Elementary SchoolThomas Fleming School

Troy SchoolUnderhill ID Elementary School

Union Elementary SchoolWaitsfield Elementary School

Warren SchoolWeathersfield SchoolWest Rutland School

Westford Elementary SchoolWindsor State Street School

Woodstock Elementary School

7

FriendsAARP Vermont

Addison County Regional CommissionAmerican Heart Association – Northeast Affiliate

Bennington DOH District OfficeBennington Police Department

Bennington County Regional CommissionBlue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont

Burlington Department of Health District OfficeCentral Vermont Regional Commission

Center for Health and LearningChittenden County Regional Planning Commision

Community ConnectionsEssex CHIPS

Fit and Healthy EnosburgFit and Healthy Swanton

Fuel Up to Play 60Governor’s Highway Safety Program

Greater Burlington YMCAGreen Mountain United Way

Health Connections of the Upper ValleyLamoille County Regional Commission

Local Motion

Middlebury Energy CommitteeMilton Youth Coalition

Newport DOH District OfficeNortheastern Vermont Development Association

Northwest Regional Planning CommissionOttauquechee Community Partnership

Rutland Regional Planning CommissionRutland Recreation and Parks Department

Safe Kids VermontShelburne Parks and Recreation Department

Southern Windsor County Regional Planning CommisionSustainable Woodstock

St. Albans Department of Health District OfficeSwanton Police Department

Two Rivers-Ottauquechee Regional CommissionVermont Department of Education

Vermont Department of Health, Fit and Healthy VermontersVermont Association for Health, Physical Education,

Recreation and DanceVT Bicycle & Pedestrian Coalition

Way to Go! VermontWindham Regional Commission

8

In the CommunityBike Safety

FairsLogo Design

Contest

VT Walk and Roll

to School Day WalkSmartBikeSmartTrainings

Way to Go! Week

Carbon Cup

Travel Plan

Assistance

Bike Safety FairsFourteen schools held bike safety fairs to teach skills such as stopping, balancing, signaling, and turning as well as how to conduct bike and helmet safety inspections. The Resource Center provided educational and promotional materials, as well as assistance organizing and running these fairs. Schools included: Ferrisburgh Elementary, Windsor State Street, Summit Street, Frederick H. Tuttle Midde, Central Elementary, Mary Hogan, Bradford Elementary, West Rutland, Moretown Elementary, Fayston Elementary, Warren Elementary, Isle La Motte Elementary, Union Elementary, and Thatcher Brook Primary.

Logo Design ContestIn January, VT SRTS asked students to show off their artistic talents and design a new official logo for the program. Over 50 designs in three age categories were submitted. Emma at the Green Street School created the winning design which was adapted into the official logo and unveiled at Vermont Walk and Roll to School Day. Congratulations to Emma and the other winners in their age groups!

Way to Go! Week Carbon Cup ChallengeThe VT SRTS Resource Center partnered with Way to Go! to create a school division for the annual Carbon Cup Commuter Challenge from May 14-18. Schools competed to maximize the number of students who walk, bike, skateboard, bus, and carpool to school each day. Moretown Elementary walked away with this year’s Carbon Cup by increasing clean commuting that week by 20.5% for a total of 78% of the student body traveling to school by a ‘clean’ mode.

1st Annual VT Walk and Roll to School DayOn May 2nd, over 30 schools took part in the very first VT Walk and Roll to School Day! Schools used this event to kick-off spring activities, promote the benefits of active transportation, organize “Walk and Roll to School” events, distribute safety items, and celebrate the arrival of students to school. VT Walk and Roll to School Day built on October’s record-breaking International Walk to School Day.

WalkSmart/BikeSmart Curriculum TrainingsIn April and May, the VT SRTS Resource Center partnered with the Vermont Center for Health and Learning to provide free curriculum trainings. Held in Rutland and Burlington, the half-day courses provided training on how to teach children safe biking and walking skills. Over 20 school and community members took part and are now using the material in their own classrooms.

