Host: City of Rancho Cucamonga
Openings: 1
Project Focus: Climate Mitigation, Public Health, Transportation / Mobility
Skills Needed: Community Engagement, Project Management, Community Outreach, Stakeholder Engagement,

Remote or On-Site Placement

On-site

Service Needs & Plans

The City of Rancho Cucamonga has 35 schools within a 47-square mile geography and experiences high levels of traffic congestion in these neighborhoods. While the City has an existing Safe Routes to School Program and has recently completed its Active Transportation Plan (Connect RC), there are gaps in providing more effective community engagement and promotion of active mobility choices such as walking, biking, or rolling to school. The project aims to foster behavioral change in support of active transportation and micromobility by (1) implementing Safe Routes to School initiatives and strategies, (2) building multigenerational pedestrian and cyclist awareness, (3) strengthening the City’s Safe Routes to School partnerships with schools and relevant stakeholders, and (4) mitigating traffic concerns by promoting a comprehensive, proactive behavior and infrastructure-based approach to improving safety along school routes and within school sites.

The project will address several environmental and health equity challenges including improving air quality conditions by encouraging more active mobility choices and reducing traffic congestion, particularly in school neighborhoods, as well as reducing obesity and chronic disease rates by increasing physical activity and reducing dependence on automobiles for travel. Furthermore, the City’s approach in addressing equity in its traffic safety efforts and infrastructure planning includes evaluating issues and needs school-by-school, neighborhood-by-neighborhood, community-by-community, and identifying projects that are appropriate for each community.

Project Description

The City has limited staff capacity to plan for and complete Safe Routes to School (SRTS) related projects. The City needs additional support to ensure that the strategies and initiatives outlined in the City of Rancho Cucamonga Safe Routes to School Toolkit are implemented and that the City is making progress in developing, supporting, or implementing active transportation projects identified in the City’s Connect RC – Active Transportation Plan.

The City of Rancho Cucamonga’s Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program reflects a national movement to create opportunities for students, including those with disabilities, to safely and conveniently walk, bike, and roll to school. The SRTS Program brings together parents, community members, students, teachers, school officials, City staff, and public safety officers to identify and address potential safety issues and strategize ways to encourage students to become more physically active.

The CivicSpark Fellow will be responsible for the development, coordination, and implementation of the City’s Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program. This includes program development/planning, program administration/implementation, marketing/outreach, education and training, event promotion, volunteer coordination, and program evaluation. Along with facilitating the delivery of initiatives and strategies related to the SRTS Program, the Fellow will assist in managing grant activities outlined in the Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Grant Program that would primarily support the SRTS Program. Furthermore, the Fellow will develop and maintain working relationships with schools, City staff, walking/bicycling stakeholders, and other community-based organizations or stakeholders to support their needs.

One of the most important overarching goals of this project and fellowship cycle is to help schools either rejuvenate or establish their own Safe Routes to School programs, particularly in training and empowering school representatives to champion and sustain their respective SRTS programs. In doing so, the City can build better program resiliency and capacity across the city. The primary intent of the City’s own SRTS Program is to serve as a facilitator, connector, and as a hub of SRTS-related resources that will support school-based SRTS programs citywide.

Desired Skills

• Facilitation
• Relationship Management
• Data Analysis
• Data Collection
• Marketing
• Volunteer Management
• Public Speaking
• Bilingual (preferably Spanish, but not required)

Organization & Workplace Highlights

Team RC embodies a culture of innovation and collaboration. We believe that our employees are the best representation of our S.P.I.R.I.T. values (Service, People, Individual Excellence, Rancho Way, Innovation, and Teamwork) and strive to cultivate a culture that supports collaboration and provides a safe environment for staff to bring their whole selves to work. Our enthusiasm for public service and our commitment to continuous learning help Team RC focus on what really matters – service and people.

The Fellow will be provided with hands-on project management opportunities, both assisting and leading the implementation of Safe Routes to School projects that will help the City support active mobility and improve traffic safety. The body of work for the Fellow will include program coordination, public outreach, strategic planning, and the development of implementation strategies for the plans or policies we have in place.

Moreover, the Fellow will work directly with Engineering staff, where the Safe Routes to School Program is currently housed. The Fellow will receive mentorship from a leadership team with decades of combined experience. From its earliest days, the City of Rancho Cucamonga was dubbed as the “City with a Plan” and over the past forty years, we have been creating a world-class community. The Engineering Services Department plays a vital role in not just simply building and maintaining roads, but in creating a more sustainable and resilient built environment that prioritizes the people who live, work, and play in our community. As we move into our fifth decade as a City, we are continuing to build a world-class community for our future generations to enjoy, one that takes the best parts of our past and continues growing and reimagining itself for the future. We are excited to have the opportunity to play a big part in what is coming next for our community. Whether it is through high quality design and construction of the built environment, by ensuring that our environment stays clean and sustainable, or by providing reliable utility services to residents and businesses.

Community Highlights

Rancho Cucamonga encompasses nearly 47 square miles and is one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in Southern California, with a population of over 179,000. The city is a vibrant place with more than 30 community parks, extensive bike and walking paths through the heart of the city, and easy access to the San Gabriel Mountains. Rancho Cucamonga is also home to the Los Angeles Dodgers Minor League team and an open-air lifestyle center, Victoria Gardens, which offers a collection of shopping, dining, and entertainment options, making it a fantastic place to live, work, and play.