Safe Routes Improvement Act

Summary#

This bill adds a new requirement to title 23, United States Code, section 208. Each State must designate a Safe Routes to School coordinator. The coordinator's duty is to serve as the point of contact for the State's Safe Routes to School program. The Secretary may not require the coordinator to perform other duties except as authorized by Congress. A State may assign an existing State employee to be the coordinator. Each State must put the coordinator's contact information on the State department of transportation website. If the coordinator position becomes vacant, the State must fill it within 180 days. A State may use amounts made available under section 133(h) or section 148 to pay the coordinator's salary. The bill also makes a conforming change by striking section 208(g)(3).

What it means for you#

• If you work for a State transportation department: your State must name a Safe Routes to School coordinator, post that person's contact information online, and fill any vacancy within 180 days. A State can name an existing employee to the role.
• If you are a parent, student, or school official: your State will have a listed point of contact for the Safe Routes to School program on the State DOT website.
• The Secretary of Transportation cannot assign other duties to the coordinator unless Congress allows it.

Expenses#

No publicly available information on total or federal costs. The bill says States may use funds available under section 133(h) or section 148 to pay the coordinator's salary.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.