Members of the Commonwealth Transportation Board: 

On behalf of Greater Richmond Fit4Kids, I am writing to express my concern for the proposed guidelines to the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) grant funding (proposed in the ??Transportation Alternatives Program Guide document), as it relates to the Safe Routes to School program. Since 2015, Fit4Kids, in collaboration with the City of Richmond, has received funding support from the Virginia Department of Transportation, to support the Richmond City Safe Routes to School program for Richmond Public Schools. In this time, we have been able to grow from a small pilot program, to a district wide program that supports students by training more than 100 crossing guards to ensure coverage at most schools, 750 students annually with Learn to Bike programming, and encouragement programs that promote safe walking and biking to school, including Walk to School Day and Bike to School Day.  

We have two major concerns. 

First, with the state now limiting applicants to five project submissions per funding cycle, and being a non-infrastructure project applicant, the City of Richmond is faced with losing out on opportunities to apply for other higher-cost projects. This puts the Richmond City Safe Routes to School program projects, and other Safe Routes to School programs across the state at a disadvantage, keeping us from being able to secure the necessary funding and support to sustain this important program. We have already witnessed other Safe Routes partners across the state be forced to discontinue their programs, due to challenges and limitations with funding. We are committed to ensuring biking and walking continues to be made safe, accessible, and appealing for Richmond’s students, and that using active transportation to school remains a viable option for students and families.  

And second, we are even more concerned about Section 6.3.1 that severely limits the percentage of a SRTS program’s budget that can be applied for through this grant. For example, in the final year of the grant, a $100,000 program would only be able to secure $24,000 toward program costs, versus $80,000 which is currently allowable.

Richmond recently had a very high profile bike crash at one of our SRTS sites. This underscores that now is the time to continue investing in these vital programs! Safe Routes to School programs are essential for creating safer roads and walkways that protect students, school staff, and families across Richmond. Through vital SRTS programming, we can prevent future crashes and ensure everyone can walk or bike to school without fear.

We urge you to reconsider these revisions, and what it might mean for Virginia’s Safe Routes to School programs.