Travel Plan AssistanceSeven schools in six counties have completed School Travel Plans this year. The VT SRTS Resource Center helped schools to organize Travel Plan teams, facilitated four meetings at each school, and provided technical assistance in creating the plans. Each Travel Plan outlines strategies covering the 5 SRTS E’s and implementation schedules to guide the team. These plans were particularly valuable to schools just starting SRTS programs. Schools that completed a travel plan in 2011-2012 are: Fayston Elementary, Ferrisburgh Elementary, Folsom Educational and Community Center, Isle la Motte Elementary, Thetford Elementary, West Rutland School, and Woodstock Elementary.

9

Raising the Profile of VT SRTS

Having difficulty viewing this email? Click here for the web version.

Vermont Walk and Roll to School Day Highlights

Vermont Secretary of Transportation, Brian Searles, joins Hiawatha’s Walking School Bus with his family.

Hiawatha Elementary School, Essex Junction VT

Montpelier Mayor John Hollar celebrates with students. Union Elementary School, Montpelier, VT

65% of Folsom’s students walked and rolled to School on May 2.Folsom School, South Hero, VT

VT SRTS Logo Contest winner, Emma, and runner-up Mycroft unveiled the new logo during their celebration.Green Street School, Brattleboro, VT

May, 2012

Vermont SRTS Resource Center News Dear Safe Routes to School Partners and Friends, We were thrilled to be able to celebrate the inaugural Vermont Walk and Roll to School day with over 30 schools across Vermont! Thank you for sharing your photos and stories! Next week we will be celebrating Vermont’s Way to Go Commuter Challenge Week! Schools are encouraged to maximize the number of students who walk, bike, skateboard, bus, and carpool to school during one or more days of the week (May 14-18). Schools will compete for the honor of achieving the Vermont School Carbon Cup award. Many of you have already completed your student tallies. To enter this competition simply track the number of clean commuters on the day of your celebration and we will compare the results. The school with the largest percentage increase in clean commuters will win the 2012 School Carbon Cup Award! Sign-up here!

Vermont Bike Challenge May 1 - August 31 Encourage biking through August by participating in the Vermont Bike Challenge! Log your bike trips and compete against your friends, community, other schools, and other states. Make a team and compete with other classrooms in your own school! Sign-up today and you'll be entered to win great prizes. Visit http://www.localmotion.org/education/bikechallenge for more information and to sign-up! SRTS School Newsletter Blurb

Consider designating a section in your school's newsletter for fun facts, tips, and information about Safe Routes to School! Why Walk to School? It’s easy! Did you know it only takes about 19 minutes to walk 1 mile? Try walking to school or one of your other destinations. You might be surprised how quickly you get there.

SRTS Webinar

Social Media

John Hollar, Mayor of

Montpelier

VT Secretary of Transportation Brian Searles

CommunityVolunteers

Monthly Newsletters

Social MediaIn 2011, the Resource Center revamped the VT SRTS website and created a Facebook profile. Content on the new website is frequently updated and includes downloadable resources. The website has received over 800 visits during the past six months. Eighty-four people and organizations follow the VT SRTS Facebook page, which relays announcements, hosts pictures and success stories, and shares event information.

Monthly NewsletterEach month the VT SRTS Resource Center sends out an e-newsletter to over 400 subscribers. The e-newsletters highlight the accomplishments of Partners and Friends across Vermont, upcoming events, SRTS programming and safety tips, and grant opportunities. Buzz following newsletters’ arrival indicates their success connecting participants, building momentum, and exchanging ideas in the VT SRTS community.

Local LeadersDuring this year’s premiere of Vermont Walk and Roll to School Day, a number of participating schools were joined by State and local officials to show support for their communities. Highlights included VT Secretary of Transportation Brian Searles leading a walking school bus to Hiawatha Elementary School; Mayor John Hollar of Montpelier helped lead a school-wide pep ralley at Union Elementary School; the Superintendent of Windsor School District walking alongside families at State Street School; and, members of the Brattleboro Town Selectboard welcoming Green Street students and issuing a Town Proclamation that May 2, 2012, be dubbed Vermont Walk and Roll to School Day!

