The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) has announced the recipients of $3.8 million in federal grants for Safe Routes to School (SRTS). The grants will support Safe Routes to School at 105 schools in 61 communities.
“These projects will help communities increase opportunities for children to walk and bike to school,” said MnDOT Commissioner Charlie Zelle. “More students walking and biking means less traffic on the road and in front of schools, improving safety and promoting healthier kids.”
Schools received grants in three categories:
- Planning – Funding to complete a SRTS plan to help analyze existing conditions, gather public input and identify potential infrastructure and non-infrastructure solutions at K-8 schools.
- Non-Infrastructure – Funding for education, encouragement, enforcement and evaluation activities.
- Infrastructure – Funding for improving the environment and infrastructure around the schools such as crosswalks and trails.
MnDOT announced the available grants in October 2012. It received 102 applications and funded 43 applications. The total amount requested was $15,451,103.
Grants awarded in Region 6W are:
Planning:
- Clarkfield, Yellow Medicine County – 1 school
- Montevideo, Chippewa County – 2 schools
Non-Infrastructure:
- Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission, Swift, Chippewa, Yellow Medicine, & Lac qui Parle counties, 7 schools – Hire a regional coordinator to provide support for education, encouragement and school patrol safety campaigns.
All SRTS grants in this solicitation are federal funds, and no local match is required. Each grant includes a resolution of support from the local governing body to ensure community support. A complete list of grant recipients is available on MnDOT’s website.
Since 2005, MnDOT has awarded nearly $15.5 million in federal funds to communities to support SRTS. The majority of funding—$13.1 million—was awarded for infrastructure projects. The remainder is allocated for non-infrastructure items and activities. MnDOT has about $1 million left from the federal SAFETEA-LU authorization act to distribute in 2015. Safe Routes to School projects occur in all 50 states.
For more information on Safe Routes to School, visit the SRTS page here on our website, or contact UMVRDC Transportation Planner Lindsey Knutson at 320-289-1981 ext. 7 or lindsey.knutson@umvrdc.org.
You can also find more information on the MnDOT website at www.mndot.gov/saferoutes.
