HomeMy WebLinkAboutStaff Report 418-10TO: HONORABLE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CITY MANAGER
DATE: DECEMBER 6, 2010
REPORT TYPE: ACTION
DEPARTMENT: PLANNING&
COMMUNITY ENVIRONMENT
CMR:418:10
SUBJECT: Adoption of Resolution Authorizing the Filing of an Application for the
Federal Surface Transportation Program (STP) and/or Congestion
Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) Funding for the Palo Alto
Safe Routes to Schools Project and Committing the Necessary Non-Federal
Match and Stating the Assurance to Complete the Project
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends that the Council adopt the attached resolution to authorize the Santa Clara
Valley Transit Authority (VTA) to submit an application for the Palo Alto Safe Routes to School
Project to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) and to commit local funding for
the project.
BACKGROUND
The Santa Clara County Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) released a call for projects for
the Vehicle Emissions Reductions Based at Schools (VERBS) Program on September 3, 2010.
The VERBS Program funds both capital and non-capital projects aimed at promoting alternative
transportation modes for schools. In response to the call for projects, staff prepared an
application for the non-capital category for the Palo Alto Safe Routes to Schools Project to help
fund new programs at all schools and educate and encourage both students and parents to use
alternative modes of transportation in commutes to school.
The project ranked the highest in the VERBS Program scoring because it strengthens and builds
upon the City'S already successful Safe Routes to School Program and helps to establish best
practice standards for school transportation that may be used by other cities in the future.
If approved by the VT A Board of Directors, a recommendation will be made to MTC for funding
of the project. The City will use the funds to: create new walking and biking route to school
maps; deploy counting stations along routes to schools to establish baseline measurements of
current walking and biking activity and measure future trends; update the City's current bicycle
safety education curriculum; create new curriculum targeted at middle school students; fund
additional encouragement programs such as walk and roll events and bicycle rodeos; create new
CMR:418:1O Page 1 of3
outreach materials targeted at parents to build awareness for safe driving during school commute
periods. The use of counting stations to measure school activities is an industry standard first for
the San Francisco Bay Area.
DISCUSSION
The Palo Alto Safe Routes to School Program is a partnership between the City of Palo Alto, the
Palo Alto Unified School District, and representatives from the various Parent Teacher
Associations (PTAs) from each school. The City maintains this partnership through two active
committee groups that meet monthly during the school season, the City/School Liaison
Subcommittee made up of representatives from the City Council and the PAUSD Board of
Education, and the City/School Traffic Safety Committee made up of representatives from the
city staff, and school district staff and the PTAs.
The City/School partnership has yielded an overwhelming amount of walking and biking activity
at schools that is unparalleled within Santa Clara County. This success and the opportunity to
build upon it was the premise for pursuing the VERBS funding opportunity. For example,
currently, the City does not have city-sponsored walking and biking route to school maps. Each
PTA has historically developed its own maps and updated them on their own as development
activity has occurred. In addition, the choice schools that serve students outside of neighborhood
school boundaries experience the highest amount of parent chauffeuring activity with limited
rideshare use between parents and students. Lastly, the City currently does not offer education to
middle school students beyond; this is identified as a critical period for youth when they will
develop lifelong habits on bicycle safety and use.
The proposed project will establish city-sponsored walking and biking route to school maps with
a consistent look and feel while including education material specific to building safe
environments at each school. The updated and new education materials will target students
transitioning from grade school into middle schools to promote walking and biking options that
may typically not be considered by students because of longer distances between neighborhoods
to middle schools. Changing student's perspectives and habits at this age will further help to
promote alternative transportation mode shifts into high school and future life destinations. This
education and outreach effort will be supplemented with education targeting parents to build
awareness and patience during school commute periods. To measure the effectiveness of the
program enhancements, new count stations located along sidewalks leading to schools will be
deployed to establish baseline alternative transportation mode activities and monitor trend shifts.
The project also funds a part-time position for two years to assist in the deployment of the new
program activities.
The project is estimated at $660,000. The grant would comprise $528,000 and a local match
from the City would provide the balance of $132,000. A mid-year budget appropriation will be
pursued in the Spring to identify local-match funding if the grant is funded by the VTA Board of
Directors.
The proposed resolution authorizes filing of the Palo Alto Safe Routes to School project for
future releases of the state's Surface Transportation Program (STP) managed by the Metropolitan
Transportation Commission (MTC) with funding from the Congestion Mitigation and Air
CMR:418:1O Page 2 of3
Quality Improvement (CMAQ) program. Federal funding for this project will be available in the
Fall 2012.
RESOURCE IMPACT
There is no immediate resource impact in submitting the resolution for the project so that
funding may be considered by the VTA Board of Directors. If the project is funded, a mid-year
budget appropriation will be pursued to identify the estimated $660,000 for the project.
Approximately $528,000 of the project would be grant-reimbursed. The local match ($132,000)
fund source would be identified at the mid year.
POLICY IMPLICATIONS
The Palo Alto Safe Routes to School program is consistent with City Council policy and
activities in promoting the City/School/Community Safe Routes to Schools Partnership.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
Adoption of this resolution is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Action
(CEQA).
PREPARED BY:
DEPARTMENT HEAD:
CITY MANAGER APPROVAL:
ATTACHMENTS
CURTIS WILLIAMS
Director
Planning and Community Development
City Manager
A. Resolution Authorizing the Filing of an Application for the Federal, Surface Transportation
Program (STP) and/or Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ)
Funding for the Palo Alto Safe Routes to School Project and Committing the Necessary Non
Federal Match and Stating the Assurance to Complete the Project.
B. Copy of the Palo Alto Safe Routes to School application.
CMR:418:1O Page 3 of3
*NOT YET APPROVED*
Resolution No. ---
Resolution of the Council of the City of Palo Alto
Authorizing the Filing of an Application for the Federal
Surface Transportation Program (STP) and/or Congestion
Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement (CMAQ) Funding
for the Palo Alto Safe Routes t6 Schools Project and
Committing the Necessary Non-Federal Match and Stating
the Assurance to Complete the Project
Attachment A .
WHEREAS~ the City of Palo Alto (herein referred to as CITY) is submitting an
application to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) for $528,000 in funding
from the federal Surface Transportation Program (STP) and/or Congestion Mitigation and Air
Quality Improvement (CMAQ) program for the Palo Alto -Safe Routes to School Program
(herein referred to as PROJECT) for the MTC Resolution, No. 3925, New Federal Surface
Transportation Act(FY 2009-10, FY 2010-11 and FY 2011-12) Cycle 1 STP/CMAQ Program:
Project Selection Criteria~ Policy, Procedures and Programming (herein referred to as
PROGRAM); and
WHEREAS, the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A
Legacy for Users (SAFETEA) (Public Law 109-59, August 10, 2005) authorized the Surface
Transportation Program (23 U.S.C. § 133) and the Congestion Mitigation· and Air Quality
Improvement Program (CMAQ) (23 U.S.C. § 149) through September 30, 2009; and
WHEREAS, SAFETEA has been extended through December 31, 2010 pursuant to
Public Law 111-147, (March 18, 2010) and may be subsequently extended pending enactment of
successor legislation for continued funding; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to SAFETEA, and the regulations promulgated thereunder,
eligible project sponsors wishing to receive federal Surface Transportation Program and/or
Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (STP/CMAQ) funds for a project
shall submit an application first with the appropriate Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO),
for review and inclusion in the MPO's Transportation Improvement Program (TIP); and
WHEREAS, the Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) is the MPO for
the nine counties of the San Francisco Bay region; and
WHEREAS, MTC has adopted a Regional Project Funding Delivery Policy (MTC
Resolution No. 3606, revised) that sets out procedures governing the application and use of
STP/CMAQ funds; and
WHEREAS, CITY is an eligible project sponsor for STP/CMAQ funds; and
/I
II
lOll IS sh 8261478 1
*NOT YET APPROVED*
WHEREAS, as part of the application for STP/CMAQ funding, MTC requires a
resolution adopted by the responsible implementing agency stating the following:
follows:
1) The commitment of necessary local matchlng funds of at least 11.47%; and
2) That the sponsor understands that the STP/CMAQ funding is fixed at the
programmed amount, and therefore any cost increase cannot be expected to be
funded with additional STP ICMAQ funds; and
3) That the project will comply with the procedures specified in Regional Project
Funding Delivery Policy (MTC Resolution No. 3606, revised); and
4) The assurance of the sponsor to complete the project as described in the
application, and if approved, as included in MTC's TIP; and
5) That the project will comply with all the project-specific requirements as set forth
in the PROGRAM.; and
6) That the project (transit only) will comply with MTC Resolution No. 3866, which
sets forth the requirements of MTC' s Transit Coordination Implementation Plan
to more efficiently deliver transit projects in the region.
NOW, THEREFORE, the Council of the City of Palo Alto does RESOLVE as
SECTION 1. The CITY is authorized to execute and file an application for
funding for the PROJECT under the Surface Transportation Program (STP) and Congestion
Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ) of SAFETEA, any extensions of
SAFETEA or any successor legislation for continued funding.
SECTION 2: The CITY by adopting this resolution does hereby state that:
1. CITY will provide $132,000 in non-federal matching funds; and
2. CITY understands that the STP/CMAQ funding for the project is fixed at the MTC
approved programmed amount, and that any cost increases must be funded by. the
CITY from other funds, and that CITY does not expect any cost increases to be
funded with additional STP/CMAQ funding; and .
3. CITY understands the funding deadlines associated with these funds and will comply
with the provisions and requirements of the Regional Project Funding Delivery Policy
. (MTC Resolution No. 3606, as reviseq); and
4. PROJECT will be implemented as described in the complete application and in this
resolution and, if approved, for the amount programmed in the MTC federal TIP; and
5. CITY (for a transit project only) agrees to comply with the requirements of MTC's
Transit Coordination Implementation Plan as set forth in MTC Resolution 3866; and
6. CITY and the PROJECT will comply with the requirements as set forth in the
program.
SECTION 3.
SECTION 4.
funds for the PROJECT.
SECTIONS.
the funds.
101115 sh 8261478
That CITY is an eligible sponsor of STP/CMAQ funded projects.
That CITY is authorized to submit an application for STP/CMAQ
That there is no legal impediment to CITY making applications for
2
*NOT YET APPROVED*
SECTION 6. That there is no pending or threatened litigation that might in any
way adversely affect the proposed PROJECT, or the ability of CITY to deliver such PROJECT.
SECTION 7. That CITY authorizes its City Manager or designee to execute and
file an application with MTC for STP/CMAQ funding for the PROJECT as referenced in this
resolution.
SECTION 8. That a copy of this resolution will be transmitted to the MTC in
conjunction with the filing of the application.
SECTION 9. That the MTC is requested to support the application for the
PROJECT described in this resolution and to include the PROJECT, if approved, in MTC's TIP.
SECTION 10. The Council finds that this resolution is not a project under the
California Environmental Quality Act and, therefore, no environmental impact assessment is
necessary.
INTRODUCED AND PASSED:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTENTIONS:
ATTEST:
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Senior Deputy City Attorney
lOll 15 sh 8261478
Mayor
APPROVED:
City Manager
Director of Planning and
Community Environment
Director of Administrative
Services
3
,4', .. ,. ,,, .. wm" Valley Transportation Authority
VEHICLE EMISSIONS REDUCTIONS BASED AT SCHOOLS (VERBS)
GRANT APPLICATION
SECTION ONE: PROJECT SUMMARY
Project Title Palo Alto -Safe Routes to School Program
Project Description The City of Palo Alto proposes to build on the
successes of its ten-year old Safe Routes to School
program with a multi-disciplinary set of program
enhancements that will:
• update and expand the reach of student and
parent education programs;
• provide outreach to the Spanish and Chinese-
language speaking community;
• support new and more frequent
encouragement events;
• establish a "schoolpool" program to support
carpooling, walking and biking;
• increase City support of programs, and expand
the City's web-based outreach;
• measure the associated reductions in vehicle
miles traveled, emissions, and congestion.
These programs are anticipated to reach an additional
7,011 students and 2,877 parents, and reduce daily
VMT by 1,474 miles.
