Large Metropolitan Planning Organizations are taking on a new role in supporting bicycling, walking, and Safe Routes to School as they begin to administer a portion of the new federal Transportation Alternatives program.
This white paper from the National Center for Safe Routes to School is based on in-depth interviews with a selection of MPO managers and state SRTS coordinators, conducted as they were setting up and launching their programs. It summarizes three different approaches that MPOs are taking, and discusses six challenges they commonly face as they work to include Safe Routes to School projects. It also explores how the strengths of regional planning organizations could be directed into redefining and expanding Safe Routes to School.