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County Administrator's Report 13. 18.
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| BCC Regular Meeting |
Budget & Finance Consent |
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| RECOMMENDATION: |
Recommendation Concerning the Safe Routes to School Grant Applications Submission - Joy Jones, P.E., Public Works Department Director
That the Board take the following action concerning the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Grant Applications for 2018:
A. Authorize the County Administrator, or designee, to submit the following Safe Routes To School (SRTS) Grant Applications:
1. Longleaf Elementary School, Pine Forest High School, and West Florida High School - Sidewalks on Wymart Road from Hollyhill Road to Longleaf Drive - Commission District 1;
2. Warrington Elementary School - Sidewalks on Manchester Street from Druid Drive to Barrancas Avenue (State Road [SR] 292), and sidewalks on Park Drive from Manchester Street to Manchester Street - Commission District 2;
3. Ensley Elementary School - Sidewalks on East Johnson Avenue from the school to Cody Lane - Commission District 3;
4. C. A. Weis Elementary School - Sidewalks and crosswalks on Cross Street from "W" Street (County Road [CR] 453) to the school, and from Pace Boulevard (SR 292) to the school - Commission District 3;
5. Holm Elementary School and Workman Middle School - Sidewalks along Burgess Road (CR 742) from Sanders Street to Lanier Drive - Commission District 4; and
6. Ransom Middle School and Kingsfield Elementary School - Sidewalks along West Kingsfield Road from the school entrance to Highway 97(CR 97) - Commission District 5; and
B. Authorize the County Administrator, or designee, to sign all related documents without further action of the Board, and upon Legal review, if necessary.
[No funding is required for the project applications; however, the local agency will be required to maintain the improvements, if constructed. Requested grant funds are initially for design, and/or construction, depending on the awarded amount] |
| BACKGROUND: |
The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) concept was created to increase the number of children who walk or bicycle to school by funding projects that remove the barriers preventing them from doing so. Those barriers include lack of infrastructure, unsafe infrastructure and a lack of programs that promote walking and bicycling. Through education/encouragement programs aimed at children, parents, and the community, these barriers can be eliminated. Walking or biking to school gives children a sense of independence and responsibility, allows them to enjoy the fresh air, and provides opportunities for them to get to know their neighborhoods, exercise and arrive at school alert, refreshed and ready to start their day. Communities and community-based organizations are devoting increased attention to pedestrian and bicycle safety issues in an effort to improve the conditions for walking or biking to school.
Florida’s SRTS program can help communities address their school transportation needs and encourage more students to walk or cycle to school. It strives to: enable and encourage children from Kindergarten through high school, including those with disabilities, to walk and bike to school, to make walking and biking to school safer and more appealing, and to facilitate the planning, development, and implementation of projects that will improve safety, reduce traffic and fuel consumption, and improve air quality in the vicinity of schools. In addition to encouraging more children to walk or cycle to school, the program also seeks to address the safety needs of children already walking or biking in less than ideal conditions.
A successful program integrates safety, traffic relief, health, environmental awareness, physical activity, and fitness. The program employs safe routes and techniques used to encourage children to walk or cycle to and from school.
Below is a list of the SRTS project requests agreed upon by the Escambia Pathways Coalition (EPC) to submit for funding consideration:
1. Longleaf Elementary School, Pine Forest High School, and West Florida High School - Sidewalks on Wymart Road from Hollyhill Road to Longleaf Drive - Commission District 1
2. Warrington Elementary School - Sidewalks on Manchester Street from Druid Drive to Barrancas Avenue (State Road [SR] 292), and sidewalks on Park Drive from Manchester Street to Manchester Street - Commission District 2
3. Ensley Elementary School - Sidewalks on E. Johnson Avenue from the school to Cody Lane - Commission District 3
4. C. A. Weis Elementary School - Sidewalks and crosswalks on Cross Street from 'W' Street (County Road [CR] 453) to the school, and from Pace Boulevard (SR 292) to the school - Commission District 3
5. Holm Elementary School and Workman Middle School - Sidewalks along Burgess Road (CR 742) from Sanders Street to Lanier Drive - Commission District 4
6. Ransom Middle School and Kingsfield Elementary School - Sidewalks along W. Kingsfield Road from the school entrance to Highway 97(CR 97) - Commission District 5
The above grant applications are currently being generated, and staff fully expects to have them complete and submitted prior to the December 31, 2018 deadline. |
| BUDGETARY IMPACT: |
| No funding is required for the project applications; however, the local agency will be required to maintain the improvements, if constructed. Requested grant funds are for design, initially, and/or construction, depending on the awarded amount. |
| LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS/SIGN-OFF: |
| Upon completion of the applications, Kristin Hual, Senior Assistant County Attorney, will review and sign prior to submittal. |
| PERSONNEL: |
| N/A |
| POLICY/REQUIREMENT FOR BOARD ACTION: |
| N/A |
| IMPLEMENTATION/COORDINATION: |
| Upon approval of the grant applications, Public Works staff will coordinate with School District staff on the submissions to FDOT. |
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