Grant Funds Requested ($/FY) $ 528,000
Program Component ~ Non-infrastructure [ J Infrastructure
Local Match (20.0%) 2,000
Total Project Cost $660,000
Member Agency City of Palo Alto
Contact Person Jaime O. Rodriguez
Address 250 Hamilton Ave, Palo Alto, CA 94301
Email Address jaime.rodriguez@cityofpaloalto.org
Phone ~329-2136
Fax 0) 617-3108
Other Project Partners Palo Alto Unified School District; Palo Alto Council of PTAs
Attachment B
Palo Alto -Safe Routes to School Program
VTA -VERBS Grant Program Proposal
SECTION ONE: PROJECT SUMMARY (CONTINUED)
1. A map and/or photos of the project, including the benefiting school location
Palo Alto is served by the Palo Alto Unified School District, with a total of 11,850 students in
September 2010. This includes 5470 students in 12 elementary schools, 2640 students in three
middle schools, and 3740 students in two high schools.
This project will reach out to every school in the district, providing direct benefits that will
strengthen efforts to encourage alternative modes of transportation to school. Student and
parent education programs that complement the City's efforts to provide roads that serve all
users will be expanded. New evaluation tools will help identify improvements for future
implementation and link to focused
enforcement efforts. Figure 1
Figure 1 provides a citywide map of
the City of Palo Alto and highlights the
school boundaries for each elementary
school, some boundaries of which
expand far beyond walking and biking
distance or require students to cross high
volume multi-lane arterial roads.
Schoolpooling will be an essential
component in reducing VMT to schools.
Attachment A -Palo Alto Historical
Bike/Ped Collision Map provides a
citywide map of bicycle and pedestrian
collisions from 2003 to 2008 based on
Statewide Integrated Traffic Records
System data. The citywide collision data
around school sites demonstrate the
need for a Safe Routes to School
umbrella program that ties together the
City'S existing programs and projects into
policy-focused initiatives. This grant will
help Palo Alto continue its model
education programs. The proposed
bicycle and walking skills courses and
video, in addition to other
encouragement programs funded by this
grant, will work to improve traffic risk
avoidance skills and overall awareness of
bicyclists and pedestrians.
Palo Aka School Boundaries
Elementary Attendance Areas
Palo Alto Unified School District
L8pkofl & Gob.lel Oeinographio Researel" (no. 112007 l~y_pemograptJ."rs.lXJm . ,
Palo Alto -Safe Routes to School
VTA -VERBS Grant Program Proposal
SECT/ON ONE: PROJECT SUMMARY (CONTINUED}
2. Proposed project cost estimate and schedule
Non-Infrastructure Project
City of Palo Alto
Contact Name: Jaime Rodriguez
Contact Phone #: (650) 329-2136
Contact email: jaime.rodriguez@cityofpaloalto.org
Project Title: Palo Alto -Safe Routes to School Program
PROJECT PHASE
Implementation
TOTAL
PROJECT COST
($1,0005)
FUNDS LOCAL
REQUESTED MATCH $
$528,000 $132,000
$132,000
LOCAL OTHER
MATCH FUNDS
% TYPE/$
20%
20%
PROJECT
SCHEDULE (mm/yy)
START END
DATE DATE
09/2011 06/2013
Page I 3
Palo Alto -Safe Routes to School
VTA -VERBS Grant Program Proposal
SECTION TWO: PROJECT NARRATIVE
SCREENING CRITERIA
1. Issue statement that clearly identifies the purpose, need and expected outcome(s) of the
project.
Purpose of Improvements
The proposed project is to expand and strengthen the Education, Encouragement and
Evaluation components of Palo Alto's Safe Routes to School partnership by:
• Updating and expanding the reach of student and parent education programs;
• Branding and providing consistent education materials to the community;
• Providing outreach to the Spanish and Chinese-language speaking community;
• Supporting new and more frequent encouragement events;
• Establishing a schoolpool program to support carpooling, walking and biking;
• Increasing City support of programs and expanding the City's web-based outreach;
• Measuring the associated reductions in vehicle miles traveled, emissions, and
congestion.
The ultimate goals of the expanded program are to increase the number of students and
parents taking alternative modes of transportation to school (walking, biking, skating,
carpooling, bus), reduce school related vehicle miles traveled and emissions, and serve as a
model "5 E's" Safe Routes to School Program for adjacent communities.
Project Need
The City of Palo Alto, in collaboration with the Palo Alto Unified School District and parent
volunteers from the Palo Alto Council of PTAs, began to coordinate efforts to reduce
congestion and improve safety for students on their way to and from school in 1994, using
the traditional 3 E's of engineering, education and enforcement. Since 2000, when this
partnership was expanded to include the 4th E of encouraging alternatives to solo driving to
school, the City has seen a significant and on-going increase in biking and walking to school
as a direct result of these efforts. Successful past efforts include:
Page I 4
Palo Alto -Safe Routes to School
VTA -VERBS Grant Program Proposal
• In-classroom bicycle and pedestrian safety education for all schools, grades kindergarten
through third, fifth and sixth, reaching over 5,000 students annually.
• Increase in the percentage and number of elementary school students attending
neighborhood schools who came to school by walking, biking, carpooling, and taking the
bus between 1994 and 2006, as shown in Figure 2.
• Steady increase in the mode share and number of bicyclists in the two PAUSD high
schools between 2000 and 2009, as shown in Figure 3. In Fall 2009, daily counts
recorded 633 parked bicycles at Gunn High School, a record 33% mode share. At Palo
Alto High School (Paly), 582 parked bicycles were counted, almost equaling the 33%
mode share in 1985.
• At the three PAUSD middle schools there were a total of 1,140 bicycles parked in fall
2009, with mode share increasing from about 20 percent to 50 percent at the two la,ger
middle schools over the decade, as shown in Figure 4. The third middle school, located
on busy Arastradero Road, reopened in 2003 and has had a significantly lower bicycle
mode share, around 25 percent, due to congestion and safety issues on Arastradero
Road near the school that are now being addressed by the City's Arastradero Road
Traffic Calming -Trial Project.
• Expansion of City-sponsored Walk and Roll to School events to include all elementary
schools in the first week of October, and nearly all in the spring Earth Day promotion, in
conjunction with parent Safe Routes to School volunteers.
Figure 2
Palo Alto Schools Enrollment and Transportation Mode Patterns
PAlJSO Neighborhood Elementary Schools:
Enrollment & How Get to School 1993-2006
4000..-----------_
3500+--------
~ 3000 +--==--
~ .52500
'2
,li2000
c
.:; 1500
a
(I) 1000
500
o
IlIWalk,BI .. ,
Skate
.SIngIo
"""'Ilyear
Page I 5
j
iii
I
Palo Alto -Safe Routes to School Program
VTA-VERBS Grant Program Proposal
Figure 3
Palo Alto High School Usage, 1985-2009
~--------------------------------~
Gunn and Paly: Fall Bike Counts, 1985-2009 Gunn and Paly: Students Biking to School (%)
Figure 4
Palo Alto Middle School Bicycle Usage, 1985-2009
PAUSD Middle Schools: Students Biking to
School (%)
19851991199319971999 2000 2001200220032004 201)5 2006 2007 2008 2009
'i"
Ii'
I.
1
~
600
500
400
300
200
100
PAUSD Middle School Fall Bike Counts,
1985-2009
However, despite these successes, the City has identified areas that require significant
improvement, specifically:
/
Capacity
• The City currently supports school education and outreach programs through a 0.25 full
time equivalent (FTE) staff person, which is adequate to maintain the existing practices,
but does not allow the City to significantly expand or improve upon its successes.
Education
• The existing curriculum materials and communications sent home as part of the K-5
education programs are now outdated and do not adequately serve the community
specific needs of the City's students. Upon funding of this proposal the City will identify
new education materials that may be tailored to these needs and are more relevant to
the city's unique Bicycle-Friendly Community assets.
Page I 6
Palo Alto -Safe Routes to School Program
VTA -VERBS Grant Program Proposal
• . In-classroom education currently stops after 6th grade, just as bicycling mode share
peaks and as students are required to travel longer distances to school. Additional on
bike instruction for middle school students is in demand and urgently needed. Upon
funding of this proposal, the City and the school district will develop and implement
middle school education programs and materials to encourage safe bicycle and walking
practices through the community.
• The parent education program includes outreach material associated with the K-3 and
5th grade in-class education program and annual training for 250 Safe Routes to School
volunteers in the elementary schools. But for middle schools, the only parent education
component is via small "Middle School Bike Skills" classes based on the LAB Kids II
curriculum offered through the City's recreation program which require participation of
one parent. These classes only reach 120 students age 11-14 and their parents each
year, due to instructor availability. Upon funding of this proposal, the City will expand
its education outreach program materials and encourage parent participation in the
Palo Alto -Safe Routes to School program.
Evaluation
• The City currently coordinates classroom tally counts by teachers in grades K-5 each fall
to evaluate the effectiveness of its current education and outreach efforts, but has not
collected the information required to estimate reductions in vehicle miles traveled or
emissions. Funding of this proposal will allow the City to deploy permanent cou nting
stations near schools to collect regular data that will help the City to identify
transportation mode changes, travel pattern changes, and establish accurate
benchmarks to evaluate the efforts of the Palo Alto -Safe Routes to School Program.
• The City has also not conducted a parent survey since 1994. Surveys are an important
element in identifying barriers that may be hindering transportation mode shifts.
Through the funding of this proposal, the City will be able to develop and distribute
surveys on an annual basis to identify perception impacts and trends towards
alternative modes of transportation to schools.
Expanded Outreach and New Program Participants
• Existing education materials provided by the City are provided only in English, despite
the fact that 11 percent of Palo Alto residents speak English "less than very well"
according to the 2006-2008 American Community Survey. Funding of this proposal will
allow the City to develop more engaging materials in multilingual formats including
Spanish and Chinese.
• Twenty two percent of children in elementary grades are in four "choice" programs
located at three school sites. Walking and biking to these schools is significantly lower
tha n at the neighborhood schools. Funding of this proposal will allow the City to work
Page I 7
Palo Alto -Safe Routes to School Program
VTA -VERBS Grant Program Proposal
with the school district to implement a new School pool Program that will allow parents
to more easily identify carpool partners as "Yell as parent volunteers to serve as "walking
school bus" or "bike train" leaders to facilitate safe crossing of busy multi-lane streets.
• City-sponsored Walk and Bike to School Days are promoted twice annually. Some
schools have more frequent walking and biking days,and the City would like to support
more of these events, particularly at the schools where significant mode shift has not
yet taken place, through the funding of this grant proposal.
• The City's existing school commute website is difficult to navigate and difficult for non
technical City staff to update. The availability of a Palo Alto focused Safe Routes to
School website that takes advantage of social network website partnerships will help
the City to better distribute education materials and promote school-focused events.
Additional Needs and Benefits: Reducing VMT
• Despite increases in the numbers of
students biking and walking over the years,
growth in student enrollment at all levels
has meant that auto congestion near Palo
Alto schools continues to be an issue.
• Adding to this congestion issue is limited
school bus service by the school district.
Students may purchase a VTA Community
bus pass, which mainly serves Gunn High
School and may be a financial burden for
low-income families. Through the funding of
this proposal, the City will help to subsidize
monthly pass costs for those families.
Expected Outcome
Arastradero Road
Typical Back-Up to Gunn High
The proposed Palo Alto -Safe Routes to School Program is expected to reach 7,071
additional students,2,877 additional parents, and reduce VMT and emissions related to the
school commute by 1,474 miles daily and 265,356 miles annually. In addition to reduced
VMT and emissions the City expects the improvements will strengthen the community and
improve the health of residents while at the same time installing an appreciation for
alternative modes of transportation in its youngest residents.
Page I 8
Palo Alto -Safe Routes to School Program
VTA -VERBS Grant Program Proposal
Reducing reliance on automobiles will:
• Reduce auto/bike/ped conflicts and increase safety
• Increase the physical health of students walking and biking to school
• Increase students' readiness to learn (a result of increased physical activity)
• Strengthen environmental stewardship
• Increase time spent with peers while walking, biking and school pooling
The City also expects greater participation from families where parents lack fluency in
English and low-income families as a result of multi-lingual outreach.
2. Proposed method to evaluate the reduction in criteria pollutants and congestion.
The City will evaluate the reduction in criteria pollutants and congestion by utilizing a parent
survey and automated counters.
The City will work with the Palo Alto Unified School District to administer parent surveys of
travel behavior and modification resulting from the implementation of other proposed
improvements. A "before" survey will be administered in Fall 2011 and will include
questions asking about mode choice, frequency of mode choice use, distance traveled to
school and knowledge of existing SR2S programs. This will establish a baseline for
calculating Vehicle Miles Traveled, emissions and parent participation in SR2S programs.
After implementation of new programs, an "after" survey will provide the data necessary to
calculate changes in VMT, emissions and parent participation. Surveys will be available
online via the City's and schools' websites and in hard copy in English, Spanish and Chinese
to ensure the greatest reach.
