Frequently asked questions

 

 

Should student travel tally and parent surveys be completed before submitting an application? 

For the infrastructure grant, student travel tally and parent surveys should be completed prior to the submitting an application.  The data should be entered into the National Safe Routes to School Program Tracking System and a summary report generated by the program should be attached to the application. 

 

For the non-infrastructure planning grant student travel tally and parent surveys do not have to be completed.

For the non-infrastructure implementation grants they have the option to complete them for the application for indicate that they will be complete within a certain timeframe after award.

 

 

Do you prefer that the student travel tally and parent survey data be entered on the National Safe Routes to School Program Tracking System?

Yes.  The data should be entered online at the National Safe Routes to School Program Tracking System.  Once the data is entered reports summarizing the data with tables and charts may be printed for use.  The data from Minnesota schools will also be useful to the national data base to track the program’s progress at the federal level.

 

 

Do traffic control devices mean only stop lights or are stop sign and yield sign locations also required to be on the map?

The maps of in place infrastructure and the proposed infrastructure improvements do not need to include ROW, environmentally sensitive items, utilities, or traffic control devices. The existing should include labels for the existing routes and hazardous areas.  The proposed map should include labels for the locations and type of infrastructure proposed.

The traffic control devices should be included in the plan layout that shows right –of –way and environmentally sensitive areas.  Traffic control devices do include any signs such as stop signs and yield signs.

 

 

Is it possible to submit an application with two options identified?

We prefer that the community have an identified project in the application and that the process to engage the public in making the decision is complete as possible. 

 

 

In the past the maximum grant dollar amount had been set at a value that would prohibit the installation of traffic signals as a solution that could be funded with this SRTS grant funding.  Is that still the intention, or if the installation of traffic signals system provides the safest option, could that be part of the project that the funding is applied for?

 

Traffic signals were not excluded in the guidance.  However, if a community is interested in applying for a traffic signal as part of their project, they would need additional information such as a traffic control signal study as described by the MN MUTCD.

 

 

Can one community submit multiple applications?

 

A community may submit multiple applications as long as they are for different schools and there is no overlap in work.  If two applications are submitted they will be reviewed separately and will be considered both equally submitted to the community. 

 

 

How does ADA play into the implementation of Safe Routes to School projects?

 

Routes that are identified as safe routes for students to walk and bicycle should address ADA challenges as these deficiencies pose a barrier to students with varies abilities.  Facilities constructed with federal Safe Routes to School funding must be designed and constructed to be ADA compliant.

 

 

The city would like to apply for sidewalk along a road that does not have existing sidewalks.  However to construct the city would have to do some ditch work along the road.  Is this eligible for SRTS funding?

If the ditch work is necessary to implement the sidewalk or a trail to ensure there is proper drainage and the facility meet standards then it may be consider eligible for funding. 

 

 

How do we submit the SRTS Infrastructure application?

Submit your application by emailing an electronic version of their application to SafeRoutes.DOT@state.mn.us and mail in five copies of application and attachments to:

 

Attn: Mao Yang
Minnesota Department of Transportation
State Aid for Local Transportation, MS 500
395 John Ireland Blvd
Saint Paul, MN 55155

 

 

How can we get the printed version of the application to expand and show all the text within the scroll box? 

 

The printed version of the application does not expand and will not show all the text. MnDOT will get the completed application from the electronic version.