OAR 737-025-0011: Safe Routes to School Program Purpose

The Oregon Safe Routes to School Program consists of two parts: construction and education. Both programs focus on efforts that improve safety conditions for children to walk or bicycle to school. These programs are intended to address safety risks, such as any one of the components of a Priority Safety Corridor, and other safety needs considering the unique perspectives and behavior of children who walk or bicycle. A comprehensive Safe Routes to School program is inclusive of both education and construction elements. (1) Grant programs for Education projects are described in OAR 737-025-0012 through OAR 737-025-0080. (a) Education efforts include outreach, encouragement, training, evaluation, enforcement, and education services that identify and reduce barriers and hazards to children walking or bicycling to and from school. (b) Funding for the education projects may be provided by the Oregon Transportation Commission or, through other funding within the Safe Routes to School Fund (ORS 184.740) not subject to restrictions in Article IX, Section 3a of the Oregon Constitution. (2) Grant programs for Construction projects are described in OAR 737-025-0012, 737-025-0020 and 737-025-0090 through 737-028-0094. (a) Construction is the engineering element of Safe Routes to School. Efforts include the development, construction, reconstruction, repair, maintenance, or operational improvements of bikeways and walkways that reduce barriers and hazards to children walking or bicycling to and from school. (b) Funding for construction projects that comes from money directed into the Safe Routes to School Fund (ORS 184.740) by Oregon Laws 2017, chapter 750, section 71a, must be used in accordance with the Oregon Constitution, Article IX, Section 3a, and projects must be built within the public road right of way. Other funding may be provided by the OTC, donations, or other sources and may have different funding restrictions.