The TAMC Board of Directors adopted Measure X Safe Route to School program guidelines February 28, 2018. These guidelines set a vision for the program and identified goals, objectives, and types of projects and activities that can be funded. The Measure X Safe Routes to School program funds projects and programs that improve children's health by making walking and bicycling safer and easier. The program will result in projects that provide the following benefits: improved safety for children walking and biking to school; better connections between schools, residential areas and vocational training programs; enhanced air quality; reduced traffic congestion around schools, and healthier transportation choices for school children and parents.
FY 2021/2022 Measure X Safe Routes to School Program Activities
Many schools re-opened for in-person learning in 2021 and the Safe Routes to School partners were able to deliver education and encouragement programming onsite. The Transportation Agency also developed partnerships with CSU Monterey Bay and the Greenfield Community Science Workshop to enhance Safe Routes to School programs and projects across the county.
Salinas Safe Routes to School Plan
The Salinas Safe Routes to School Plan, which kicked off in Spring 2020, is in draft form and is currently undergoing public review, with adoption planned for December 2022. The planning team, comprised of TAMC, Monterey County Health Department, City of Salinas, and Ecology Action staff, installed a temporary redesign of E. Alisal Street in Fall of 2021. The demonstration was washed out by a heavy storm and had to be taken down. Thankfully, the community was able to experience the new design, which included a road diet with protected bike lane and enhanced crossings, and provided the team with feedback. The final street demonstration for the Plan was on McKinnon Street in front of Harden Middle School in North Salinas, adding protected bike lanes on McKinnon Street and painted curb extensions on Westminster Drive from April 20 - May 18 2022. Community members were encouraged to walk and bike through the demonstration and provide feedback by completing a survey online, in-person or by mail.
Salinas Valley Safe Routes to School Plan
The Transportation Agency, in partnership with Ecology Action and the Monterey County Health Department, was successful in securing a $644,000 Sustainable Transportation Planning grant from Caltrans to develop the Salinas Valley Safe Routes to School Plan. The Plan will provide recommended safe routes to school improvements and programs for all the K-12 public schools in the cities of Gonzales, Soledad, Greenfield, and King City. The planning effort kicked off in Greenfield in Spring 2022 and will kick-off in Gonzales, Soledad, and King City in Fall 2022.
Each city will have its own Safe Routes to School Steering Committee which will be made up of community representatives including students, parents, schools, advocacy groups, and residents. Applications for the Steering Committees will be available online and hard copy. These groups will meet from Summer 2022 - Fall 2023 throughout the Salinas Valley Safe Routes to School planning process and will:
- Review projects
- Lead Participatory Budgeting
- Get community feedback
- Advocate for Projects & Programs
- Provide guidance
Safe Routes to School Education Program
The Measure X Safe Routes to School Program has set a goal of providing pedestrian safety classes to all 2nd graders and bicycle safety classes to all 5th graders in Monterey County. These bicycle and pedestrian safety education programs will take place at elementary schools across the county. TAMC has renewed the contract with Ecology Action to teach bicycle and pedestrian safety in all elementary schools in the Salinas Valley, Marina and Seaside over the next year.
Every Child Grant Implementation
In 2021, the Safe Routes to School team was finally able to provide programming to students in person and began by launching walking school buses at three schools in South County and five schools on the Peninsula:
- La Gloria Elementary, Gonzales
- Gabilan Elementary, Soledad
- Oak Avenue Elementary, Greenfield
- Bayview Academy, Monterey
- Ord Terrace Elementary, Seaside
- Del Rey Woods Elementary, Seaside
- Crumpton Elementary, Marina
- Marina Vista Elementary, Marina
In addition to the walking school buses, the team held Family Fun Festivals in Gonzales and Greenfield, providing resources about active transportation and healthy living. TAMC worked with CSUMB graphic design students to develop concepts for traffic gardens to be installed at 11 school sites across the county in 2022 and 2023.
CSUMB Sustainable City Year - Safe Routes to School Partnership
In Fall 2020, TAMC partnered with CSUMB to provide opportunities for students to get involved with safe routes to school projects and programs through the Sustainable City Year Program. Through this five-year contract, students will get hands-on experience assisting the Safe Routes to School team and partners. Thus far, students have conducted bike and pedestrian counts, created maps, designed traffic gardens, provided feedback on materials for Spanish-speaking communities, and created videos.
Greenfield Community Science Workshop
In January 2022, TAMC partnered with the Greenfield Community Science Workshop to establish the Greenfield Bike Garage. This three-year contract will provide weekly community bike/ scooter/ skateboard repair workshops in Greenfield and mobile repair workshops serving communities in south Monterey County.
Safe Routes to School Website
Staff continued to update and add content to the Safe Routes to School Program website https://saferoutesmonterey.org which includes program information, informational safety videos, resources for parents and schools and more.
Goals for Fiscal Year 2022/23
- Continue working with CSUMB Sustainable Cities Program
- Continue work on the Salinas Valley Safe Routes to School Plan
- Continue "Every Child: Community-Supported Safe Routes to School" grant work
- Coordinate MY Town Museum Exhibition in South County
- Conduct Salinas Valley Safe Routes to School Plan "Safe Street Demonstrations" in Fall 2022 & Spring 2023
- Continue implementing the Education Program serving Salinas Valley, Seaside, Marina, and North County
- Continue to coordinate with stakeholders and form new partnerships
- Support Safe Routes to School infrastructure projects in all cities and Monterey County
- Apply for Caltrans Sustainable Transportation Planning grant in Fall 2022 focused on North Monterey County
- Update the Safe Routes to School Website regularly with resources and information