MnDOT awards nearly $350,000 in Safe Routes to School grants

KSTP
[MGN Images/ Pixabay]

The Minnesota Department of Transportation announced Thursday that nineteen schools and communities in Minnesota will benefit from nearly $350,000 in planning assistance and “Boost” grants to help support or start Safe Routes to School programs (SRTS).

The release stated SRTS is an international program to improve safety, reduce traffic congestion around schools, increase physical activity and improve health by making it easier for students to walk and bicycle to school and in daily life.

“During the pandemic, when many students and families are learning from home and confined to their screens indoors, we know Minnesotans need safe places to get out and walk or bicycle more than ever before,” said Dave Cowan, SRTS coordinator. “These grants help give schools and communities more options to expand Safe Routes to School activities.”

Planning assistance grants provide communities with the resources to convene a team, understand key issues, prioritize strategies and identify solutions that fit the local need.

“Boost” grants support existing SRTS work, like providing bicycles to schools to improve physical education curriculum or addressing a community-specific need to help more students walk and bicycle to school safely.

New this year are the demonstration project technical assistance awards that allow schools and local roadway authorities to test engineering designs before installing more permanent designs to help garner community support.

For more information about SRTS, click here.

Below is a full list of the grant winners:

Safe Routes to School 2021 Boost Implementation Grants:

  • Minneapolis Public Schools
  • City of Tyler
  • Red Lake School District
  • Richfield Public Schools
  • Seward Montessori School
  • South Saint Paul Public Schools
  • West Central Initiative

Safe Routes to School 2021 Planning Assistance Grants:

  • City of Shorewood
  • Adrian Public Schools
  • City of Littlefork
  • City of Paynesville
  • City of Verndale
  • Hancock Public School
  • Rochester Public Schools
  • Oshki Ogimaag Charter School/Cook County SRTS
  • City of Chisholm
  • Underwood Public School

Safe Routes to School 2021 Demonstration Project Technical Assistance Awards:

  • Saint Paul Public Schools
  • City of Warren
  • Ashby Public Schools
  • City of La Crescent
  • City of Burnsville
  • Lake City