HomeMy WebLinkAbout[04i] Safe Routes to School Technical Assistance Grant
Council Agenda Item 4i
MEETING DATE: January 21, 2020
AGENDA ITEM: Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Technical Assistance Grant
SUBMITTED BY: Community Development
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Authorize the SRTS Grant Application
PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION:
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The SRTS program is administered through the MN Department
of Transportation (MnDOT) through federal funding. Safe Routes to School Demonstration Project
Technical Assistance will support communities with existing Safe Routes to School (SRTS) plans, or
other comprehensive SRTS approaches, in undertaking the process to plan, design and implement a SRTS
demonstration project in their community. Selected communities will participate in a professional
facilitated workshop to explore safety issues and collaboratively develop solutions at a location identified
in their SRTS plan or other planning document. Examples of demonstration projects are bicycle lanes,
crosswalk markings, curb extensions, and median safety islands. The City’s Comprehensive Plan
identifies walkability as a goal and incorporates the city’s trail and sidewalk plan into the Comprehensive
Plan. Additionally, in 2019 School District 742 completed a SRTS Plan identifying the intersection at
Kennedy Community School as a barrier to walking and biking to school. As such, the proposed study
and demonstration project area is at the intersection of Kennedy Community School at CR 121 and Jade
Road. City staff is confirming if there could be two demonstration project areas and therefore, a second
area would be at the intersection of All Saints Academy at MN St. and College Av.
Stearns County Public Health has offered to submit the grant application, which is due on February 14,
2020. Selected communities are expected to begin work in March 2020 and complete work by June 2020
or starting in August and completing work in November.
BUDGET/FISCAL IMPACT: None
ATTACHMENTS: Images of example demonstration projects
REQUESTED COUNCIL ACTION: Authorize Stearns County Public Health to submit a Safe Routes
to School Demonstration Project Technical Assistance grant application on behalf of the City of St.
Joseph.
Curb extension demonstration projects
Example of a median safety island (pedestrian refuge island)