S. 1828: Safe Routes Improvement Act

This bill, titled the Safe Routes Improvement Act, aims to enhance the safety and accessibility of routes to schools across the United States by establishing a mandate for each state to appoint a designated coordinator for the safe routes to school program. Here are the main points of the bill:

Designation of Coordinator

Each state is required to designate a specific individual as the coordinator for the safe routes to school program. This individual will serve as the primary contact for all matters related to this program within the state.

Duties of the Coordinator

• The coordinator's main role will be to act as the official point of contact for the safe routes to school initiative.
• The Secretary of Transportation will not be able to assign any additional duties to this coordinator that are not authorized by Congress.
• States have the option to appoint an existing employee as the coordinator, which can simplify the process of filling this position.
• States must provide contact information for the coordinator on their respective department of transportation websites to ensure transparency and accessibility.
• If there is a vacancy in the coordinator position, it must be filled within 180 days from the time the vacancy occurs, ensuring continuity in the program's leadership.
• States can use existing federal funds allocated for specific transportation projects to pay the salary of this coordinator.

Conforming Amendment

The bill also includes a minor amendment that would remove a specific paragraph from existing law, which pertains to the operational aspects of the safe routes to school program.

Overall Purpose

The overarching goal of this legislation is to improve the safety of children traveling to and from school by ensuring that each state has a dedicated person overseeing the safe routes to school program, fostering better planning, implementation, and community engagement in these efforts.

Relevant Companies

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