Safe Routes to School

Active Transportation Demonstration project (intended to make it safer and easier for all users to get to a priority destination where they live, work and play) applications will be evaluated using the following criteria:

Part 1–2: Applicant and project contact information

These sections are reviewed by the selection committee but not scored.

Part 3: Community Information Sheet – 40 Points

A. Equity Scoring: 0-30 points

MnDOT’s Active Transportation Program aims to achieve equitable outcomes by funding initiatives that prioritize communities who are more likely to rely on active transportation, are more vulnerable to unsafe traffic conditions, or have experienced historic disinvestment.

The Active Transportation Equity Score uses 15 indicators to identify locations in Minnesota that likely have a greater need for Active Transportation investment. Points will be awarded to applicants proportionally based on equity scores as part of the program’s goals to advance transportation equity in Minnesota.

To assess your application’s equity score, visit MnDOT’s Active Transportation Program Equity Map, find the location of your proposed demonstration project, and enter the score of the hexagon where the project is located. If the project includes more than one hexagon, please include the scores of all hexagons that cover the area of the demonstration project, separated by commas (e.g. 8, 4, 12).

Your equity score will be weighted to a 30 point scale during the scoring process. See the examples below for how these calculations will be conducted. Ex 1) Score of hexagon (8) / maximum awarded score (13) x 30 = 18.5, rounded to 19 points Ex 2) Average score of hexagons (4, 11 = avg of 7.5) / maximum awarded score (13) x 30 = 17.3 rounded to 17 pts

B. Narrative Response: 0-10 Points

Applicants will be asked to provide information about how the proposed plan will address equity in any way that would not be readily identified by the Active Transportation Program Equity Map. This could include finding ways to mitigate barriers within the community, address historic disinvestment, or invest in communities that have been historically marginalized.

Part 4: Community Context – 20 Points

• 0–10 points: Some thought has gone into the pursuit of a demonstration project. The project’s background work may be lacking Equity or Engagement approaches.
• 10-20 points: There is clear community work that has led up to the pursuit of a demonstration project, including Equity and Engagement strategies.

Part 5: Project Description – 10 Points

A: The demonstration project addresses an issue identified in an active transportation plan or other planning document (0-5 points)

B: Installation location (this response is not scored)

C: The demonstration project addresses safety concerns or risks. The demonstration project is located close to nearby destinations and will increase comfort or perception of safety. (0-5 points)

Part 6: Team Members and Road Authority Support - 15 Points

• 0-5 points: Most of the team is missing or is not yet identified
• 5-10 points: There is a good mix of team members, could use more support
• 11-15 points: There is a good mix of team members, and all the necessary partners are involved and have clear and unique roles

Part 7: Implementation Support - 10 Points

A: The applicant has a clear vision for the project and how it may impact active transportation use and safety in the community. (0-2 points)

B: The applicant has a clear plan for how information gathered through the demonstration project will advance their work. (0-3 points)

C: The applicant has a clearly identified team to provide volunteer support. (0-5 points)

Part 8: Letters of Commitment - 5 Points

Local agency engineer is involved in all aspects of project development, and must approve all components of the project, including construction, and removal as the roadway jurisdiction is the only entity that has the statutory authority to “construct, operate, and improve” their roads. Applicant must attach a Letter of Commitment from the Road Authority.

• 0–2 points: Letters provided with minimal content or with minimal participation. Letters do not provide clear project understanding or commitment to future involvement.
• 3–5 points: Detailed letters provided. Letters provide clear project understanding and commitment to future involvement.

Additional Information about Scoring

Additionally, we will be evaluating applicants by League of Minnesota Cities classifications so we are accurately comparing similar communities in lieu of just dividing applicants by metro and greater Minnesota. Cities are classified by population under Minnesota Statutes, section 410.01. Cities are divided, for legislative purposes, into four classes.