The City will purchase and install automated bicycle and pedestrian counters at all PAUSD
schools in Fall 2011. Counters will continuously track data, which the City will analyze
quarterly.
After analyzing before and after survey responses and counter data, the City will have the
data necessary to calculate the change in VIVlT and criteria pollutants. The City will apply
standard ratios for criteria pollutants emitted by passenger vehicles calculated by the
Environmental Protection Agency.
Page I 9
Palo Alto -Safe Routes to School m
VTA -VERBS Grant Program Proposal
3. Letters of Support for the project from school officials and any ancillary information that
will inform the evaluation process.
The City of Palo Alto has formed a local Safe Routes to School local partnership with the
Palo Alto Unified School District, the Palo Alto Council of PTAs and the Parent Teacher
Associations at individual schools. The attached letters indicate substantial support for the
proposed education, encouragement and evaluation program, see Attachment B -Palo Alto
Safe Routes to School Program -Letters of Support.
The City of Palo Alto was designated as a Gold level Bicycle Friendly City in 2003, based not
only on its well known bicycle facilities but on the commitment to bicycle safety education.
Two current major engineering projects directly related to Safe Routes to School
partnership goals include the Charleston/Arastradero Corridor Plan and the improvements
to the Stanford Avenue/EI Camino Real intersection. In addition, the Capital Improvement
budget includes $100,000 which is available each year for traffic calming projects in the
public right of way near schools and along school commute corridors.
The Palo Alto Police Department is a strong partner in this SR2S partnership. The traffic
sergeant prioritizes enforcement around schools not just during Operation Safe Passage,
but all during the school year. The Chief of Police sends home a letter to K-8 parents at the
start of every school year (see the 2010 letter in Attachment B).
SCORING CRITERIA
Non-infrastructure Improvements
The non-infrastructure improvements proposed by the City are described below. The proposed
program improvements are:
• Additional Half-Time City Staff Coordinator
• Walking and Biking Route Maps Developed from Public Workshops
• Official City Safe Routes to School Website
• Monthly Walk and Roll to School Days
• School pool/Ride Matching Program
• Update Grade 3 Bicycling Life Skills Curriculum
• Expand Middle School Bike Education
• Parent Education Classes
• Student-based Monitoring and Analysis
• Evaluation of Reductions in VMT, Emissions, and Congestion
Page 110
Palo Alto -Safe Routes to School
VTA -VERBS Grant Program Proposal
A. Identification & justification for the proposed project
1. Additional Half-Time City Staff Coordinator
Expanded program: $75,000
Problem: City does not have the resources to expand and improve existing SR2S
programs.
Justification:
Palo Alto currently funds one 0.25 HE staff person to support the SR2S activities. To
administer the additional programs identified in this grant} the City proposes to add an
additional 50 percent FTE dedicated to the new Palo Alto -Safe Routes to School
Program.
The additional coordinator time will allow the SR2S coordinator to take responsibility for
managing the implementation of all of the strategies included in this memorandum}
including Walk and Roll to School Days} School Pool} and in-classroom education efforts.
The coordinator will be the City's primary point of contact at the schools and PTAs, and
be responsible for quarterly reports on the success of SR2S efforts an~ for ensuring that
all materials are translated into Chinese and Spanish in order to serve students
equitably.
2. Develop Walking Route and Improvement Maps from Public Workshops
New program: $175,000
Problem: Parents and students do not have a map with suggested walking and biking
routes they can reference.
Justification:
The City proposes to develop walking/biking route maps for all elementary, middle and
high schools in Palo Alto (17 schools). Maps would be developed collaboratively with
school communities. The City would host a public workshop at each of the 17 schools,
working closely with the school administration, PTAs, parents, and others to identify
preferred routes and problem areas, and to review the maps.
In addition to meeting with stakeholders to develop the maps, the City will inventory
bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure around each school, note the quality of existing
infrastructure, and observe operations at key intersections, including intersections with
adult crossing guards. As part of this effort, the City will refine its establishment criteria
process for assigning adult crossing guards, and evaluate school pedestrian and traffic
volumes at existing and proposed crossing guard locations to determine if the locations
meet City warrants.
Page 111
Palo Alto -Safe Routes to School Program
Walking/biking route maps will display the entire
enrollment boundary of each elementary school,
and will show a pre-determined walking/bicycling
distance from each school (e.g half mile). The
maps will display basic traffic infrastructure such
as traffic signals, all-way stops, and crosswalks,.
and will depict the suggested walking/bicycling
route to school.
3. Develop Official City Safe Routes to School
Website
New program: $40,000
VTA -VERBS Grant Program Proposal
Students can receive incentives, such as
free hike helmets, for walking or hiking to
school
Problem: Existing City School Commute website is limited in scope and difficult for
non-technical City staff to update
Justification:
Despite the success of the City's Safe Routes to School programs, it does not have a
dedicated SR2S website. Community members currently reference a volunteer
developed SR2S website at http://saferoutes.paloaltopta.org/.
The City proposes to develop a website specifically for SR2S/VERBS, which will also be
available in Spanish and Chinese,. The City will work with the volunteers to ensure both
websites complement each other. Formated to City standards, the website will
demonstrate the City's commitment to reducing single-family trips to and from schools
and the burden currently placed on volunteers.
With grant funding, the City will be able to increase the utility of the website. The
website will post SR2S events, a school pool matching form, bicycle and pedestrian
safety tips and other related resources.
4. Monthly Walk and Roll to School Days
New program: $35,000
Problem: The City and PAUSD promote
alternative commute modes two times
per year, but more frequent walk and
roll to school days would more
successfully instill sustainable
commute habits among students and
parents. Walk and RoD to School Days can build
community around a school
Page 112
Palo Alto -Safe Routes to School Program
VTA -VERBS Grant Program Proposal
Justification:
The City currently supports International Walk and Bike to School Day and Earth Day as·
special events for taking alternative modes to school. The City proposes expanding this
type of encouragement activity by actively promoting and supporting monthly Walk and
Roll to School Days throughout the school year at all elementary and middle schools in
the Palo Alto Unified School District. Walk and Roll to School Days will be held monthly
on a specific day of the week (e.g. Walking/Wheeling Wednesdays or Walk and Roll
Fridays). Parents and school staff will greet and accompany students, and staging areas
will be designated along the route to school where groups can gather and walk or bike
together. These events will be promoted to families and the local community through
press releases, articles in school newsletters, and posters and flyers for students to take
home and circulate around the community.
Walk and Roll to School Days will be further enhanced with friendly competitions,
incentives, and prizes. Contests and incentive programs reward students by tracking the
number of times they walk,bike, carpool or take the bus to school. Optional inter
classroom competitions reward the classroom with the highest percentage of students
walking or biking with prizes, such as a class party, and "bragging rights." Smaller
incentives, such as shoelaces, stickers, and bike helmets, will be used to increase
participation.
As a sub-program to Walk and Roll to School days, the City SR2S coordinator will work
with parent volunteers to expand the "Pedaling for Prizes" program at both High
Schools. In this program, prizes (including gift certificates and a raffle ticket for a year
end drawing) will be distributed on random, unannounced days to students who bike to
school. This program resulted in excitement and "buzz" among students last year.
The City will help organize parent volunteers and provide funding for prizes and
promotional materials.
S. Schoolpool/Ride Matching Program
New program: $40,000
Problem: The City/PAUSD does not provide a ride matching program, which could
substantially decrease VMT at schools with open enrollment.
Page I 13
Palo Alto -Safe Routes to School
Justification:
The City, PAUSD, and PTA will develop an official
schoolpool/ride matching program open to alli7
PAUSD schools. The City will place special
emphasis on working with Choice Program
schools, which have open enrollment, and the
middle school where congestion affects morning
commuters on Arastradero Road to identify
ways of increasing alternative mode share.
The school pool matching program will assist
families. in finding other families in their
neighborhood for carpooling, walking or
bicycling together to and from school. The
program will be promoted to families through a
school mailer, newsletter, central website, and
at back-to-school night and other official school
events. Interested families will be matched
based on their schools and their
neighborhoods. Families can opt into the
program if they are interested and will receive
incentives for participating.
A central website will allow families to register
online, provide tips for getting started and
maintaining school pools, and track reductions
in greenhouse gases and miles traveled to local
schools (similar to the Marin Schoolpool
matching website ).1 Parents often have privacy
VTA -VERBS Grant Program Proposal
A schoolpool map matches families
with other interested families who
live near them.
Walking School Buses are fun for students
and alleviate parent concerns about safety.
concerns, and the program and web interface will address these concerns.
As part of the school pool effort, the City will provide training and support for walking
school bus/bicycle train programs. Walking school buses and bike trains are organized
neighborhood efforts that provide a fun way to walk or bike to school and ensure adult
supervision. "Buses" or "trains" involve a group of children traveling to school together
accompanied by one or more adults. As the bus or train continues on the route to
school, it picks up students at designated meeting locations. These efforts will partner
well with Monthly Walk and Roll to School Days. Students walking or biking together can
decide on a name or mascot for their walking school bus or bike train and feel a sense of
community pride. Students can also receive small incentives for being part of the bus or
train.
1 Marin School Pool website: http://www.schoolpoolmarin.org/
Page 114
Palo Alto -Safe Routes to School Program
6. Update Grade 3 Bicycling Life Skills Curriculum
Expanded program: $40,000
VTA -VERBS Grant Program Proposal
Problem: The instructional materials used in this program incorporate age-appropriate
risk reduction training but are now dated and need replacement. The
instructions for the customized on-bike event and the parent outreach
materials need a graphic update and web-based interface.
Justification:
Third graders in Palo Alto currently receive three bicycling skills lessons: an in-classroom
video and discussion about bike safety basics, a grade level presentation by a Palo Alto
firefighter about how to deal with specific hazards faced by young cyclists, and a bicycle
rodeo event during class time with five safety training stations (or six stations at the
larger schools). This effort continues to be a priority for the City, but many of the
educational materials are outdated. In particular, the bike safety video is from 1990 and
is only available in English, and new sets of props are needed for the bike rodeo.
Through this grant, the City will work with teachers and school district curriculum
development specialists to identify suitable replacement materials and ensure that they
are age-appropriate and fulfill state and national curriculum standards. A web site
accessible to teachers, PTA volunteer coordinators and parents will be created to
facilitate the staging of the bicycle rodeo, as well as providing parent outreach materials
in English, Spanish and Chinese.
7. Expand Middle School Bike Education
Expanded program: $80,000
Problem: In-classroom education stops after sixth grade, just as bicycling mode share
peaks and as students are required to travel longer distances to school.
Middle school bike skills classes are available for a fee, but do not reach a
large audience, and are not accessible for low-income families.
Justification:
The City of Palo Alto Community Services
Department currently offers a Middle School
Bike Course through the recreation program.
Instructors certified by the League of
American Bicyclists teach youths how to be
responsible, safe and legal bicyclists on
neighborhood streets, covering traffic law,
lane positioning and intersections. Bicycle
inspection and helmet fitting are followed by
skills practice and a four-mile neighborhood In~classroom education reinforces hands-on skills
learned in previous grades. Page I 15
Palo Alto -Safe Routes to School Program
VTA -VERBS Grant Program Proposal
ride with immediate feedback on technique. The program is comprehensive and well
received, but until now the City has only been able to offer four to six courses per year,
In addition, because of the fee involved, it is not equitably accessible to all families.
Through this grant, the City will collaborate with the PAUSD Middle Schools to integrate
the Middle School Bike Course into the physical education curriculum with the goal of
reaching all middle school students in the Palo Alto School District.
8. Parent Education
Expanded program: $25,000
Problem: Many parents lack the skills necessary to teach their children bicycle and
pedestrian skills. The elementary parent education program includes
valuable information for parents of bicyclists up to age ten, and is provided
twice annually through the PTAs, but only reaches 50-75 parents each year.
In comparison, 4,500 students bicycle to Palo Alto's schools each day.
Justification:
A local League of American Bicyclists-certified instructor offers a "Bringing Up Bicyclists"
class for parents or guardians of children up to age ten. The goal of the class is to give
parents the information they need to teach children to become safe and responsible
bicyclists. The course covers developmental abilities and limitations of children that
affect cycling abilities, common mistakes made by children when bicycling, basic bicycle
skills that are appropriate to teach elementary-aged children, and how to evaluate a
child's current bicycling skills and abilities. The course also covers helmet selection and
fit, bicycle selection and fit, and includes a viewing of the video "A Kid's Eye View." This
grant will allow the City and PAUSD to offer and promote a "Bringing Up Bicyclists" class
at each of the twelve area elementary schools.