Friends in the CommunityOver the past year, 43 organizations, representing each county in Vermont have pledged their support for VT SRTS and offered their time as event volunteers or sponsors. From local police departments to public health interests, regional planning groups, bike and pedestrian advocacy groups, and private businesses, the VT SRTS partner organizations provide the local support that fuels SRTS programs and fosters culture change to make walking and biking a popular and convenient way to get to school.

VT SRTS Task ForceThe VT SRTS Task Force provides guidance and expertise to the program. This past year, the group convened four times - in July 2011, August 2011, November 2011, and March 2012. Organizations represented on the Task Force include: The American Heart Association, VT Bicycle and Pedestrian Coalition, Chittenden County Regional Planning Commission, The Vermont Department of Community Affairs, The Vermont Department of Education, The Federal Highway Administration, The Governor’s Office of Highway Safety, The Vermont Department of Health, Rutland Regional Planning Commission, Hinesburg Elementary, and C.P. Smith Elementary School.

10

Partner ResourcesAs part of its mission to provide assistance to schools across the state, the VT SRTS Resource Center continuously designs and distributes a variety of brochures, awards, educational items, and incentives to its friends and partners.

TripTallyPunchcards

Educational Bookmarks

PartnershipDecals

To become a Partner or for questions about the Resource Center, contact:

Abby MatteraState Outreach ManagerVT Safe Routes to School Resource [email protected]

For questions about the VTrans SRTS program, contact:

Patti CoburnSafe Routes to School CoordinatorLocal Transportation Facilities SectionVT Agency of [email protected]

Visit these sites to learn more about the national Safe Routes to School movement

National Center for Safe Routes to Schoolwww.saferoutesinfo.org

Safe Routes to School National Partnershipwww.saferoutesPartnership.org

Visit www.saferoutesvt.org

Join us on Facebook

Vermont Safe Routes to School

Resource CenterVTrans has launched a Safe Routes to School Resource Center. This goal of the Resource Center is to make it easier than ever to participate in Safe Routes to School.

Safe Routes to School is a federally supported program to encourage walking and biking to school: regularly, routinely, and safely. SRTS integrates elements of transportation, economics, health and physical activity, environmental awareness and safety into one program.

A successful Safe Routes to School (SRTS)

and the community, among them:• Students who walk and bike to school tend

to arrive ready to learn and be healthier overall

• loohcs ot gnivird selcihev etavirp reweFreduces automobile congestion and improves air-quality surrounding schools

• SRTS education gives children an early start

them to become responsible pedestrians, bikers, and motorists throughout their lives

An effective SRTS program takes more than simply providing a sidewalk or encouraging kids to walk or bike, it takes a comprehensive approach involving the “5 Es”:

• Education• Encouragement• Engineering• Enforcement• Evaluation

About Safe Routes to School InformationalBrochures

Participation Certificates and Awards

What People are Saying“Our most basic goal here at Woodstock Elementary School is to have more children walk or ride their bikes to school. We reached out to the VT SRTS Resource Center to assist us in achieving our goals, and I am so pleased that we did ... The Center has given us technical assistance with engineering strategies to make our routes to school safer. The Center has also encouraged us to focus on educational activities for our students as well as to reach out to our community resources for enforcement activities. [It] has helped us develop a plan that will guide our activities over the next few years. Having a solid plan that includes research based actions is essential to achieving our goals.”

Karen White, PrincipalWoodstock Elementary School

“SRTS has helped us to understand that cultural change is vital to the outcome of many physical changes

to our environment. The Resource Center has been there every

step of the way and helped us to create an amazing

travel plan to encompass the many changes

needed to improve the safety and health of

our community. We are full of hope and feel

confident that we are on the right path to make

changes that will positively affect our community and its members. Thank you

SRTS.”

