THE SENATE

S.R. NO.

58

THIRTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2019

 

STATE OF HAWAII

 

 

 

 

 

SENATE RESOLUTION

 

 

requesting All public elementary, intermediate, and middle schools in the state to participate in the safe routes to school program established pursuant to section 291C-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes, for keiki health benefits.

 

 


     WHEREAS, keiki today have become less active, less independent, and less healthy; and

 

     WHEREAS, in 1969, nearly fifty percent of all children in the United States (and nearly ninety percent of those within one mile of school) walked or bicycled to school but that number has plummeted to fewer than fifteen percent today; and

 

     WHEREAS, Safe Routes to School is a program that works to make it safe, convenient, and fun for children to walk and bicycle to and from school; and

 

     WHEREAS, the goal of the program is to get more children walking and bicycling to school, improve keiki safety, and increase health and physical activity; and

 

     WHEREAS, Safe Routes to School is a federally-funded program of the United States Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration, created by Section 1404 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users Act in 2005; and

 

     WHEREAS, the Safe Routes to School program in Hawaii is administered by the state Department of Transportation; and

 

     WHEREAS, Safe Routes to School program activities remain eligible for funding under the federal Transportation Alternatives Program; and

 

     WHEREAS, eligible activities include planning, design, and construction of projects that will substantially improve the ability of students to walk and bike to and from school, including sidewalk improvements, traffic calming and speed reduction improvements, pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements, onstreet bicycle facilities, offstreet bicycle and pedestrian facilities, secure bike parking, and traffic diversion improvements in the vicinity of schools (within approximately two miles); and

 

     WHEREAS, many areas near schools statewide could benefit from such improvements, as some existing infrastructure and facilities are inadequate to safely enable or encourage safe walking or biking to and from school; and

 

     WHEREAS, this body believes that sound public policy by the State includes using and maximizing federal funds whenever possible and that the State should use federal funds available to supplement projects of the Department of Transportation that are adjacent to schools to enable students to safely walk and bike to and from school; and

 

     WHEREAS, if schools statewide participate in the Safe Routes to School program, participation can provide greater health benefits for our keiki and encourage responsible independence; now, therefore,

 

     BE IT RESOLVED by the Senate of the Thirtieth Legislature of the State of Hawaii, Regular Session of 2019, that all public elementary, intermediate, and middle schools in the State are requested to participate in the Safe Routes to School Program established pursuant to section 291C-3, Hawaii Revised Statutes; and

 

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that certified copies of this Resolution be transmitted to the Chairperson of the Board of Education, Superintendent of Education, and Director of Transportation.

 

 

 

 

OFFERED BY:

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Report Title:

Safe Routes to School Program; Statewide Public School Participation