9. Student-Based Program Monitoring and Analysis
New program: $100,000
Problem: Hand-tally counts by classroom teachers and summarized by the City provide
a snapshot of mode share and program participation twice a year, but an
extended monitoring program does not exist.
Justification
Collecting bicycle and pedestrian count data at all schools can provide valuable
information about program participation over time, and count data can be used in a
variety of innovative activities to encourage students to bicycle and walk. The City will
purchase and install infrared counters at every school to establish baseline bicycle and
Page 116
Palo Alto -Safe Routes to School Program
VTA -VERBS Grant Program Proposal
pedestrian counts. These data will be used to monitor daily activity, as well as activity
during special events, such as Walk and Roll to School days.
As part of this program, the City will provide resources to integrate data collection and
analysis into math and science curriculum at the middle schools and into high school
statistics or environmental science classes. Students will track walking and biking
volumes collected by the counters. They will use the data to learn about the health and
air quality benefits obtained from walking and biking to school, by calculating calories
burned and pollutants avoided.
The count data will also be used for encouragement events. For example, a school could
set a target pedestrian/bicyclist goal. If made available on-line, the count data could
allow parents to track school progress toward a goal or contest, and the data could be
used as a feedback tool to encourage students and parents to walk or bike to school.
These data would make it possible, for the first time, for the City to modify the
implementation of programs based on the data and analysis in a timely manner.
10. Evaluation of Reductions in VMT, Emissions, and Congestion
New program: $50,000
Problem: The City currently conducts annual classroom hand-tally counts in
elementary schools and bicycle counts at secondary schools to monitor the
effectiveness of the programs to encourage alternatives to solo driving to
school, but has not collected the information required to estimate reductions
in vehicle miles traveled, emissions, or congestion.
Justification
Two goals of the program improvements are to reduce school-related vehicle miles
traveled and associated emissions and congestion. To understand the effectiveness of a
program, it is necessary to monitor and evaluate any changes in VMT.
The City will evaluate program effectiveness in reducing VMT with parent surveys and
collecting walking and biking volumes from installed automated counters. These two
data sources will allow the City to compare travel behavior "stated" in parent surveys
with "observed" behavior collected by counters.
The City will work with PAUSD to develop and administer multi-lingual (English, Spanish,
and others as needed) parent surveys, which will be available online or in hard copy.
Survey questionnaires will ask about school access/egress mode choice, mode choice
frequency and distance traveled. In addition, the questionnaire will ask about parent
Page 117
Palo Alto -Safe Routes to School Program
VTA -VERBS Grant Program Proposal
B. New or increased number of students/ schools / school grades anticipated to participate
Current figures show that 5,180 students participated in PAUSD SR2S education programs in
2009-10. Table 1 lists the in-classroom education available by grade and the number of
participating students. The City expects the proposed improvements to significantly expand the
program, as described below.
Table 1
In-Classroom Education, 2009-2010
Number of
Grade Program Responsible Party Students
(2009/2010)
K Pedestrian safety class seminar and Safe Moves 875
1 Pedestrian safety participatory Safe Moves 920
2 Pedestrian safety participatory Safe Moves 834
3 Bicycling life skills-three lessons: Classroom teachers 862
• Class-based discussion and Palo Alto Fire Department
video: bike safety basics Parent volunteers
• Key traffic skills for cyclists Palo Alto Medical
(grade level assembly) Foundation
• On-bike event: students Stanford University
rotate through 5 stations Cycling Club
5 BikejTraffic Safety Refresher Palo Alto Fire Department 840
Grade level assembly, with
PowerPoint & "The Bicycle Zone"
video
6 Making Safe Choices: Drive Your Bike Rich Swent, League 859
Middle PowerPoint Certified Instructor
School with Silicon Valley Bicycle
Coalition
Total 5/180
Table 2, on the next page, details estimates of the number of new students reached by each
program, and the associated reductions in vehicle miles traveled. The City estimates the
proposed programs will reach 7,071 new students and 2,877 new parents.
Page 118
Palo Alto -Safe Routes to School
VTA -VERBS Grant Program Proposal
Table 2
Number of Students Reached by Proposed Progroms
Proposed Program Improvement
Develop Official City SR2S
Website
Monthly Walk and Roll to School
Days
School pool/Ride Matching
Program
Update In-Classroom Education
Video for Grade 3 Bicycling Life
Skills Curriculum
Expand Middle School Education
Parent Education
Develop Walking Route and
Improvement Maps from Public
Workshops
Student-Based Program
Monitoring and Analysis
dents reached by new
s
Total parents reached by new
1. Air Quality Improvements
Estimated New
Students/Parents
Served Notes
Assumes 10% of 11,847 enrollment uses
1,184 parents website
Assumes walk and bike mode share at
elementary schools increases from 50%
1,915 students to 85% percent on WBTSD.
Focused effort on choice schools (1,500
1,500 students enrollment).
Predicted number of third graders in
930 students 2011-12.
2,636 students Enrollment at middle schools (2,636).
Assumes 25% of parents at elementary
1,368 parents schools are reached (5472 enrollment).
Assumes participation by 25 parents at
325 parents each of 13 elementary schools.
Assumes participation by 3 high school
science/math classes of 30 students
90 students each.
7,071
2,877
The proposed improvements will expand reach to 7,071 new students. Based on 2006 mode
share data, it is safe to assume 40 percent of students attending neighborhood schools and
48 percent of students attending choice (open enrollment) schools ride in single-family
vehicles: 2,948 students. This represents the target group that may switch to alternative
modes as a result of the program improvements. The City estimates that 10 percent of the
target group will shift to biking and walking and 10 percent will shift to carpooling. This will
result in walking, biking and carpool trips replacing 1,474 motor vehicle miles on a typical
school day. This is in addition to the approximately 9,000 miles already walked, biked or
skated by the 4,500 students who currently walk, bike or skate to school. The total annual
VMT replaced as a result of the improved program will be 265,356 miles.
Page 119
Palo Alto -Safe Routes to School Program
VTA -VERBS Grant Program Proposal
The proposed parent surveys and counters will provide data to replace the assumptions
mentioned above. The table below shows our calculations.
Table 3
Estimated VMT Reductions Resulting from the Proposed Program Improvements
Total students reached by new
programs 7,071
Total parents reached by new
programs 2,877
Assumes 40% mode share for
Number of students reached who neighborhood schools, 48% SOV mode
currently take SOV to school 2,948 share for choice schools.
Number of students who will shift Assumes 10% mode shift to walking and
to walking and biking 295 biking from SOV due to new programs.
Number of parents who will shift Assumes 10% mode shift to carpooling
from SOV to carpooling 295 from SOV due to new programs.
Assumes 2 mile round trip distance for
walking/biking and 3 mile round trip
Daily VMT Replaced 1,474 distance for carpooling.
Total Annual VMT Replaced 265,356 180 day school year.
Note: mode share estimated based on Palo Alto's 2006 hand-tally data.
2. Multi-Agency Collaboration
Palo Alto's SR2S program has been a collaboration between the City, Palo Alto Unified
School District, and the Parent-Teacher Associations. Their collaboration was formalized in
2005/2006 when the Executive Board of the Palo Alto Council of PTAs, the Palo Alto School
Board, and the Palo Alto City Council formally endorsed the National Safe Routes to School
Partnership Consensus Statement.
In addition, Transportation staff from City's Planning and Community Development
Department have collaborated with the Palo Alto Fire Department, Police Department and
local instructors certified by the League of American Bicyclists to deliver in-classroom
bicycle and pedestrian education to students at the City's twelve elementary schools and
three middle schools.
Two mUlti-agency advisory bodies weigh in on SR2S matters. The City/School Traffic Safety
Committee is the official advisory body to Palo Alto Unified School District and the City of
Palo Alto and meets monthly. Membership consists of two City staff members (from
Transportation and the PAPD), two PAUSD staff members (one representing the District
Office and one representing the principals), and three PTA traffic safety representatives
(one each from elementary, middle and high schools). The City/School Liaison Committee is
composed of two City Council members and two PAUSD board members, and meets
Page I 20
Palo Alto -Safe Routes to School Program
VTA -VERBS Grant Program Proposal
monthly with the Deputy City Manager and the Associate Superintendent. Once or twice a
year the agenda includes an update on Safe Routes to School programs or specific locations
of concern.
3. Local Match
The City will provide a 20 percent match for the project in the amount of $132,000.
4. Innovative Public Outreach/Education
The City has successfully implemented 10 years of SR2S programming and is proposing a
variety of innovations to tap even more potential walkers, bikers and carpoolers. At the
heart of each program is the desire to improve quality of life in Palo Alto, which includes
reducing VMT and improving the health and safety of students.
Calculating the benefits from VMT reduction and increased walking and biking is not just a
task for the City. Students learn valuable concepts in environmental stewardship when they
are able to apply their studies to real world scenarios. The City will work with PAUSD to
integrate automated counter data collection into appropriate classes at middle and high
schools. Not only will the students learn how many calories their peers burned or how
much greenhouse gas emissions they prevented on their way to school, but they could also
engage in spirited competition to see which school makes the most walking and biking trips.
Public outreach is the only way to meet the needs of residents. The City proposes an
intensive set of multi-lingual outreach strategies. If awarded the grant, the City will host
public workshops at each of the 17 schools. Workshops will include multi-lingual materials
and, where needed, translators. The parent survey will also collect valuable information
about parent concerns and desires that will help successfully implement a school pool
program.
The schoolpool program will employ an innovative strategy to improve the effectiveness of
walking school buses and bike trains. While most schoolpool programs just match families
according to home addresses the City will train neighborhood "champions" (parents who
volunteer to lead a group of children from their neighborhood) how to safely commute with
a group of children. The community already has many champions ready and willing.
In addition, the City will expand training to teach parents how to teach their children safe
biking and walking skills. This innovation addresses the need to encourage parents to be
positive role models for their children.
Page I 21
Palo Alto -Safe Routes to School Program
VTA-VERBS Grant Program Proposal
5. Project Readiness
The City demonstrates project readiness by offering 20 percent matching funds and
confirming support from Palo Alto Unified School District. In addition, the City has an
existing communication network both at the policy level through the City-SChool liaison
Committee chaired by elected officials from the City Council and the Palo Alto School Board.
At the staff level, the City has an existing City-School Traffic Safety Committee made up city,
school district, and PTA members. Both of these boards will assist the City is developing
criteria and projects through the program and to implement them within the time
constraints of the grant.
Page I 22
Palo Alto -Safe Routes to School
VTA -VERBS Grant Program Proposal
Attachment A
Palo Alto -Historical BikelPed Collision Map 2003-2008
hd .. "liInorBlqdbtColli.loM{200HG08)
• lCblfism
• HCoillloo!
• 7·11W11i1ion.
Sc!io9l
Pail:
~ PAlOAllQ
Attachment B
Palo Alto -Safe Routes to School Program -Letters of Support
Letters of Support for the Palo Alto -Safe Routes to School Program are provided from the
following entities:
Palo Alto Police Department (Lt. Mike Denson, Traffic and Parking Manager)
Palo Alto Unified School District (Robert Golton, Co-CBO and Bond Program Manager)
Palo Alto Council of PTAs (signed by President Terry Godfrey, and Boris Foelsch and
Stefan Rosner, co-chairs of the Council of PTAs Traffic Safety Committee:
School PTAs:
o Addison Elementary School PTA
o Duveneck Elementary School PTA
o Escondido Elementary School PTA (includes principal Gary Prehn)
o Walter Hays Elementary School PTA
o Hoover Elementary School PTA (includes principal Susanne Scott)
o Nixon Elementary School PTA
o Ohlone Elementary School PTA
o Palo Verde Elementary School PTA
o Jane Lathrop Stanford (JLS) Middle School PTA
o Jordan Middle School PTA
o Terman Middle School PTA
o Gunn High School PTSA
o aalo Alto (Paly) High School PTSA
-Additional letters:
o Richard Swent, League of American Bicyclists Certified Instructor
o Lisette Narragon, President, Greenmeadow Communi~y Association, Inc.
Ms. Celeste Fiore
Valley Transportation Authority
Programming & Grants
3331 N First Street, Bldg B2
San Jose, CA 95134
Dear Ms. Fiore,
C~lY-of Palo Alto
Police Department
May 13, 2010
I am writing in support of the City of Palo Alto's application for Valley Transportation
Authority (VTA) Vehicle Emissions Reductions Based at Schools (VERBS) funding for
non-infrastructure improvements.
