The DC Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program receives funding from the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). 

The Program was created by Section 1404 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users Act (SAFETEA-LU) . The DC SRTS Program is funded at $4,990,000 over five Federal fiscal years (FY 2005-2009).

The DC Safe Routes to School Program works to:

• Improve safety for students who walk and bicycle to school
• Encourage students and their parents to walk and bicycle to school
• Boost student physical activity, reduce parents’ fuel consumption, and reduce pollution and traffic congestion near schools.

To help achieve those goals, DDOT offers Safe Routes to School planning assistance for DC Schools that are interested in improving safety for student walkers and cyclists. DDOT will help schools create a plan.

For more information, please contact the DC Safe Routes to School Coordinator:

Jennifer Hefferan
Safe Routes to School Coordinator
(202) 671-2227

You can also visit the DC Safe Routes to School  website to learn more about the program, which as already celebrated some early success.  In October 2009, Murch Elementary School in the District received national recognition, earning the 2009 James L. Oberstar Safe Routes to School Award.

The National Center for Safe Routes to School selected Murch Elementary School based on its exemplary Safe Routes to School program successes, including: reversing school policy that prohibited students from bicycling to school without special permission; building community support for walking and bicycling to school, including neighborhood support for new sidewalk construction; and implementing an effective student Safety Patrol program to enforce safe driving behavior around the school.