GOVERNOR KAINE ANNOUNCES $1 MILLION TO PROMOTE WALKING AND BIKING TO SCHOOL
~ Program benefits students in grades K-8 ~
RICHMOND – Governor Timothy M. Kaine today announced more than $1 million in Safe Routes to School funding to 13 school systems, local governments and not-for-profit groups across the Commonwealth to make bicycling and walking to school safer and more appealing to students..
“Walking and biking to school offers a host of benefits to students, communities and the environment,” said Governor Kaine. “We want to encourage alternative means of transportation for Virginians of all ages, and these grants will help ensure that our children can get to school safely by foot or bike.”
The Safe Routes to School program is designed for localities, schools and not-for-profit groups seeking to improve walking and bicycling opportunities for kindergarten through eighth grade students. Funds can be used for promotion, education and law enforcement activities. Local governments are also eligible to apply for funding to improve infrastructure in the vicinity of schools.
The statewide program is funded by the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration.
“We want to encourage walking and bicycling to school in the most safe and fun manner for Virginia ’s children,” said VDOT Commissioner David S. Ekern. “These funding awards promote safety, provide infrastructure and encourage active healthy lifestyles. Drivers are always reminded to share the road with bicyclists and pedestrians, especially our children.”
The following localities will receive funding for infrastructure projects. These can include pedestrian and bicycle crossings, sidewalks, signing and traffic-calming improvements:
City of Charlottesville - $328,280
City of Harrisonburg - $455,335
The following localities, school systems and not-for-profit groups will receive funding to develop and implement local Safe Routes to School programs. The programs can include crossing guard training, outreach, participation encouragement and safety education:
Alliance for Community Choice in Transportation (City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County ) - $50,000
Bedford County Public Schools - $15,000
Chesterfield County Public Schools - $25,000
Goochland County Schools - $10,170
Lunenburg County - $25,000
Portsmouth Public Schools - $24,935
Roanoke County Public Schools - $17,610
Salem City Public Schools - $10,000
Town of Stanley - $10,000
Virginia Beach Public Schools - $25,000
Town of West Point - $10,000
The next opportunity to apply for Safe Routes to School funding will begin in August. For more information on funding and the application process, visit www.virginiadot.org/saferoutes.
Any guesses as to the impact of this boondoggle?
2 comments:
First of all, $1 million statewide to improve walking and bicycling to schools across Virginia is a pittance, especially compared to Virginia's annual multi-billion dollar expenditures to expand highways.
Second, the Safe Routes to School program is a federal program, mandated by Congress, so the Commonwealth of Virginia is not "diverting" any highway expansion funds for these relatively small project awards.
Third, walking and bicycling to school ARE transportation, children are Virginia's future, and 10% of more of AM-peak traffic in some communities is parents driving kids to school. Thus, promoting and facilitating kids walking and bicycling to schools can reduce traffic congestion far more effectively than widening roads.
The outcomes of this modest funding should be healthier children who acquire the sound lifelong habit of active living; reduced traffic, auto pollution, foreign oil consumption, and global warming emissions; safer roads around schools and fewer traffic crashes, especially involving children; and reduced school busing expenses for local school systems and taxpayers.
Back in the day Everett Dirksen used to say “A billion here and a billion there and pretty soon you’re talking about real money.” Of course he was talking about the federal level not the state level, but I hear an echo of that philosophy in your comments.
But let’s take your points one at a time.
First of all, $1 million statewide to improve walking and bicycling to schools across Virginia is a pittance, especially compared to Virginia's annual multi-billion dollar expenditures to expand highways.
This tax and that expenditure can always be classified as a pittance when you compare it to the state budget or what we spend on highways. But what the “pittance” people never mention is that the big number is made up of all the little numbers. Maybe a million here or a million there is chump change for you, but it is not a creation of the Santa Claus. It’s taken from the paychecks of coal miners in Western Virginia and shipyard workers in Tidewater. Your attitude is typical of the politicos for whom government expenditures focus only on the objective, not where the money is coming from. Is that the way you budget your personal money or just the way you look at the state’s money?
Second, the Safe Routes to School program is a federal program, mandated by Congress, so the Commonwealth of Virginia is not "diverting" any highway expansion funds for these relatively small project awards.
Oh, that makes it all right.
Third, walking and bicycling to school ARE transportation, children are Virginia's future, and 10% of more of AM-peak traffic in some communities is parents driving kids to school. Thus, promoting and facilitating kids walking and bicycling to schools can reduce traffic congestion far more effectively than widening roads.
Right! Question for you: would you be willing to pay for this program if it was your money? What sort of impact do you really think it will have. How many kids will walk or bike to school as a result of the million bucks? How many parent are going to stop driving their kids to school based on the million buck? If the answer is near zero, are you willing to reimburse the state a million dollars?
The outcomes of this modest funding should be healthier children who acquire the sound lifelong habit of active living; reduced traffic, auto pollution, foreign oil consumption, and global warming emissions; safer roads around schools and fewer traffic crashes, especially involving children; and reduced school busing expenses for local school systems and taxpayers.
Let’s see, for a million dollars we will have
(1) Healthy kids
(2) The end of congestion
(3) The end of auto pollution
(4) No more foreign oil
(5) Global warming ends
(6) No more traffic accidents
(7) Reduced school costs
All for a million bucks. Can we spend two million and bring on peace on Earth?
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