Safe Routes to School construction program.

Existing law requires the Department of Transportation, in consultation with the Department of the California Highway Patrol, to establish and administer a "Safe Routes to School" construction program pursuant to authority granted under specified federal law and to use federal transportation funds for construction of bicycle and pedestrian safety and traffic calming projects. Existing law requires the department to make grants available to local agencies under the program through a competitive grant process that considers various factors in rating the proposals. This bill would additionally authorize grants to be made to school districts and would require, in rating a proposal, the consideration of the proposal's benefit to a low-income school and the degree to which the proposal reflects the participation, input, and priorities of community stakeholders, as specified. The bill would also require the department to form a multidisciplinary committee to advise the department, as specified.