TITLE
Recommendation to authorize City Manager to execute all necessary agreements with California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), and any required subsequent amendments, to receive and expend $500,000 in Safe Routes to School (SR2S) funding to provide bicycle and pedestrian safety education programs to sixty (60) elementary and middle schools in Long Beach; to execute all necessary documents with co-applicant Safe Moves; and increase appropriations by $500,000 in the General Grant Fund (SR 120) in the Department of Public Works (PW). (Citywide)
DISCUSSION
The Department of Public Works, Transportation Programs Division, collaborated with Safe Moves in responding to Caltrans' solicitation for Safe Routes to School (SR2S) grant funding to educate elementary and middle school students and parents about bicycle and pedestrian safety. This project was awarded full funding through SR2S at $500,000, and does not require the City to provide any local match.
Safe Moves is a non-profit organization that is recognized as the leading authority in traffic safety education in the country. Since 1996, they have developed an effective, multifaceted program to reach out and educate elementary and middle school students and parents about pedestrian and bicycle safety. The program will also communicate the need for children to maintain a healthy, active lifestyle by safely walking and biking to school.
Workshops will be conducted for students in each grade level in forty-five (45) elementary schools and fifteen (15) middle schools throughout the City over a two-year period. Students will participate in demonstrations that include how bicycling and walking are effective modes of travel, decrease air pollution, make the community safer and will get them physically fit.
School Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Rodeos will be conducted to allow students to learn about safety by walking and bicycling through a miniature city, consisting of streets, sidewalks, intersections,...
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