MDOT’s Safe Routes to School Program offers assistance throughout a community’s planning and implementation process. From an initial informational phone conversation or meeting to teaching the Safe Routes to School National Course, MDOT can help you understand why Safe Routes to School is important and plan for and implement a program in your community. The types of assistance available beyond one-on-one contact include

·          Why Safe Routes to School Matter: a short video that highlights why the U S has seen a decrease in walking and bicycling to school, the consequences of this decrease and the ways SRTS are a part of the solution. Available from the National Center for Safe Routes to School at www.saferoutesinfo.org/resources/marketing_videos.cfm.

·          Safe Routes to School: Improving Health, Safety and Transportation: a PowerPoint presentation that promotes safe walking and bicycling to school and gives an overview of the basics of SRTS. The presentation reviews the reasons why walking and bicycling to school has decreased in the US, the consequences of this decrease and the ways Safe Routes to School are a part of the solution. Available from the National Center for Safe Routes to School at www.saferoutesinfo.org/resources/marketing_presentations.cfm.

·          Safe Routes to School National Course: this one-day course taught by the SRTS coordinator and an engineer is intended for audiences at the state and local levels. The course can be presented as a comprehensive overview of SRTS issues and programs or used to convene stakeholders and initiate steps to address concerns with walking conditions at the state or local level. This course may be taught in your community. Please contact Cookie Leffler, SRTS Coordinator, at cleffler@mdot.state.ms.us or 601-359-1454 to make arrangements.

·          Grant writing Workshops: through this hands-on workshop, potential applicants “walk through” the SRTS application and see examples of successful plans. Participants ask questions and begin constructing their application. Workshops are offered when funding is available. If you would like to be notified when Grant writing workshops are scheduled, please email Cookie Leffler, SRTS Coordinator, at cleffler@mdot.state.ms.us.

·          General Safe Routes to School Presentations and Community Visits: visits to a community to discuss the possibility of planning for a Safe Routes to School Program or presentations designed for specific audiences are available upon request. Please contact Cookie Leffler, SRTS Coordinator, to discuss your needs, cleffler@mdot.state.ms.us or 601-359-1454.