Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

TO:	David L. Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Jonathan Douglass, Management Analyst
DATE:	April 16, 2007
RE:	Safe Routes to School Grant Program

Please place this item on the consent agenda for the April 24, 2007, City Commission meeting.

The City of Lawrence is preparing to apply for a Phase I grant from the Kansas Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) program. The grant would provide funds to prepare a SRTS Plan. If the City is successful in obtaining this grant and creating a SRTS Plan, we will be eligible to apply for a Phase II grant in the future which could pay implementation of the plan, including infrastructure improvements and safety programs in the schools. We are requesting $14,200 and there is no local match requirement.

The application is for funds to create a plan addressing pedestrian and bicyclist safety at New York Elementary School and Langston Hughes Elementary School. The primary products of the plan will address the “5 E’s” of SRTS and include:

§ A prioritized list of needed engineering improvements (sidewalks, crosswalks, traffic signals, etc.). This list will assist the City in making capital improvement funding decisions.

§ A public education and encouragement program tailored to address the specific behaviors and problems identified by the Coalition’s data gathering efforts. The program will not only educate but encourage children and parents to make healthy and safe choices. The primary target populations will be students and parents. Secondary target populations will include drivers near the schools and public officials who have the power to implement the infrastructure and educational components of the SRTS Plan.

§ Evaluation will produce reliable before-and-after data regarding issues related to walking and bicycling to school.

§ Traffic data along with input from interested parties will specifically identify when, where and what types of greater enforcement are needed.

Action Requested

Authorize the Mayor to sign a Resolution of Support and Administration for the Lawrence Safe Routes to Schools Phase I Application.