As the parent of two Richmond Public Schools students, I am extremely concerned about the proposed changes to the Virginia Safe Routes to School program in the Transportation Alternative Program Guide. The plan for no new FY29-30 funding, and to make existing programs ineligible funding after the FY27-28 cycle will lead to the destruction of the few remaining VA Safe Routes to School programs in the state. 

Students across the country, state, and Richmond deserve to be able to travel safely and independently. Our youth deserve the type of advocacy that Safe Routes does to improve our city's infrastructure and community transportation safety education, so that as they grow into adulthood, they aren't forced to bear the burden of car ownership and dependency on fossil fuel consumption. The students of Richmond, and beyond, deserve to have cleaner air, resulting from fewer vehicle emissions in proximity to their schools and across their city. We know that active transportation is beneficial for both physical and mental health, especially when routes for active transportation aren't life-threatening.

Safe Routes to School programs are integral in improving public health outcomes and support climate resilience. Conversely, the leading cause of death in children has been, and continues to be from injuries sustained as a passenger in a car. Recent research supports the concern that commuting by private vehicle has negative mental health impacts, like depression and anxiety. According to the EPA: 

The main human activity that emits CO2 is the combustion of fossil fuels (coal, natural gas, and oil) for energy and transportation… The largest sources of transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions include passenger cars, medium- and heavy-duty trucks, and light-duty trucks, including sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and minivans. These sources account for over half of the emissions from the transportation sector. The remaining greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector come from other modes of transportation, including commercial aircraft, ships, boats, and trains, as well as pipelines and lubricants. Indirect emissions from electricity are less than 1 percent of direct emissions.

Neither of my children are able to commute to their schools without having to navigate at least one road on our city's High Injury Network. In 2017, Richmond, VA made a commitment to Vision Zero, working towards zero deaths on our city's streets by 2030. Our local Safe Routes program is an integral part of considering the part that children play in road safety in Richmond. Frustratingly, the City of Richmond is not adequately compensated by the loss of revenue from state controlled real estate within our limits, with more than 20% of Richmond's real estate being tax exempt. Each year city hall is forced to make sacrifices in the budget, and funding for a Safe Routes to School program in the city cannot be guaranteed, once existing programs are deemed ineligible. 

By the end of the 2024-25 school year, our local Safe Routes program will have delivered a three-week Learn to Ride program to over 1,500 RPS elementary school children. Those students are learning a life-long skill that can support their social, educational, emotional, financial, and physical well-being, while improving safety for themselves and others in the community. 

Please consider not implementing the proposed changes to the Transportation Alternatives Program Guide, and consider restoring the independent VA SRTS program that served our state's localities from 2005 through the 2021-22 school year.

Sincerely,

Tara FitzPatrick
RPS Parent