Funding

Need help deciphering federal financing terms? Check out our Federal Terms Glossary

Looking for state-specfic federal funding information? Search our interactive map of State SRTS Contacts

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In August 2005, the Federal-aid Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program was created by Section 1404 of the federal transportation bill, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient, Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users Act (SAFETEA-LU). Housed in the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Office of Safety, the SRTS program is funded at $612 million over five federal fiscal years (FY 2005–2009).

As with all federal funding, Federal-aid SRTS funding comes with specific procedures and requirements (see complete FHWA report Financing Federal-Aid Highways). States may interpret these procedures differently and develop their own procedures relative to financing transportation projects, within this federal-aid framework.

Federal / State Funding Overview

  • The Federal SRTS Program is managed and administered by each state Department of Transportation (DOT), with funding allotted annually to each state in conjunction with Federal-aid highway apportionments. See our state apportionment table for more information.
  • Some parameters are spelled out in the federal legislation, however states may structure their programs to best meet their needs. View state SRTS contacts for state-specific information.
  • More information on the Federal Safe Routes to School Program, including FHWA Program Guidance, is available on the Federal SRTS Program Web site.
  • To understand the basic terms involved in the federal financing process, see our Federal Terms Glossary.
  • Looking for additional resources for federal funding infomation?

National Center Resources

  • The National Center maintains a comprehensive list of SRTS projects awarded federal funds, whch is updated every six months. The searchable list includes specifics such as: project location, funding amount, brief description of the project, schools impacted, and the year the project award was announced.
  • The National Center compiles a summary of the status of states’ programs, including available and announced funding, in a quarterly Program Tracking Brief.

Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs aim to make walking and bicycling to school a safe and appealing form of transportation. While Federal legislation and funding currently exist to support SRTS efforts, these funds alone cannot meet all the needs of communities across the United States. Most programs can benefit from a mixture of state/federal, local and private funding.

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