Safe Routes Partnership

Safe Routes Partnership is a U.S.-based nonprofit advocacy organization focused on improving walking and bicycling conditions for children and communities. The organization engages with federal agencies, state departments, municipal governments, foundations, school districts, and community coalitions to advance policies, funding, and programs that increase safety and accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists. It operates at the intersection of public health, transportation, and land use to reduce traffic injuries and promote active travel.

History

Founded in 2005, the organization emerged amid national debates over transportation funding and public health initiatives, building on earlier local initiatives such as the Safe Routes to School programs and advocacy by groups like the National Complete Streets Coalition and the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. Early allies included the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Federal Highway Administration during a period when the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act and subsequent federal surface transportation bills were reshaping policy. The group partnered with community organizations active in cities such as New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Portland, Oregon and worked alongside advocacy organizations like America Walks, League of American Bicyclists, and the National Association of City Transportation Officials to translate national policy into local practice.

Mission and Programs

The mission emphasizes equitable access to safe walking and bicycling for children and families, aligning with initiatives in public health promoted by entities like the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and American Public Health Association. Programs include technical assistance for municipal Complete Streets adoption influenced by the National Complete Streets Coalition model, school-based travel planning similar to Walk to School Day initiatives, and training that reflects best practices codified in manuals from the Federal Highway Administration and design guides from the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO). The organization implements educational campaigns resembling curricula used by Safe Routes to School National Partnership contemporaries, supports infrastructure projects informed by research from the Transportation Research Board, and runs equity-focused efforts coordinated with groups such as the PolicyLink and the Urban Institute.

Partnerships and Funding

Funding and partnerships have spanned federal agencies like the U.S. Department of Transportation, philanthropic organizations such as the Kaiser Family Foundation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and programmatic collaboration with state departments like the California Department of Transportation and local transit agencies including Metropolitan Transportation Authority (New York) and Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The organization has worked with coalitions including the National League of Cities, the National Association of Counties, and advocacy networks like Transportation for America to secure competitive grants and influence federal grant programs. It has also engaged with academic partners at institutions such as University of California, Berkeley, Johns Hopkins University, and the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health to leverage research funding and program evaluation.

Advocacy and Policy Impact

Safe Routes Partnership has contributed to policy developments in federal transportation reauthorization processes tied to legislation such as the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act and Fixing America’s Surface Transportation Act, advocating for dedicated funding streams for walking and bicycling infrastructure. The organization has provided testimony before congressional committees, collaborated with the U.S. Department of Transportation on implementation guidance, and supported state-level statutory changes in jurisdictions including California, Oregon, and Colorado. Its advocacy work intersects with litigation and regulatory efforts undertaken by groups like the Natural Resources Defense Council and campaign strategies used by municipal reformers in cities such as Seattle and San Francisco. The group’s policy briefs and model ordinances have been cited by planners associated with the American Planning Association and transportation professionals in the Institute of Transportation Engineers.

Research and Evaluation

The organization emphasizes evidence-based practice, synthesizing findings from journals and reports produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Transportation Research Board, and academic centers such as the Drexel University School of Public Health and the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center. It collaborates on evaluations measuring outcomes like injury reduction, mode shift, and physical activity increases using methodologies reflected in studies from Johns Hopkins University and the Harvard School of Public Health. Tools and resources developed by the organization draw on data sources like the National Household Travel Survey and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and inform metrics adopted by municipal programs in places such as Minneapolis, Denver, and Austin, Texas.

Category:Non-profit organizations based in the United States Category:Pedestrian safety Category:Bicycle safety