ST. PAUL, Minn. – The Minnesota Department of Transportation today announced the recipients of $250,000 in Safe Routes to School grants that support walking and biking programs at K-12 schools in the state.
Mini-grants totaling $125,000 will support the Safe Routes to School program at 64 schools, reaching nearly 40,000 students. An additional $125,000 will fund bicycle fleets, trailers and supplies in four communities committed to working with 37 schools to teach bicycle safety.
Regional partners from across Minnesota will help administer grants in their region.
The Safe Routes to School grants will support non-infrastructure activities such as training and supplies for school patrol programs, incentives and materials for events that encourage walking and biking, bicycle racks and trailers, and teacher curriculum training.
“More than 100 schools across the state are now supporting the Safe Routes to School program and increasing 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 near schools, improving safety and promoting healthier kids.”
Since 2005, MnDOT has awarded nearly $20 million in federal funds to communities to support Safe Routes to School. The majority of funding was for infrastructure projects. For a list of projects, go to the Safe Routes to School legislative report at http://www.dot.state.mn.us/govrel/pdfs/SRTS%20Report.pdf and go to Appendix C.
In 2013, Gov. Dayton and the legislature authorized $500,000 in general funds for Safe Routes to School non-infrastructure activities over the biennium.
In January, Gov. Dayton proposed an additional $5 million investment over the next two years to continue to support biking and walking infrastructure and Safe Routes to School programs.
This year, schools received non-infrastructure grants in two categories:
- Mini-Grants – These grants of up to $2,500 can be used for crossing guard supplies, bicycle maintenance equipment, and incentives for walking and biking.
- Bicycle Fleets and Trailers – Grants can be used to purchase a fleet of bicycles and trailer and supplies. These bicycles help implement the Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota’s Walk! Bike! Fun! Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety curriculum. Each bike fleet recipient will also receive Walk! Bike! Fun! teacher training.
MnDOT announced the available grants in October 2014. The agency received 85 applications requesting approximately $538,000; it funded 68 grants. A $1 million infrastructure solicitation was also announced in October. Those state-funded awards will be announced in March.
The list of grant recipients is below. More information is available at www.mndot.gov/saferoutes.
Safe Routes to School 2014-2015 grants
Regional Applications
Southwest Regional Development Commission
Riverside Elementary, Jackson; Windom Area Public Schools, Windom; Prairie Elementary, Worthington; Pipestone Area School District, Pipestone; Pleasantview Elementary, Lakeview; Jackson County Central Middle School, Lakefield; Heron Lake, Okabena and Okabena/Heron Lake; Jackson County Central High School, Jackson; Worthington Middle School and High School, Worthington
Arrowhead Regional Development Commission
Grand Marais, Moose Lake, Fond du Lac, Esko, Barnum, Duluth, Hermantown, Proctor
CentraCare Health Foundation, BLEND
Rice Elementary, Rice; Pleasantview, Sauk Rapids; Sartell Police Department, Sartell; Melrose Public Schools, Melrose
Minneapolis Public Schools
Jefferson Elementary, Pillsbury School, Whittier Community School, Bethune Community School, Seward Montessori, Bancroft Elementary School, South High School, Roosevelt High School
Mid-Minnesota Development Commission
Glencoe Silverlake School District, Glencoe; New London Spicer School District, New London; Willmar School District, Willmar
East Central Regional Development Commission
Kanabec County Safe Roads Coalition (five schools), Mora; North Branch Area Public Schools, North Branch
Arrowhead Development Commission
Minnehaha, Two Harbors; Great Expectations School, Grand Marais; Fond du lac Ojibwe School, Cloquet; Congdon Park Elementary, Duluth; William Kelley Elementary and High School, Silver Bay; Sawtooth Elementary School, Grand Marais; Washington Elementary, Cloquet; Churchill Elementary, Cloquet; Moose Lake School, Moose Lake; South Terrace Elementary, Carlton; Esko Public Schools, Esko; Myers-Wilkins Elementary, Duluth; Rippleside Elementary, Aitken; Hill City School, Hill City
West Central Initiative
Rothsay Public Schools, Rothsay
St. Paul Public Schools
American Indian at Mounds Park; Highwood Hills Elementary; Jackson Elementary; L’Etoile du Nord Lower; L’Etoile du Nord Upper; Linwood-Monroe Arts Plus; Paul and Sheila Wellstone; The Heights Community School
Live Healthy, Red Wing
Sunnyside School, Burnside School
Upper Minnesota Valley Regional Development Commission
Stevens Elementary School, Dawson; Kerkhoven-Murdock-Sunburg, Murdock; Clarkfield Area Charter School, Clarkfield; Ortonville School, Ortonville
Individual Schools
St. Mark’s School, St. Paul; Pine River-Backus School District, Pine River; Lake Crystal Wellcome Memorial School District, Lake Crystal; St. Anthony Park Elementary School, St. Paul
Bike Fleet Awards
Duluth Area Family YMCA, Duluth
Myers-Wilkins Elementary; Piedmont Elementary; Congdon Park Elementary; Lester Park Elementary; Laura MacArthur Elementary; Damiano Center; KEYzone; U of M Duluth Recreational Sports Outdoor Program; YMCA out of school time programs; YMCA Camp Miller; Duluth Police Department
Perham-Dent Public School District, Perham; and Battle Lake Public School District, Battle Lake
Heart of Lakes Elementary School; Prairie Wind Middle School; Boys and Girls Club; St. Henry’s Catholic School; St. Paul’s Lutheran School; Perham Area Community Center-Summer Rec; Battle Lake Public School District
St. Charles Public Schools ISD 858, St. Charles
St. Charles Elementary; St. Charles High School; St. Charles Park and Recreation; Get Active Club; Project FINE; Whitewater Country Coalition; St. Charles Community Education
Three Rivers Park District, Plymouth
Brooklyn Center Secondary Arts and IB World School; Earle Brown Elementary; Evergreen Park World Cultures Community School; Northport Elementary; Plymouth Middle School; Independent Charter; Odyssey Academy; Park Brook Elementary; Three Rivers Park District Programs; City of Brooklyn Center (Parks and Recreation, Police Department); City of Brooklyn Park (Parks and Recreation); Venture North Bike Shop
