Comprehensive SRTS Travel Plan FAQ
What makes a strong application?
What is a SRTS Travel Plan?
What types of needs and concerns are usually included in a SRTS Comprehensive Travel Plan?
Who can apply for a SRTS Comprehensive Travel Plan?
Who can be involved in developing a Comprehensive SRTS Travel Plan and this type of Resource Center assistance, and how?
Who are my community partners?
Click on the image for a pdf of the application. Use the pdf to see what information is required for the application, however, you must complete and submit the application online. A link to the online application is at the end of this page.
What makes a strong application?
The most competitive application will be for a school that...
- Is a Partner with the Georgia SRTS Resource Center
- Has existing SRTS-related projects and programs to leverage
- Completed Student Travel Tallies in the spring and/or fall 2015*
- Participated in at least one walking or bicycling event in the past 12 months
- Has support from the local government, school district, and surrounding community
- Has a vision for how the Travel Plan will support its SRTS program
- Include the required letter of support from the school principal
- Identifies 3 days that your SRTS Travel Plan team is available for the first meeting
Note: You’ll need to identify a team and get their commitment now.
*More information on student travel tallies is on the Resource Center website under Tips and Tools, Data Collection Tools, or contact your SOC.
The following FAQs should provide you with more information on this SRTS Travel Plan Assistance opportunity. Contact your SOC or the Resource Center hotline at 1-877-436-8927 with any questions.
The SRTS Travel Plan is a community agreement on an approach to increasing the number of students who walk and bicycle to school and to improve safety for student pedestrians and bicyclists. Plans typically include a vision, review of existing conditions, and ways to resolve barriers to walking and bicycling created by some existing conditions. The plan should include a calendar with activities and projects to address within the first 12 months. Click here to see completed Georgia SRTS Travel Plans.
What types of needs and concerns are usually included in a SRTS Travel Plan?
These plans will address questions such as:
- What infrastructure elements like sidewalks and crossing lights are currently in place?
- What can be done to improve the safety of places where students walk or bike?
Travel Plans also address potential school program needs such as:
- Do students have the skills they need to walk and bicycle safely?
- Do students know that walking and bicycling can be healthy and fun ways to travel?
- Are motorists aware of safe driving habits along routes to school and at school?
Who can apply for the Comprehensive SRTS Travel Plan assistance?
The application can be completed by a school representative (such as the principal or SRTS Champion) or by an organization working with the school (such as the PTA/PTO or community group).
Who will be involved in developing the Comprehensive SRTS Travel Plan with this type of Resource Center assistance, and how?
As partners in developing your School Travel Plan, we each have a role to play, with accompanying responsibilities:
The Resource Center team will:
- Help facilitate and schedule school team meetings.
- Work with the school champion to complete the School Profile.
- Lead a Walk Audit of the school surroundings. Conduct field work and observe student travel patterns.
- Review and document other plans that support SRTS goals.
- Listen, observe, and reflect information from the team.
- Develop recommendations for improving the walking environment and programs that support students walking.
- Draft the Travel Plan based on the School Profile, information gained at meetings, and field work/observations.
- Prepare the final plan.
The school team/community will:
- Identify key staff and community partners to serve on the SRTS team, including a representative from the school administration and a Champion (often a teacher or motivated parent).
- Administer Parent Surveys.
- Work with the SOC to complete the School Profile.
- Arrange for meeting space at the school or nearby and assist with scheduling meetings.
- Attend meetings, including a Walk Audit led by the Resource Center staff.
- Provide timely feedback and input for the Travel Plan.
- Complete Student Travel Tallies. Completing prior to applying for the grant will make a school’s application more competitive.
Other community partners (individuals and organizations):
- Attend meetings and communicate with the team and organizers via telephone and email.
- Identify opportunities to collaborate on elements in the Travel Plan.
- Provide input, general feedback, and feedback specific to their area of expertise for the Travel Plan.
- Support implementation of the Travel Plan upon completion.
Who are my community partners?
Each SRTS team has local partners who are members of the community that have a connection to your SRTS team goals. Local partners include law enforcement officers, transportation engineers and planners, land use planners, elected officials, public health officials, school district transportation directors, and planners from the MPO or Regional Commission, SafeKids Coalition, the local YMCA, and retailers with community service programs.