Every year the James L. Oberstar Safe Routes to School Award recognizes Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs for outstanding achievement in improving the health and well-being of an entire generation of school children. The National Center for Safe Routes to School is looking for an exceptional SRTS program that has significantly improved the safety, accessibility, and frequency of elementary and middle school-aged students bicycling and waking to school to receive this award.
Know of an eligible school in your area? Wish to apply for the award? Applications can be submitted by individuals or organizations such as schools, local SRTS programs, community organizations, local governmental departments, state SRTS coordinators, SRTS advocates, state Departments of Transportation, Governor’s Highway Safety Offices, FHWA Division representatives, and NHTSA Regional Offices. The application deadline is Wednesday, August 4.
Click here for more information on eligibility and application requirements.
The following is further description of the James L. Oberstar award published by the National Center for Safe Routes to Schools:
About the James L. Oberstar Safe Routes to School Award
The Safe Routes to School Award is named for Congressman James L. Oberstar, current Chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, in order to honor his dedication to America’s school children. During Chairman Oberstar’s 35 years as a member of Congress, he has shaped the nation’s surface transportation policies to support and encourage walking and bicycling as important alternatives to motorized transportation. As a champion of the SRTS program, Chairman Oberstar built bipartisan support to secure its inclusion in the 2005 Federal transportation bill named Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). SAFETEA-LU included $612 million over five years for SRTS programs in the 50 States and the District of Columbia. These federal funds are administered by each state’s Department of Transportation.
Each year, the James L. Oberstar Safe Routes to School Award recognizes a particular type of accomplishment. In 2009, Ben W. Murch Elementary School (Washington, D.C.) received the award in recognition for excellence in building community support and infrastructure for safe walking and bicycling to school. In 2008, Bear Creek Elementary School (Boulder, Colo.) was recognized for outstanding achievement in increasing the number of students who safely walked or bicycled to school during the entire school year. Both winners were able to achieve their successes as part of a SRTS program that benefited from federal SRTS funding. The Michigan Department of Transportation received the 2007 award in recognition of outstanding achievement in establishing a state SRTS program.