The Palo Alto Police Department participates actively in our local Safe Routes to School
partnership and gives high priority to ensuring the safety of students on their way to and
from school throughout the school year. In addition to enforcement of our traffic laws,
we fund adult crossing guard positions at 29 intersections in our City and monitor the
guards on duty to be sure they are using the proper procedures to help students cross
safely. Our officers also spend time on the streets reminding secondary students to
obey stop signs and other safety regulations, including wearing properly fitted helmets.
When that reminder is not suffiCient, they issue citations that may be cleared through the
county's juvenile diversion program, a.k.a. "bicycle traffic schoo!."
More broadly, we believe that when law enforcement is supplemented by traffic safety
education and <eflgineering-improvements, in addition to programs that encourage
alternatives to driving solo and reduce congestion around our schools, our streets are
safer. For this reason,our:officers lead the Driveway Station in the third grade bike
rodeo at elementary' schools each fall, teaching the basics of how to enter the roadway
safely. Our traffic sergeant takes an active role in the City/School Traffic Safety
Committee which initiated this collaborative Safe Routes to School effort. See -the
attached letter to parents from the Chief of Police that went out at the beginning of the
school year for additional evidence of our partnership with the schools and the
community. .
This application for VERBS non-infrastructure funding would strengthen the education
and encouragement components of Palo Alto's Safe Routes to School partnership, but it
would also provide an important opportunity for thorough evaluation of our results. I
heartily recommend that you support the City of Palo Alto's application for VERBS grant
funding. .
Printed with soy-based inks on 100% recycled paper processed without chlorine
Sincerely,
~~~~
Lieutenant Mike Denson
Traffic/Parking Manager
275 Forest Avenue
Palo Alto, cA 94301
650.329.2406
650_329.2565 fax
650.617.3120 Administration fax
CitY-of Palo Alto
Police Department .
August 2010
Dear Parents of-Elementary School Students,
The Palo Alto Poiic~ Department is a strong supporter of the local Safe Routes to School
Partnership and its goal of creating a community environrilent that encourages more families to
walk and bicycle to school. We invite you to join the City of Palo Alto, the :palo Alto Ul1.ified
' .... Sclido1 'Dismcf(P AUSDyaiid:PalcfAJto Cotlficilof PTAs' ifiom ongoing' efforts to ensure' a
safe school commute for your child and all students in our comrilunity.
During the times when about half of all P AUSD students are getting to and from school by
foot, on bikes or in buses and carpools, the Police Department Traffic Team prioritizes traffic
enforcement on school commute routes .. We target speeding, red light running, faHl.lre to yield
at stop signs and crosswalks and other safety violations around schools throughout the year. .
The department also provides thirty Adult Crossing Guards at qualified school commute
crossings, and participat.es in periodic county-wide "Operation Safe Passage" campaigns to
crack down on school zone traffic violations.
Educating young children in how to walk and bike safely is also important, and I'd like to ask
for your help. The Police Department assists other Safe Routes to School partners in providing
in-school traffic safety education to your child, but these skills must be regularly practiced in
ord~rto become habit. See the reverse side of this letter for a list of key safety tips for cyclists,
. pedestrians and drivers. Please review this information with your children. If you make these
safeprl;,\ctices part of your daily school cOIluilUte, your children will learn safe street skills that
will last a lifetime.
Safety along school commute routes is also facilitated ifparents reduce traffic congestion by
choosing an alternative to driving solo to school whenever possible. If walking, biking or
taking th'e bus is not feasible for your children, we urge you to consider carpooling, especially
on rainy days. Look for information on "Walk & Roll" eyents during the first week of October.
No matter how you choose to travel to school, I encourage you and your'children to always
share the road safely with other students and parents. Please use extra caution and try to arrive
early to avoid the last minute rush in the morning. Remember that the maximum legal speed in
a school zone is 25 miles per hour, and that using seatbelts and booster seats save lives.
If you have any particular traffic questions or concerns, please contact Sgt Robert Bonilla at
(650) 329-2683. Let's all work together for a safe school commute in Palo Alto in 2010~ 11.
Printed with soy-ba..,d inks on 100% ,ecycled pap"' processed without chlorine
Si~~
Dennis Burns
Police Chief
275 Forest Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301
650.329.2406
650.329.2565 fax
650.6173120 Administration fax
Bicycle Safety Tips
Be predictable.' This means following the same rules of the
road as car drivers do when riding your bike. Avoid crashes
as well as traffic tickets by obeying ALL stop signs, traffic
signals, and other traffic laws.
Ride on the right, moving in th~ same direction as
traffic. Wrong way riding is extremely dangerous. If th,ere
is no bike lane, ride as far to the right as practicable. Stay
visible to traffic by not weaving in and out of parked cars.
Wear your helmet and buckle it every time -it's the law.
To best protect yourbrain, your helmet must fit properly:
snug and level on your head, just above your eyebrows.
Make eye contact with drivers -especially at intersections
and driveways. Don't assume that drivers see you! Watch
for right·turning cars by checking over your left shoulder.
Be alert and visible. Watch out for doors being opened
from parked cars, cars turning left or right, and cars coming
out of driveways. Avoid riding on sidewalks ." you are most
visible in th'e roadway with other vehicles.
You always have the option of getting off your bike and
becoming a pedestrian. Consider this if the intersection is
especially crowded. Move out of the stream of traffic, get off
your bike and walk it in the pedestrian crosswalk.
Obey adult crossing guards or the safety patrol. They
are there to help you cross'congested'intersections safely.
,Do NOT carry things In yqur hands. You should secure
anything you need to carry on your bike rack or basket.
Keep your backpack snug, not dangling low on your back.
Pedestrian Safety Tips
Be alert. look for cars coming from all directions before
entering the street -including from behind you.
Don't assume drivers see youl Make eye contact -
especially at intersections and driveways.
Obey adult crossing guards or the safety patrol. They
are there to help you cross congested intersections safely.
Be predictable. Do not make sudden moves that place you
in the path of oncoming vehicle traffic. Wait until it's your
turn at traffic signals.
Cross at corners. This Is where drivers expect to see you.
Crossing mid-block is hazardous as well as being illegal
near traffic signals. ,
At intersections with traffic signals, start crossing with
the white WALK symbol only. Do not start to cross once
the red flashing hand appears -. wait for the next light cycle.
_ PARENTS: Help your student learn
how to use our streets safely.
Help your child choose the best walking or
cycling route •• it may not be the same way
you would drive in acarI
Children who regularly practice safe walking
and biking with their parents are more likely,'
to make safer choices as teenagers.
Driver Safety Tips
Always observe the 25 mph maximum
speed in sch091 zones.
, Obey'''No Right Turn on Red" signs
wherE~ posted at school intersections.
This allows children to cross safely without
, cars turning through the crosswalk.
Set a good safety example by following
instructions of crossing guards. Also:
• Yi~ld to pedestrians in crosswalks.
• Avoid making U-turns and other unsafe
maneuvers.
• Don't double park. Avoid blocking red
curbs or disabled access ramps.
• Ma'ke sure your child gets out of your
car on the curb side, not near traffic.
• Use booster seats to make adult seat
belts safer for children younger than 8
years old or under 4'9" tall.
Be aware of school commute routes. '
Children walking or blking to school help
reduce traffic congestion -give them a
brake and use extra-caution. Young
children think that cars can stop instantly,
and may not be able to judge speed or
distance,of vehicles moving toward them.
Try to carpool whenever Possible to help
reduce the congestion around schools.
Don't rush -leave home a few minutes
earlier instead!
Report ALL cra~hes involving
.studerts to the PAPD at 329-2413,
even if there are no injUries. Also
contact your school office to fill out the
PAUSD incident report form.
For more safe routes to schOOl information,
see the PTA Council Safe Routes web site:
http://saferoutes.paloaltopta.org
"~();~tQ: ~WI~»:$COO4)~ll~:rJncr
~.~G~Hitl~~¢ff~e • PaloA:lJO, eA:9.430.1l
T:cl~~~d.~e;, ~~'1»:32~-3.:2$Q (F,M(f l~S.Q) 129-3803
I am.~,onbtdtllfofPat6 A1teUtiified Stlheol~'Distrlet in S~PQrt'ofthe City~f'P~J~Alto4§. . ....
, afimrf(}r VaJl'ef' 'l'i:~lt9r4ti~J):J\:w~QrlJY JYr.~ 1!e,~fcre ..'mi8$Jf)1i6"1Wtl¢tiQ1J$lJ.q~ftdiitS(JhQQls
.: 'R&.f~~g:toJtn:()ntinth1stru:ctul$~itnpt(09elneJ\ts. . . .
:mlt~Q~,~006; thell~.at.d llfEuu(!!ltif:)u:QLthe:J:ltdu AltotIrtifieaScliliol Uisti;iCtend0t.sed the'Safe
J.\alitesie S&hQ'Qt'NjiliQMt:P.am~rsb'ip wifll·the!City. of'PalnA:ifol8;td ~beJjalQAltQ ~<mnp.U ~f'PTN. O~f
,shared(goal istosusffMg a~ity/&.~n~qllc~~jfy ,~rJ;r1~hjp t.Q'teauc~ dsks to $!ud~nts'tn routeto flnd,
'from 50M~1.1.ljiS:,PQttn~t&lliP' i'$:lfafiijti0fj1h~S E's~ B4uQitio~~;EneoUl'a.semen\'Bnf6rcement,
:Bngme.et~~.:antrEv:a.tualiOn,pro.grams.,.
{)uf.'Di$'tliol is«JoogytfmfiJ?itmer~w.ithtbeCl1y of-Palo Alto:otl'lraffiearrd P~~~!M.t !l,tla':lin~.~ $#~~~;
;Our;enrofJment has i~r~;~ss~th(lJy-~~'y~ar ~lll9~,l~~'M4.,tllt~r.~to~. ·th.,:m:mtb.etofpateJit .
• (ftlv'f$·a'lSo m.'i((~~.'fhe;e1ltY _ ~eel11m.\iri'filuableFartner4amifilatin&1h'e1Taroc'im;pa~atW·
4llsDjn.encoura~g;'b1c~cle:thtnsportatiOnasan, ;. W~!.r~9.~tb~jlr,1b\vy'~iJ«~nt_'w'ehl!;y,e .
se,6(1:Jro:~tol1lti~g gt'~wtlHn'tIi~ num~:Q.f~tu:denti 'lh~:l?ar~lttst)iEi~tfu:.;l0scnodL
ls,hould adtiPtturt:an,importanti'\{~hi~letortlli~ pat1l'ter$hiRis.l~e:Git.y/$ohotii ~Tt4ftl{; ;SitfetyCoblifjittee.
't~f$:~mrti.tt.J::~;'nt~ll.itfQtdb:t~ d.uring'tke.:acliool:year.8nil"cdbSisfs,:o'fa representative ;fronl~:City,
~transpo:r.tation:departmentf uepJI.esentativ..e·:frQIP fue :'Ppli~;"'l\rtm~t 1( t~p:t~$\tn~ti'Ye,fu:jflj8Gho:iS1
])imlp.t !t4m'i~i4iQq; a;$,-qh~QltlrbWi"pll}. ~~t1tht~ ~l.tJY~S';:WQiit tile PTA's traffic safety board.
l'fu,;:.ct)b.lmfttee-~s fnvli!uabJe·i1iJle.lp,mgto resolveimttic is&uesl'~~:tb\~ltI 'tb:e.'~~'and In
'enron~"tl~ .. , Tit~'a'r.'-engll.g~A *l~s~ 4n ~y~~$lI~lt~~: ~l'~fu:Alt~ WarU:-AQ'd'ltol1'sieVetl'flb eftctillOlie
"~.f1'''''~1ies;+: .?ihm;ij' .tf>~ftiiaHM$10:Jr,l:'(i,+",-01t6 ,1 .m!J • .,. ,~d,.,l ",(t'l< ..• S" ... w~~ ..... \ ........ P ~T-:qg.w8,.o.
il~·nw9.ing;" ..jJi(S,gt@fwqul.d';;~Qfl$pltaatdnc;istlccj$S~:S Qfth1s:$ateR~u~stOSGho01 p.artoersltlR
'and t\e'lPus4 :ilriproMe'theet!utaatian cm:pedestrian.and&i . . ;fti;l~bl~ tQ ptU:v~fitd~t1ts:llttd
'their parents_ Otb~ ¥ljl\la1>l~ UJj~~tv.e~ mt;lQ.pil 4~Y~1j)ptttB'W~t . . -·n.g:mttte, maps fot eVery
~¢hQttl i~te..,~i;eatlng a~centmi 8afe.Ri)ljbj$ to Sehool,webSite;and'pr,oyttiing!,greatet in.~iivesf'ot
·participaiion -iilWfilk: and 'Roll-to Schooley~,
I s6:onglY.~Jltage y~u t~S"Ppprt ih¢City l)f~hlQ Aitq'$\tlp))Uca;t1onJbrVWRB:$ gt'a»tbid~t.