1. First class: Cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants. Once a city is in the first class, it is not reclassified unless its population decreases by 25 percent from the census figures that last qualified the city as first class.

2. Second class: Cities with a population between 20,001 and 100,000

3. Third class: Cities with a population between 10,001 and 20,000

4. Fourth class: Cities with not more than 10,000 inhabitants

Safe Routes to School demonstration projects (within 1 mile of a school and indtended to make it safer for students to get to and from school) application scoring criteria is as follows:

Part 1–2: Applicant and project contact information

These sections are reviewed by the selection committee but not scored.

Part 3: School Information Sheet – 30 Points

A. Equity Scoring: 0-30 points

The 2020 MnSRTS Strategic Plan strives to achieve equitable outcomes by developing and distributing tools, resources, and funding that prioritize communities who are more likely to rely on walking or biking for transportation, are more vulnerable to unsafe traffic conditions, or have experienced historic disinvestment.

The equity score uses seven indicators to best identify priority populations in Minnesota, providing a picture of special need for Safe Routes to School assistance, and in order to be more equitable will award application points based on these measures. 

This question requires you to download Student Transportation Equity for Priority Populations tool look up your school name and enter the score associated with that school on your application. In the case of multiple schools, please enter the individual score for each school.

Learn more about equity scoring with the Student Transportation Equity for Priority Populations tool.

Private Schools and Charter Schools may not have data in the STEPP score as there may not have been available data from MDE. These schools may either opt into the lowest STEPP score available for public schools or provide the data needed to develop a STEPP score which would include:

 

Part 4: Project context – 20 Points

• 0–10 points: Some thought has gone into the pursuit of a demonstration project. The project’s background work may be lacking Equity or Engagement approaches.
• 10-20 points: There is clear school and/or community work that has led up to the pursuit of a demonstration project, including Equity and Engagement strategies.

Part 5: Project description – 10 Points

A: The demonstration project addresses an issue identified in an Safe Routes to School plan or other planning document (0-5 points)

B: Installation location (this response is not scored)

C: The demonstration project addresses safety concerns or risks. The demonstration project is located close to nearby destinations and will increase comfort or perception of safety. (0-5 points)

Part 6: Safe Routes to School team members and road authority support - 15 Points

• 0-5 points: Most of the team is missing or is not yet identified
• 5-10 points: There is a good mix of team members, could use more support
• 11-15 points: There is a good mix of team members, and all the necessary partners are involved and have clear and unique roles

Part 7: Implementation support - 10 Points

A: The applicant has a clear vision for the project and how it may impact active transportation use and safety in the community. (0-2 points)

B: The applicant has a clear plan for how information gathered through the demonstration project will advance their work. (0-3 points)

C: The applicant has a clearly identified team to provide volunteer support. (0-5 points)

Part 8: Letters of Commitment - 5 Points

Local agency engineer is involved in all aspects of project development, and must approve all components of the project, including construction, and removal as the roadway jurisdiction is the only entity that has the statutory authority to “construct, operate, and improve” their roads. Applicant must attach a Letter of Commitment from the Road Authority.

• 0–2 points: Letters provided with minimal content or with minimal participation. Letters do not provide clear project understanding or commitment to future involvement.
• 3–5 points: Detailed letters provided. Letters provide clear project understanding and commitment to future involvement.

Additional Information about Scoring

Additionally, we will be evaluating applicants by League of Minnesota Cities classifications so we are accurately comparing similar communities in lieu of just dividing applicants by metro and greater Minnesota. Cities are classified by population under Minnesota Statutes, section 410.01. Cities are divided, for legislative purposes, into four classes.

1. First class: Cities with more than 100,000 inhabitants. Once a city is in the first class, it is not reclassified unless its population decreases by 25 percent from the census figures that last qualified the city as first class.

2. Second class: Cities with a population between 20,001 and 100,000

3. Third class: Cities with a population between 10,001 and 20,000

4. Fourth class: Cities with not more than 10,000 inhabitants