Sponsors (2)
Introduced May 21, 2025 by Kevin Cramer · Last progress May 21, 2025
The bill establishes a state Safe Routes to School coordinator to improve school-area walking and biking safety and program continuity without new federal funding, but it may divert existing transportation funds from construction/safety projects and constrain federal-state program flexibility while imposing modest administrative burdens on smaller DOTs.
Children, families, schools, and local agencies get a single state-level Safe Routes to School point of contact and a 180‑day vacancy deadline, making it easier to find program information, apply for grants, and maintain continuity of program support.
Children and families near schools may see better coordinated walking and biking safety efforts through a dedicated state coordinator, improving pedestrian and bicycle safety around schools.
State departments of transportation can pay the coordinator's salary from existing highway and transportation program funds, avoiding a new federal appropriation or additional federal mandate.
Local and state governments may have to reallocate §133(h) or §148 funds to pay coordinator salaries, potentially reducing money available for construction or other safety projects in communities.
Limiting the Secretary from assigning duties beyond those authorized by Congress could restrict DOT flexibility to integrate the coordinator role into broader program work, potentially complicating coordination across federal and state programs.
Smaller states or smaller DOTs could face an administrative burden to recruit, appoint, and publicize a coordinator within the 180‑day deadline, stretching limited staff resources.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Creates a required State-level Safe Routes to School coordinator position. Each State must name a point of contact for its safe routes to school program, publish that person’s contact information on the State DOT website, and fill any vacancy within 180 days. States may appoint an existing employee and may pay the coordinator’s salary from specified federal highway program funds. The bill also makes a minor technical change to conform existing law.