Sine.r~
,,;4:{.,I;1&'
R.ob.ertR notton
tGe£IlOt\ B()nd1?f~gralj\ ~ai'lf;\get
September 27, 2010
Ms. Celeste Fiore
Valley Transportation Authority
Programming & Grants
3331 N First Street, Bldg B2
San Jose, CA 95134
Dear Ms. Fiore,
Palo Alto Council PTII®
everychil!:l.onevolce.
Palo Alto Council of PTAs
25 Churchill Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94306
www.paloaltopta.org
I am writing on behalf of Palo Alto Council ofPTAs in support of the City of Palo Alto's application for Valley
TranSportation Authority (VTA) Vehicle Emissions l,?eductions Based at Schools (VERBS) non·infrastructure
funding.
In Palo Alto, the PTA participates in a Safe Routes to School Partnership with the City of Palo Alto and Palo Alto
Unified School District. Our shared goal is to create and sustain a city/school/community partnership:
. to reduce risk: to students en route to and from school
• to encourage more families to use alternatives to solo driving more often
The funding from this grant would help our partners at the city tie together various existing Safe Routes programs
under one umbrella and bring materials up to date so we can develop and disseminate consistent information
citywide, identifY best practices for traffic safety improvement deployment on school routes throughout the City,
and help us to continue to grow the number of students that walk/bike to school.
The Palo Alto Safe Routes to School Partnership implements comprehensive Education, Encouragement,
Enforcement, Engineering and Evaluation programs. These programs have bel?n evolving in Palo Alto for over a
decade. Based on recent record bike counts at our secondary schools and improving trends for alternative
transportation modes across the district, these progriuns have been successful.
Nonetheless, in recent years, we have faced new challenges. As Palo Alto expands infill housing, funding to
mitigate transportation impacts of this growth has been inadequate. Public streets and parking on and around our
school sites cannot safely accommodate significant increases in auto volumes. It is critically important thatwe
continue to increase the percentage of alternative mode school commuters in order to mitigate potential safety
impacts of higher trip volumes as enrollment rises.
The Palo Alto Council ofPTAs strongly encourages you to support the City of Palo Alto's application for funding.
Sincerely,
T~~S
~
Boris Foelsch, 2010·11 Co-Chair Palo Alto Council ofPTAs Traffic Safety Committee
~20IO-ll eo.c '. Palo All
82/25/213136 22:44 651:13223:3136
ADO'SON ~RY SCUOOJ.. f7fl
l-' I\lIJ ALTO U]IU1IlSI) SCHOOL DlS'J.'IUCT
650 AOOISO:\ll AVBNOS
PALO ALTO. CALIf!ORNlA 94a01
Soptelnbef 26, 2010
MI. 0I1ostc Ftore vancy Transportation. Authority
Pro,sramming" Grlmll
3331 N Plut Stl'Oot, Bldg B2 s.a Jon, CA '51'4
Dear MI. Flore,
ADDISON ELEM SCHOOL
I "m writing Qft behalf fit lIIe Addison Elementary Sobool nA in mpport o(ebe City ofPato Alto'"
llJ'PIiCitft:m fur Valley Transportation Authority (VT A) YMlele Entinl""!t R~ 803M QI
Scltwls (VERBS) IIOD-l.DfiutIuct\l:re wuding to slNfJgthoa Palo Alto Sa& Routes to School
programs. .
The Palo Alto sate Routes to Sc1loo1 PartIICfiblp Itoplerlllmts comptCherilli'llc Bducaticm, BnCOUfllloment,
EnfOrctrileRt. Engineering and Bvalvatkm proarama. OUr schoairesulllfly pI'OmOl1I$ ,...Iking. blklnl_
rollin, to school Ad holds .. yearly Bike R~deo fur 3111 Graders mr bike iIIfaty. Those PI'OIPRIIJ have btIIn
. wolvln& in Palo Alto for over a deoade. Belled on fCCUlt ~ bikl: counts lit tntf ~ schools ancJ
imp{oving t\'Oft& for l1tcmarivc 1l'IInSp000000on modes aCfClll! the di&trlcr. tbcso ptopurI. haw been
lIucccaful.
ne fllRding &om this pint would hotp tie together'tlanOUll oxtsting Safe ROQ* to School p1.'08W\t. under
ont umtmlU. III'Id bl'inglJllteriaie \IP to date M) we em develop GIld clfalilamil11l1c coufetont fafbrmatfon
cityWide. tdontilY bert pracdca ff!(' uaftic eatety dcploym_ O1leobooll'Oult.1I throusttout die City. anel
help IItI oontlnuo to grow the numb .. of stwhml8 ht walkJbike to school.
It i$ critically lirtportBl\t.at we continue to inc:roaae tho ~ ... o of.ltemlltiva mod; school commUUl('S
t" order 1.10 mttlp .. potlmtltlllmptOls of'biab=r trip volumt:lllllll fWOItniaftt in our dlRldl:t r1sos. .
The Add"OD Btemotltary School PTA wongly enooumgc$ you to support the City off.lo Alto's
application for grant ftltlellnc.
PAGE ElllBl
PALO ALTO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT
DUVENECKELEMENTARYSCHOOL· 705ALESTERAVENUE • PALO ALTO. CA94303
(650) 322-5946
September 29, 2010
Ms. Celeste Fiore
Valley Transportation Authority
Programming & Grants
3331 N First Street, Bldg B2
San Jose, CA 95134
Dear Ms. Fiore,
I am writing on behalf ofDuveneck Elementary school and we are in support of the City of Palo Alto's
application for Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Vehicle Emissions Reductions Based at
Schools (VERBS) non-infrastructure funding to strengthen Palo Alto Safe Routes to School
programs.
The Palo Alto Safe Routes to School Partnership implements comprehensive Education, Encouragement,
Enforcement, Engineering and Evaluation programs. W~ have a very busy street by our school and with
the safety programs we have used in the past this street is safer for our children. These programs have been
evolving in Palo Alto for over a decade. Based on recentiecord bike counts at our secondary schools and
improving trends for alternative transportation modes across the district, these programs have been
successful.
The funding from this grant would help tie together various existing Safe Routes to School programs under
one wnbrella and bring materials up to date so we can develop and disseminate consistent information
citywide, identify best practices for traffic safety deployment on school routes throughout the City, and
help us continue to grow the number of s~<;lents that walklbike to school. .
It is critically important that we continue to increase the percentage of alternative mode school commuters
in order to mitigate potential impacts ofJ:tiglier trip volwnes as enrollment in our district rises.
The Duveneck PTA strongly encourages you to support the City of Palo Alto's application for grant
funding.
Kim Robins
PTA Co-President
Duveneck Elementary School
September 28, 2010
~s.<JelesteFiore
Valley Transportation Authority
Programming & Grants
3331 N First Street, Bldg B2
San Jose, CA 95134
Dear Ms. Fiore,
Escondido Elementary School PTA
890 Escondido Road
Stanford, CA 94305
650-856-1337
We write on behalf of the Escondido Elementary School administration and PTA in support of the City of Palo
Alto's application for Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Vehicle Emissions Reductions Based at Schools
(VERBS) non-infrastructure funding to strengthen Palo Alto Safe Routes to School programs.
The Palo Alto Safe Routes to School Partnership implements comprehensive Education, Encouragement,
Enforcement, Engineering and Evaluation programs. These programs have been evolving in Palo Alto for over a
decade. Based on recent record bike counts at our secondary schools and improving trends for alternative
transportation modes across the district, these programs have been successful.
The funding from this grant would help tie together various existing Safe Routes to School programs under one
umbrella and bring materials up to date so we can develop and disseminate consistent information citywide, identify
best practices fOr traffic safety deployment on school routes throughout the City, and help us continue to grow the
number of students that walklbike to school. This is especially important in the Palo Alto Unified School District
(P AUSD) as several sites house "choice programs" (such as the Spanish Immersion program at Escondido
Elementary School) which have wide attendance boundaries.
It is critically important that we continue to increase the percentage of ~lternative mode school commuters in order
to mitigate potential impacts of higher trip volumes as enrollment in our district rises.
The Escondido Elementary School administration and PTA strongly encourage you to support the City of Palo
Alto's application for grant funding.
Sincerely,
G"~~tI'n -f ~o E-..y S~OI
~~
President, PTA, Escondido Elementary School
Stefan R sner
2010-11 Traffic Safety Representative (TSR), PTA, Escondido Elementary School
2010-11 Co-Chair, Palo Alto Council ofPTAs Traffic Safety Committee
Sap 2810 11:10a WALTERHAYSELEMENTARYSC 6503298713 p.2
Walter Hays Elementary School
1525 Middlelleld Road • Palo Alto. CA 94301 • Tet (650) 322·5956 • Fax (650) 329-8713 • www,hay$.pa~.org
PrtnoipIII
Mary Sunmann
""'A~"'" ..........
Cannen MuIIO% Chappuis
Angie Cole
CofMnu~.
Apama Aml)erkar
AnllJaLele ea ...... unlt,y .... _
Debbie Ellisen
HedlerJalllle
CONVaIuu
Mimi Gasich Lyons .....
COfleeII Gormley
JacldeWaill 'u ...........
JoyI)eCba
AmandaPaIk
IIIHdth ..... a.r.ty
M8laclie NOfali .................
Kristin Major SlcIiano
P"'FMlS
Jennie 8emhe1m
HartWelsb
"cl'WUry
MoIrBrusy
st.Mfu.IMn
Heidi Ke..cher
Me tIDwIoII
JenAmout
Abbr BradskI
Lynn Brown
Mary Bussmann
HalenCemet
'Gabriele Conway
Oana FellWfck
Irina Gorelik
Smila KI:IIha1Icar
Nancy Re,noIds
l.aurle StIea
September 27, 2010
Ms. Celeste Fiore
Yalley Transportation Authority
Programming At Grants
3331 N.First Street, Bldg B2
San lose. CA 95134
Dear Ms. Fiore •
I am writing on bobalf of Walter Hays PTA in support oftbe City of Palo Alto's application
for Vaney Transport.ation Authority (VTA) Yehicle E",iswins Reductions Based at .
Schools (VERBS) no .... infrastructure funding to strengthen Palo Alto Safe Routes to
School programs.
The Palo Alto Safe RoU1es to School Partneabip implements comprehensive Education.
Encouragement, Baforcement, Engineering and Evaltunlon prognsms. These programs bave
been evolving in Palo Alto tbr over a decade. Based OIl recent record bike counts at 0lU'
secondary schools and improving trends for aJtomative transportation modes across the
district, these programs bave been successfW.
n" fUnding nom this grant would help tie tosether various existiDg Safe Routes to School
programs UDder one IImbreUa and hriDg materials up to date so We can develop and
disseminate c;onsistent information oifywide, identify best practices foe traffic safety
deployment on school routes Chroughout the City. and help lIS continuo to grow the number of
atudeats who waltlbike to school.
It is critkally imponant that we continue to iocrease abe peRlCotage of altmnative mode
school conunutelS in order to mitigalo potential impacts of big her trip volumes as enrollment
in our district rises.
The Walter Hays PTA strongly encourages you to support the City of Palo Alto's application
fur gnmt funding.
..
PALO ALTO UNIFIED SCHOOL DtSTRICT
HOOVER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL· 445 EAST CHARLESTON ROAD, PALO ALTO, CA 94306 • Telephone (660) 320-8106
September 27, 2010
Ms. Celeste Fiore
Valley TranspoI'tation Authority
Programming & Grants
3331 N First Street, Bldg B2
San Jose, CA 95134
Dear Mil. Fiore,
I am writing on behalf of Hoover Elementary School PTA in support of the City of Palo Alto's application
for Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Vehicle Emissions Reductions Based at Schools
(VERBS) non-infrastructure funding to strengthen Palo Alto Safe Routes to School programs.
The Palo Alto Safe Routes to School Partnership implements comprehensive Education, Encouragement,
Enforcement. Engineering and Evaluation programs. These programs have been evolving in Palo Alto for
over a decade. Based on recent record bike counts at our secondary scllools and improving trends for
alternative transportation modes across the district, these programs have been successful.
