James L. Oberstar Safe Routes to School Award
The James L. Oberstar Safe Routes to School Award is given annually for outstanding achievement in implementing the Safe Routes to School Program in the United States. The National Center for Safe Routes to School opens a call for applications each year, receives the applications and evaluates them with assistance of an expert panel representing organizations that promote safe walking and bicycling.
The award is named for Congressman Oberstar (D-MN) to honor his dedication to American schoolchildren as the pioneer for the National Safe Routes to School Program. Oberstar, current Chairman of the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, sponsored the Safe Routes to School legislation that strives to create safe settings to enable more parents and children to walk and bicycle to school.
In 2008, Bear Creek Elementary School, in Boulder Colorado, received the Oberstar SRTS Award for its success in engaging 70 percent of the student population in walking and bicycling to school throughout the school year.
In 2007, the Michigan Department of Transportation received the Oberstar SRTS Award for its successful implementation of a statewide Safe Routes to School program.
View a video of U.S. Rep. James L. Oberstar congratulating Michigan on their successful program.
