California's Active Transportation Program: Coalition Building to Boost Funding Learn how the ad-hoc Coalition for Active Transportation Leadership won a 35% boost in active transportation funding in California. Coalition members from California Walks, the Safe Routes to School National Partnership and the California Bicycle Coalition will highlight how member organizations came together, underscore keys to the successful campaign, and share lessons learned for other states looking to follow California's lead. Presenters: Presenter: Tony Dang California Walks Co-Presenter: Dave Snyder California Bicycle Coalition Co-Presenter: Jeanie Ward-Waller Safe Routes to School National Partnership

1. Safe Routes to School Perspective
Jeanie Ward-Waller
CA Advocacy Organizer
September 11, 2014
Karen Higgins/UC Davis

2. About the National Partnership We are a nonprofit organization and network of partners nationwide that advance safe walking and bicycling to and from schools, and in daily life, to improve the health and well-being of America's children and to foster the creation of livable, sustainable communities.

3. Why maintain SRTS funding?
1. Children more at risk on CA roads
fatality/serious injury rate = 27% vs 23%
ages 5-15
all ages
2. Prevent childhood obesity and chronic disease
Severe public health risks associated with early inactivity – important build healthy lifestyles at early age
3. Unique community support of school-based projects

4. Consolidation of Programs
1.Loss of dedicated funding for SRTS
2.Loss of identity of Safe Routes to School Program
3.Loss of institutional architecture of the SRTS/SR2S programs and Technical Assistance Resource Center (TARC)

5. Funding for SRTS
2011 & 2012
ATP
SR2S (State)
SRTS (Federal)
SRTS-only
$21M
$24M
$24M
(min)

6. Project eligibilities
•Continue eligibilities from old SRTS programs
•Maintain non-infrastructure eligibility (concern about competitiveness against infrastructure projects)
•Include planning for under-resourced communities

7. Disadvantaged Communities (DACs)
Priority for neediest communities to address: …higher walk/bike to school mode share …higher safety risk than statewide average SRTS/SR2S used priority scoring criteria
•“Low-income schools” = 75% of school students eligible for free/reduced price meals
•Up to 10% of program funds could fund “safe routes to bus stops” for rural access
In LA County… 39% of students walk/bike/transit to school vs 31% statewide 38% of fatalities and serious injuries are on foot/bike vs 23% statewide

8. Guidelines
•Require strong public participation especially: …by disadvantaged residents for DAC projects …by school community for school projects
•Eligibility for public health departments & school districts
•Exemption from local matching fund requirements for SRTS projects and disadvantaged communities
•Involvement of multidisciplinary committee in development of program and application review
•Standards for data collection, reporting, transparency

9. Cycle 1 Result
Statewide & Small Urban/Rural projects awarded Aug 2014 $221M (60% of total ATP) $119M = 94 projects all/partially fund SRTS $23M = 53 projects include SRTS non-infrastructure program components $189M = 110 projects provide a “benefit” to disadvantaged communities $221M + $206M in matching funds = $426M total for walking and bicycling projects statewide

10. Working in a Coalition
Advantages
•Internal coordination allowed for united asks, collective representation of individual interests
•Could shift workload and leadership to prevent burnout
•Combined networks to leverage tremendous public support Challenges
•Delineating collective “bottom-line” asks
•Hanging together despite external attempts to divide us
•Maintaining momentum over the long haul

11. •Continuing to grow the overall ATP pie
•Improving the effectiveness of the program for future cycles
•Ensuring ATP Cycle I funds are effectively implemented
•Improving outreach to disadvantaged communities
•Innovative approaches to leveraging ATP funds to achieve more with current funds
•Collaborating on other grant programs – new sustainable communities and transit programs through Cap-and-Trade
What’s next for our coalition?

12. Thanks!
Jeanie Ward-Waller
California Advocacy Organizer
jeanie@saferoutespartnership.org
503-313-6400
Safe Routes to School National Partnership
www.saferoutescalifornia.org
www.saferoutespartnership.org
Questions?