The funding from this grant would help tie together various existing Safe Routes to School programs under
one umbrella and bring materials up to date so we can develop and disseminate consistent infonnation
citywide, identify best practices for traffic safety deployment on school routes throughout the City, and
help us continue to grow the number of students that walklbike to school.
It is critically important' that we continue to increase the percentage of alternative mode school commuters
in order to mitigate potential impacts of higher trip volumes as enrollment in our district rises.
The Hoover Elementary School PTA strongly encourages you to support the City of Palo Alto's application
for grant funding.
Sincerely,
:z:::::oo~
Parissa Mohamadi, Hoover PTA President
September 26, 2010
Ms. Celeste Fiore
Valley Transportation Authority
Programming & Grants
3331 N First Street, Bldg B2
San lose. CA 95134
Dear Ms. Fiore,
L.M. Nixon Elementary PTA
1111 Stanford Avenue
Stanford, CA 94305
Tax ID: 11~0265022
We are writing on behalf of the Nixon Elementary PTA in support of the City of Palo Alto's
application for Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Vehicle Emissions Reductions Based at
Schools (VERBS) nonwinfrastructure funding to stre~en Palo Alto Safe Routes to School
programs.
The Palo Alto Safe Routes to School Partnership implements comprehensive Education.
Encouragement, Enforcement, Engineering and Evaluation programs. These programs have
been evolving in Palo Alto for over a decade. Based on recent record bike counts at our
secondary schools and improving trends for alternative transportation modes across the district,
these programs have been successful.
The funding from this grant would help tie together various existing Safe Routes to School
·programs under one wnbrella and bring materials up to date so we can develop and disseminate
consistent information citywide. identify best practices for traffic safety deployment on school
routes throughout the City. and help us continue to grow the number of students that walkIbike to
school.
It is critically important that we continue to increase the percentage of alternative mode school
commuters in order to mitigate potential impacts of higher trip volwnes as enrollment in our
district rises. The Nixon Elementary PTA strongly encomages you to support the City of Palo
Alto's application for grant funding. In particular, the development of an official Suggested
Route to School Map for the Nixon community would be useful as Nixon has a challenging
school route which crosses a major intersection.
Sincerely,
liu Most IUId Sbali ~s ~ N, MnJ
Co-Presidents, Nixon Elementary PTA
l __ titig,oD,belialf ()ftbeOKecuti~~ ott,\leQ1JlQn,J!l.~ PTA in'Sf.lpport of the City of
:bA,Al .... 1 ... -'~ .... +:tiV.all "I ' d4iti0 A, tho'hfl\1T A \ y~id Bini .... ",." dm:;ti B e4 :a: ~q!f.'UiW .~~OAd)r. ,oy1,'Bl'lSJ)Q" .' ,tl.q;UJ .' ttf/~'" ~~F ,"'!I.!~, ;" wWlfl. .f" .. 0.11(,_, 'IlS;.,
OI'$i.nwi(\1.BDS)non-lDhstmcturefundhl.to ~en Palo Altoi'Satehnte&t()'Sb1iool prosrams.
·T1Je-;P~AltoSaf.:R.outesto:~~o:olP~_p"4PJJJetllen~:~re~nsiv.e aau_G1.1J BD~urage~en\
'J$bf:QMm~:,~~~Jt,$l4By~_qJ.lptf~'i '\V~ h~lV'¢av~'~.u lUl~htwa.te~tw\y,E\t
ObIOmllha.t:itu!(,nunithld fO:bQtb ~1l. am! il_~O:n. A$OUt'~hbQ1..(wlubh\di'aW.IF$tudet1tU\ti.m
.stJ·b.ver1ltePa1o,Altbcuilifie.d .School,DIdtt am) is bothgmwmg,md-wd.fttA·Sipificant
, "'~, ~""','-,f.\;,Rt ..... A ' , ... tl:......... .. d', ' ,:If" .. .' "Un ,,... .... ,, fu ' at .1.:: .. ~-., Q.QDS_",,,,O~~q;.Q.'.I,VI'If3I.~...,:~'~ODUn~¢!IPtUJlJ.lGl..lVes-;atei()leyen.,gt'fla_r, pDJ._ct': .• 'QS,' '~,I.lD "'""'~~
'~~~l"s .~ha~1.leim~l_ltt;}\uQ,Alto tot"ovet;a~e.tad~~,:Basedol1o.~ence
.atOhlQaet,thesepmpunshavo hoen su.s8lbh~lld'Will prolli4e~er ~dftblJy ~ded-,
1'htf'uD.dins:bm'tbis~JtaIltW()1ild~olptte to.JJetl1ervariOll$-existing SafejB.o ... :to::SckO'~lpro~·
.,,~ .. .i.'''~.J'l'''e', ............. :....t1a "'''''~b.i;... ' renats··, ... ft. . .J""~" .. ,,,:w· .... ""'i~ ... ·ef ... ~tm.4·A:i .. """' ..... 1 ...... ~. ,'bSmte '* ~VH.~~J,I,~ 4i ..... SIlUI , .. MPlVWJIIt_."O_~Vi WI" ~.lIJII:lQ\li:1c.o .... ill.
hlfi.'otm~~dhcif..rt ... ·m·· <·deide.,;fM .. tiesfnraeD·· #"" .. ~itd' ...... ~··': .. -dro~et;. D sc ....... o' rottteS B..-:-•• ft'koUl'· .. liN' ~.;l .• n, ~. !".,. ceS.J.~Iil,"".~'!'V, ep.1,~\'t,. :,IiPI''' .. , .. , uu.~'"
the Ciw.81Jc1help U$ :c.Qutinue t.o (Kowtho.Du.mbtr.Qf $denlswhoriklblk'to ~hQQl.
,ltis~tbat\\Te/continuetohtcreue,thcpeteel1taB~of'altemative;m0de school tbrtmlUfets as
,cmt0Ument:hl bm,dtStrict.rlSes.Bvelub&re important i,~ bt~g;th'~ety· Qt'fll~h'x:)lmmUer$.
~.tl13Uiv.:boa(d oftht,QWQl1Q BlQID. ... 1:ItYPTA stXOnglyencoum,,,<you #JSUl'l'Orlthe 'Qi9' of
'N. /dtdllappliuatiolJ for $TMt;tundit1J . . '-.
09/29/261B 68:18 6508566316
September 27, 2010
Ms. Celeste Fiore
VaHey Transportation Authority
Programming & Crants
3331 N First Street Bldg B2
San JOSG, CA 95134
Dear Ms. Fiore,
PALO VERDE ELEM PAGE 02/02
Palo Verde PTA
3450 louis Rd.
POlo Alto, CA 94303
lam writing on behalf of Palo Verde Elementary School PTA In support of the Ctty of
Palo Alto', application for Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Vehicle HmissionJ
Reductions Based at Schools (VERBS) non-infrastructure funding to strengthen Palo
. Alto Safe Routes to School programs.
The Palo Alto Safe Routes to School Partnership implements comprehensive Hdutation,
Encouragement, Bnforcement, Engineering and Evaluation programs. These programs
hav~ been evolving in Palo Alto for over a "decade and have been successful.
At our school. the annua13 rc1 Grade Bike Rodeo hosted in partnership with Safe Routes
to School Is inva1uable in teaching our young riders important bicycling safety skills
and increasing their self "confidence in biking to school. We are actively encouraging
families to choose alternatives to single car trips when commuting to school.
the funding from this grant would help tie together various existing Safe Routes to
School programs under one umbrella and bring materials up to date, develop and
disseminate consistent tnfonnation citywido, identify best practic;es for traffic safety
deployment on school routes throughout the City, and help us grow the number of
students that walk/bike to school.
It Is critically important that we continue to increase the percentage of alternative
mode school commuters as enrollment In our dtstrlct rises. Our neighborhood school
has been particularly impacted by increasing enrollment. Safely redudng the number
of car trips to our small and crowded parklng areas Is Important. We value the City ot
Palo Alto's partnership with us in this goal.
The Palo Verde Elementary School PTA strong1y encourases you to support the City of
Palo Alto's application for grant funding. Thankyou.
~f €eleste :Fiore
vmlevTfitnsPQrtaticmAtttborJty
proir.mmj~g & Grants
3.J31N 'irstStreet, Bldg. 82
~nJ(lst!,tA9S1g4
.D@rM5', FiQ.te,
I amW~(tjn8onbehalN;f Jt{tle tathtt.JpSt.nfotcl W$}of\'J:lddle S:chQOllluppport Qftb~CitY ofPelil.
A1to!s '~.pp.Jitati()n fQr Van~T1'3nJportaJ:iOJIAlIth,"ity (vrA)Veh~'e EmiSSiOl1'. Ret4uetrGRS Bl)$ed at
Sc~~ls (~BS) non .• infrattructure.funQlqg to $tfe_en Palo Alto,$lfeRou.s-toSchool lU'Qg.ra.ms. . - --
Palo Alto's comprehtq$ivtt appi'o:acl'ito$af~ Routes to$CbQol 15 wOrldng atJU.Ourblke:Q)Ul'lts
t(lntlnue·to~grow annually, 11:\,2000, abc$t lSSofJLS stUdi:h\i bike~to seho.ol.. InlOO9,A8% of
student~fbiked ,toschoo1.September 14, 2010,412 ilill.were counted In tl!Je r8ttks on our c8rnp(lS.
Many more JIS students 'Wafk 'or tift-Other aJtemathle mijl.des for fihetr;scho:.o).commute$; iOGluding
I:tlfpooffn,ahd tiding the :bUs. HpW.ve .. ~ o~i"slfe :1!ib~lilg ;tJ<pandedto aa»mmoolB! Itlcr@ls.ed:
.ento8roetilt.The$lteandsurrDunliltns;:streets caMGt:aceommCIci:ate add.ltiOnal ear trlfJ$~sowe wm,beed
to lilcreaseour safe Routes to school efforts. We wittneednewSugge$ted. Ro~s to School pect/bike
mapsias.oursnel slAtemal1extemaJ Circulation ts planned to f;bange. QlQ'eJJ~lon pr.Qgram mm~rlar!i . . . . .
,are,:outdDtedandneed work. New automated oouoter$wiU give us ti mQT&pred6eunderstonding of
seasana' fluctuations in m£ide choices as weli as ef'fect.aof changes ~ scruwl route If'lfrasttudil~.
The rund1rcfromthls'srant would help tie. tGiSefl:ler varJous~lstlng.5afe Rout§tsto Schoolpr0Sram$
Ulld~r ope umbfellaMldbli~ ,trtatetlals,:uJ!tto detet .. s't! Weca,. deflelhp. and dl~sel1)tnatecOns1&tent
itif(jrmatloocitywide .. fdentlfY best tlfadft~s fot'tfaffi:c'silfety tieployment"oosebool route5t'hroughout
theiClty,anct .help ustOf'ltinue to8J'l)Wthe,numberohtudeots tnatwalk/blke,toJI.$ anciotfferPAVSD
sthoof~.
Jane lathrop: Stanford Middle School PTA str:Qng1yenco.urages you to support the City of,PalC[) Alto's
applitation.for grant funding.
Er:tcStl1~ur
P~si.d'$.At
Ja.l1e '1.athrQPS~ofor:d Middle·Scho0lPTA
De.fMa.· Flqre.
Jor.nNliddleSChool PTA
780HorthC.llfornla·Avenue"
P"oAtto~ CA ....
I. lm·wtlifngfOr JQrdanMiddle 8c#to.OI PTAlhl'-U)jpott Clrth.e.ClW .~P:"Q Attc)' •• pl~U9.1'\ tQ,r\!,-"IY
Tr.n..~:Atflhotl\y (VTA)V8hICls.flmIUfOiItt,RBdIJCliOtt'ilk"'.1 SG/JO(IIs(VSR.) I'IQn..fnb..8lrud~re
tur,QIn.gt~~enPalo:AHoS8fe" Rciutes]o'ScihGal pnlQtama ".
