2007 James L. Oberstar Safe Routes to School Award Call for Applications Open
News Brief
July 23, 2007
CHAPEL HILL, NC — Applications are now being accepted for the 2007 James L. Oberstar Safe Routes to School Award.
Awarded annually by the National Center for Safe Routes to School (NCSRTS), the Oberstar Award will be given to a U.S. Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program that has shown outstanding achievement in creating safer environments for walking and bicycling to school and encouraging children to walk and bicycle to school. In 2007, the award will recognize outstanding achievement by a State Department of Transportation (DOT) in establishing their SRTS program.
The deadline for applications is August 24, 2007. To access the award application and criteria, please visit http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/news_room/oberstar_award.
The award is named for Congressman and current Chair of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, James Oberstar to honor his dedication to America's school children. During his 33 years as a member of Congress, he has shaped the nation's surface transportation policies to support and encourage walking and bicycling as important transportation alternatives to motorized travel. He championed the SRTS program and built bipartisan support to secure its inclusion in the federal transportation bill which was signed into law in 2005. The law included $612 million over five years for the 50 States and the District of Columbia to use toward developing their SRTS programs.
Established in May 2006, the National Center for Safe Routes to School assists communities in enabling and encouraging children to safely walk and bike to school. The Center strives to equip Safe Routes to School programs with the knowledge and technical information to implement safe and successful strategies.
The National Center for Safe Routes to School is maintained by the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center with funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration.