Anne Cohn, RN, School NurseFerrisburgh Central School

“Over 400 students from four Essex Junction schools...filled out a paper shoe with

reasons why they like to walk or bike to school that were hung along the schools’ hallways. Mr. Guilmette’s

5th grade class at Thomas Fleming School was awarded the Golden Shoe Award for having the highest percentage (91%) of students of any class in the school to participate in the

event.”

Gabrielle Smith, CCSU Prevention and Wellness Coordinator

11

Walk to School Event Kits

Participation Certificates and Awards

The new federal transportation bill, MAP-21, will likely bring funding changes to SRTS in the future. During the 2012-2013 school year, the Vermont Safe Routes to School Resource Center is funded at current levels.

Looking Ahead

Next year the Resource Center will:• Train teachers on the WalkSmart/BikeSmart Curriculum • Host an Annual Meeting in Spring 2013• Launch a Crossing Guard Training and Safety Campaign• Hold a SRTS Poster Contest for students• Provide Travel Plan Assistance to up to 10 schools• Promote International and VT Walk to School Days

1. Help partners grow and sustain their

programs

2. Raise the profile of Safe Routes to

School in Vermont

3. Develop more leaders in the community

Goals

•BroughttoyoubyVTrans •www.saferoutesvt.org •Likeusatfacebook.com/saferoutesvt

Vermont SRTS Resource Centerwww.saferoutesvt.org802.598.8651

Questions?We are here to help!

Set Up a Park and Walk SitePark and walk sites are off-campus places, like parks, libraries, churches, or grocery store parking lots with enough space for kids and adults to congregate and for cars and busses to park or drop-off. These lets kids who can't walk or bike from home participate. Park and walk sites also help reduce traffic congestion near the school, providing better conditions for walkers and bikers.

• Pick a site. Consider kids’ abilities and how much time you have. Be sure to get approval from whoever owns or manages the site.

• Map out a safe route and walk it. This will give you a better sense of timing and where kids may need assistance.

• Recruit volunteers to serve as chaperones and help kids across intersections. Engage local officials and law enforcement.

• Provide pedestrian safety tips before and during the walk. • Let parents know where to go and the route kids will take. • If the park and walk is successful, consider making it

permanent!

Organize a Walk at School or Neighborhood Walk-AboutOrganized walks on school grounds or through nearby neighborhoods are great ways to include kids who can’t walk or bike from home. They can happen before, during, or after school... and even on weekends!

• Map out a safe route and walk it.• Recruit volunteers. Engage local officials and law

enforcement.• Provide pedestrian safety tips before and during the walk. • Let parents know what it is happening. Permission slips

may be required for neighborhood walk-abouts. • Consider coordinating with other school or neighborhood

events, such as mandatory emergency evacuation drills.

Include StudentsWhen It’s Too Far or Unsafe

TIP

SHEE

T

Here are some ways to include students who can’t walk or bike from home because of distance, safety concerns, or a disability

Adapted from the Georgia SRTS Resource Center

Hold a Safety AssemblyAssemblies are great ways to educate students about pedestrian safety, personal safety, helmet use, bicycle readiness, and more. Potential speakers include law enforcement, safety advocates, bike/ped advocates, and even students! Consider including an assembly as part of a Safety Week!

Involve a Special Education Professional Special education professionals can help you plan an event that includes children with disabilities. For more information, visit www.saferoutesinfo.org.

Burke Town School participates in the Safe Routes to School program by utilizing remote bus drop-off sites and staff-led walking school buses

Safety Tip Sheets

12

A Program of the Vermont Agency of Transportation

www.saferoutes.vermont.govAbby MatteraState Outreach ManagerVT SRTS Resource [email protected]

Patti Coburn, P.E.Safe Routes to School CoordinatorVermont Agency of [email protected]/saferoutesvt

Thank you to our many Partners and Friends who shared with us their SRTS experiences and success through photos and stories.