!Qur"~~qll.~tltpt~"I~c.o~~*o1pr . .n~dJjI~f1.~8 .~dtnta{re"..entlng. an1 '.I~cru$'ln
ttU(j~":paPUlJltlcm1. 1t18.a~ych_~gl_fQrqt!r$.O;,JI ~ .. "It •. to ma~th. ~\JrQ :.()f~J tl~.'tnp8
Itat~,.!~d.< .W.~tj:~rt.,_,p~tq.eof ~rci.njtu~w.lkI .. l;Ilk1i'l9l" ... ' .... ;lMr~
:~mutU';~i.I8~,"r.191~lnotq""~,.utO;t1:IP8; Y~tbelnte~,:iO~~~~~t~ li~nH.AlF
:Of".,ot~rt';~djtlt':~IK.to~(lJj~lt!:low"that\we"wJlf:AlM9JjtoitePUpouJ'.*"{Qenc.our.age
ell~~~;,m.~ ~I ~m.~"\(f~jgg.tbt~C:lrtlpa.,()f..nrdlmentG,owtn .. ·OUI' prAia
commIlte1ttd.:$iJppQJl.pr.m .... lV& $"~."R~u~,.19 ~t'progI'8i'n8Jn partnftl1hlP WIfh.peloAbUnlfled
SQh®.IQJ$tt.iot,atldihJ C.l\y ()fP.l~tAfto. '
~nqli:IQ from the YER8il19ndnfi'aStrucli.Ire 'orantWOUld help ti~to~r.e~.ng $8f$ ~9~te.. to' $chool
Rrog('Irlja,nd brlhg.m •• rt8I& tfrtIlllQdlngit'l ___ ~'m • .PJ.tfiau.'ur,~lt': W8r.~.o.ur ..
e,xp~!lli.lon.nd·n.wtraflld .afetY lnatrUottC!inartn.t8ti_otl.tft·,n~)~ .~~CG$U'I.~" tJl~wlllhetp
Y.81J~~~ R'I~re accuraledata tk)hetp uscontlhtiftOgrowtht nt;jiribef phtl.(d.WhQ!.lNlndbtke to school. . . . .
ItI~ ~1Y'flTl~rtt .. twa conlin",. toitnerea8ttlhltPEll'elntage.otal18matlYeroocte $.tICib' <;QMl1'lulel) tn:
order toml'" POMatJmJ~ ofplgf)er' Jt:Ip 'voiumH':asenro(lmenUn ountJatnct riMa.
'nte JardanMldOle~SchQOI PTA ancoura_Yi)1.I to supporttbfi City of pl.io Alto'8~appUC8If(ln1or grant
fun~9· '..
Sep 28 2010 2:37PM
September 28,2010
Ms. Celeste Fiore
Valley Transportation Authority
Programming & Grants
3331 N First Street. Bldg B2
San lose, CA 95134
Dear Ms. Fiore.
T_ Middit;' s~~~i PTA
6SS Amtradero Road
Palo Alto, CA 94306
650·856-9810 '
Tax II>: 77·0567364
650-493-7002
J am writing on behalf of Tenrum Middle School PTA ia support of the City of Palo Alto's appJieation fur
Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Vehicle Emlsliom Reductions Based at 8t;hools (VERBS) nOD
infrastructure fimding to strengthen Palo Alto Safe Routes to School programs.
The Palo Alto Safo R.outes to School Partnership implements comprehensive Education, Enoouragement,
Enforcement, '&gineering and Evaluation programs. Our school have bcmefitted from having a crossing
guard on duty every morning and afternoon during the bwdest times of our schoo) day. In addition tho
police patrols have been helpful in educating our community on safety both in vchicles and on bikes.
These programs have been evolving in Palo Alto for over a decacle. Based on recent record bike counts at
our 98condary schools and improving trends for alternative transportation modes across die district, these
programs have been successful.
Tho funding from this grant would help tie together various existing Safe Routes to School programs
under one umbrella and bring 1llateriaJs up to date so we can develop and disseminate consistent
infoJ'lWltion ~itywide, identity best practices for traffic safety deployment on school routes 1hro1lghout the
City. and help us continue to grow the number of students that walkJbike to school.
It is critically important dlat we continue to inerease the percentage of alternative, mode school commuters
in order to mitigate potential impacts ofhighor trip volumes as enrollm~t ia our district rises.
The Terman Middle School PTA strongly encourages you to support the Ci1;y of Palo Alto's application
for grant funding.
Sincerely,
.A9~~~
DaisyZook
PTA President 2010-2011
p.2
.~ Gunn High School Parent Teacher Stu,dent Association
ht1p;Uguno,P8/oaltopta,orQ
2.010-1011 EXecutIVe September 26. 2010
Board & OIIICIHS
Prineipal
Katya Villalobos Ms, Celeste Flore
Praeldent Valley Transportation Authority
GmceYu Progr:al'llJ11ing .. Grants
3331 N First Street. Bldg B2 Exec", VP San Jose, CA 96134
DIane Downend
VP MlAAwlrda Dear Ms. Flore,
Karen MlIVin
co-VP llembarsilip I am wtiting on behalf of Gunn PTSA In support of the City of Palo Alto's appllcation for Valley
~Foung Traneportlition AUthority (VTA) Vehicle EmIssions Reductions Based at Schools (VERBS) non-
Rosemmy Hallal in1\'4l$tJucture funding to itMngthen P8Io Alto Safe ROUIe$ to Scnool programs. .
vpprogram. The Palo Alto Safe Routes to School Partnership implements comprehensive Education,
SIgrid PInsky Encouragement. enforoemen~ Engineering and Evaluation programs. These progrem, have
been evolving In Palo AltO for over a deQ1de. Baed on recent record bike counts at our 8ecrtI8ry . aeoondary echOol$ and Improving trends for alternative transportation modes acrOl88 the
Duncan MacMIllan district. these programs haVe been successful.
TItMIII1r The funding from thie gtal'It would help tie together various exl$Ung Safe Routes to SChool
Jon DukeS-Sdllossberg programs under one umbrella and bring materials up to date $0 we can devt!tlop and
AuditDr dissemInate cortIiltent Infonnatlon oltywlde, identify best practice. for tJ8ffic safety <teployment
DelsyZOOk on IChOoI routes throughout the City. and help us continue to grow the number of students that
walklbike to sChoOl.
HI$torte.n It ia ctitically important that we oontInue to increase the percentage of alternatIVe mOde SQhool c.yn GeIber-CMfy oommuW$ in order to mitigate potential impadB of higher trip VOlumes as enrollment In our
Par1lamentlflan district rises.
SUsan Thomas The Gunn High School PTSA strongly encourages you to support the City of Palo AIto's
IIppllcatiOn fOr grant funding.
PIf:MC tIetwoIts
CIIsa of 2014
SIgIkI Rntly ~-tf71 $ridlsQivahoo,rQm
ClIIS 0'2013
Lauren Janov
IiO~Ll..G¥lflgg,mm
Class 2012 GraCe H. Yu a
Ru1h ShapIro PTSA President _
ruttt@ke~Qtegtes.Si2lIl
Cfltt2011
Maltla eowdeo
~1IIbaI.1IM
780 ~c1Qro Road. paloA~. C;\llfonlla 94306
LOBLSS~OiBL ~O:.l OLO~/B~/so
PI31I
everychild. one voice"
September 27, 2010
Ms. Celeste Fiore
Palo Alto High School PTSA
50 Embarcadero Rd
Palo Alto, CA 94301
Valley Transportation Authority
Programming & Grants
3331 N First Street, Bldg B2
San Jose, CA 95134
Dear Ms. Fiore,
I am writing on behalf of the Palo Alto High School Parent Teacher Student Association
(PTSA) in support of the City of Palo Alto's application for Valley Transportation
Authority (VTA) Vehicle Emissions Reductions Based at Schools (VERBS) non
infrastructure funding to strengthen P~10 Alto Safe Routes to School programs.
The Palo Alto Safe Routes to School Partnership implements comprehensive Education,
Encouragement, Enforcement, Engineering and Evaluation programs. These programs
have been evolving in Palo Alto for over a decade. Based on recent record bike COl.Ults at
our secondary schools and improving trends for alternative transportation modes across
the district, these programs have been successful. .
Bike counts at Palo Alto High School have increased every year for the past ten years
. reaching a record 741 this year. This number represents 40% of the student population.
We certainly want to maintain this phenomenal trend.
The funding from this grant would help tie together various existing Safe Routes to
School programs under one umbrella and bring materials up to date so we can develop
and disseminate consistent information citywide, identifY best practices for traffic safety
deployment on school routes throughout the City, and help us continue to grow the
number of students that walklbike to school.
It is critically important that we continue to increase the percentage of alternative mode
school commuters in order to mitigate potential impacts of higher trip volumes as
enrolhnent in our district rises.
The Palo Alto High School PTSA strongly encourages you to support the City of Palo
Alto's application for grant funding.
Susan Bailey
President
Palo Alto High School PTSA
October 4, 2010
Ms. Celeste Fiore '
Valley Transportation Authority
Programming & Grants
3331 N First Street, Bldg B2
San Jose, CA 95134
Dear Ms. Fiore,
I am writing in strong support of the City of Palo Alto's application for Valley Transportation Authority
(VT A) Vehicle Emissions Reductions Based at Schools (VERBS) funding for non-infrastructure
improvements.
Pirst let me tell you a bit of my background. I have been involved in school traffic issues in Palo Alto since
1994. I was a PTA Traffic Safety Representative at Palo Verde Elementary School, Jordan Middle School
and Paly High School. I am a former chair of the PTA Council Traffic Safety Committee and a longtime
member of the City/School Tmffic Safety Committee. I am a member and former chair of both the Palo
Alto Bicycle Advisory Committee the VTA Bicycle and J>edestrian Advisory Committee. I am a League of
American Bicyclists Instructor and have taught many classes for parents and youth up to age 14. 1 have
worked with Traffic Safe Communities Network and designed classroom curricula for them that have also
been used in Palo Alto schools. I am familiar with school-based walking and bicycling encouragement
programs throughout the County, having organized the first Walk to School Day event in 1999.
Palo Alto hasthe organizational structure and top-to-bottom community commitment to make this progmm
a success. The Sate Routes to School Task Force has been a powerful force since 1996 even though there
has been turnover in the membership of its elected officials. That sustained community commitment is the
foundation for success, but funding is needed to ensure that quality programs can be delivered and that
innovation and creativity can continue to be fueled.'
The funding from this grant would consolidate the successes of this Safe Routes to School partnership and
help us continue to improve the pedestrian and bike safety education available to our students and their
parents. Other valuable initiatives include developing walking and biking route maps for every school site,
creating a central Safe Routes to School website and providing greater incentives for participation in Walk
and Roll to School events.
My experience with TSCN has convinced me that Palo Alto's leadership is valuable for all cities in the
county. Palo Alto is a model that serves as inspiration for others. The Walk to School Day program and the
6th grade bike safety presentations are examples of how Palo Alto's initiative led to county-wide programs
which in turn ended up benefiting Palo Alto.
It's also important to include a more comprehensive evaluation of success in reducing the environmental
impact of driving to school while increasing the safety of students walking and biking to and from school.
I strongly urge you to support the City of Palo Alto's application for VERBS gmnt funding.
Sincerely,
Jt/// ..? Rit:'!~
2950 Clam Dr
Pillo Alto, CA 94303
~?I~
AN EICHLER COMMUNITY IN SOUTH PALO ALTO
303 Parkside Drive
Palo Alto, CA 94306
650.494.3157
650.494.1364
info@greeruneadow.org
www.greenmeadow.org
September 29,2010
Ms. Celeste Fiore
Valley Transportation Authority
Programming & Grants
3331 N First Street, Bldg B2
San Jose, CA 95134
Dear Ms. Fiore,
I am writing this letter on behalf of Greenmeadow Community Association. Inc. (GMCA) in support of the
City of Palo Alto's application for Valley Transportation Authority (VTA) Vehicle Emissiona
Reductions Based at Schools (VERBS) grant.
Greenmeadow is one of Palo Alto's oldest neighborhood associations, representing 270 households.
Greenmeadow has Ulken an active and long-standing role supporting city and school district efforts to
encourage children to waJk and bike to school. Our neighborhood abuts a residential arterial,
CharlestoniArastradero Road, that serves eleven public and private elementary, middle and high schools,
parks, a library, two community centers and a small shopping center. Recently, we have supported city
efforts to make safety improvements to that street. We promote city walklbike events through our
association enews, newsletter and signboards. We also have groups of parents and students in our
neighborhood who coordinate walking school buses.
We know that Safe RoUtes to School programs work in Palo Alto. However, as new housing is approved
and built (nearly 1,000 new units near our neighborhood in the last seven years), it is becoming
increasingly challenging to manage the higher volumes of traffic that come with that growth. A VERBS
grant will enable the city to supplement and expand programs that make it possible for Palo Alto school
children to walk and bike to school safely in increasing numbers.
We urge you to support the City of Palo Alto's application for funding.
Thank you for giving our comments your consideration.
Sin::re~ (y(~Vl~
Lisette Narragon 0
President, Greenmeadow Community Association. Inc.