$4 million available to improve walking and biking
The Ohio Department of Transportation has funding to develop and implement projects that enable and encourage children to safely walk or bike to school.
The Ohio Department of Transportation has 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 $4 million annually for infrastructure improvements such as pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements, new or improved sidewalks and bike racks and noninfrastructure activities such as walk-to-school days, bike rodeos, public-awareness campaigns or educational programs.
“Keeping our children safe as they travel to and from school is important,” Gov. Mike DeWine said. “This program provides adequate resources for necessary bike and pedestrian improvements so routes between home and school are 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 local communities.
ODOT will make awards on a competitive basis to projects that have been identified in a plan or to applicants requesting School Travel Plan development assistance.
Many Safe Routes to School projects have been completed throughout Ohio. One example is a project in Eaton that included multiple pedestrian-related improvements associated with the Eaton Community Schools' School Travel Plan including the installation of signage, high-visibility crosswalk markings and other measures to improve crosswalk safety.
Visit www.transportation.ohio.gov/saferoutes. The application deadline is March 4.