ODOT accepting grants for Safe Routes to School
The Ohio Department of Transportation has an opportunity for school districts to apply for funding to develop and implement projects that enable and encourage children to safely walk or bike to school.
The Ohio Department of Transportation has an opportunity for Ohio school districts or their partners to apply for funding to develop and implement projects that enable and encourage children to safely walk or bike to school.
ODOT’s Safe Routes to School program is funded at $5 million annually, a $1 million increase from last year. It provides funding for infrastructure improvements such as pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements, new or improved sidewalks, and bike racks. It also helps fund noninfrastructure activities such as walk-to-school days, bike rodeos, public awareness campaigns and educational programs.
“Ensuring that Ohio children get to school safely by walking and biking is just as important as ensuring safe travels in a school bus or car,” Gov. Mike DeWine said. “The additional funding provided to this program will allow more communities and schools to make routes between home and school safe, convenient and accessible.”
Eligible applicants include local governments, school districts, health districts, park districts or key nonprofit partners involved in advancing safe routes to school in one’s community. Infrastructure projects can only be awarded to a city, village, county or township.
ODOT will make awards on a competitive basis to projects that have been identified in a School Travel Plan, Active Transportation Plan or similar plan approved by the department. For full guidance on eligibility, visit www.transportation.ohio.gov/programs/safe-routes-srts to learn more.
To assist local governments in developing a School Travel Plan, ODOT also is accepting applications for STP development assistance. Questions about the SRTS application process can be sent to Caitlin Harley at Caitlin.Harley@dot.ohio.gov.
Many Safe Routes to School projects have been completed throughout Ohio over the past couple of years.