Missouri Safe Routes to School Grants awarded

The first round of Safe Routes to School funding in Missouri was announced today. The round consisted of about $2 million in funding that is to be used to make it easier and safer for children to walk and bicycle to school, and to encourage more children to walk and bicycle to school.

MoBikeFed Executive Director Brent Hugh serves on the SRTS committee that evaluated the applications.

"Safe Routes to School encourages children to walk, ride or wheel to school. The goal is to encourage a healthy and active lifestyle for these kids, and an added benefit is to reduce traffic and air pollution around schools," said Todd Messenger, Safe Routes to School Coordinator.

Grant recipients were chosen by a committee made up of law enforcement, state, regional and local agencies, as well as schools and bicycle advocacy groups. The committee reviewed 99 grant applications and awarded 46 grants that will impact 96 Missouri schools.

Grants were awarded June 29 for 21 infrastructure projects and 25 non-infrastructure activities. A complete list of projects awarded is available at www.modot.mo.gov/safety/SafeRoutestoSchool.htm.

Infrastructure projects must be completed within four years and non-infrastructure activities must be completed within 18 months.

For more information on Safe Routes to School, visit www.modot.mo.gov/safety/SafeRoutestoSchool.htm or www.saveMOlives.com.