MnDOT awards $8.2 million in Safe Routes to School grants
Nearly 180 schools around Minnesota will benefit from $8,234,000 in planning, programming and infrastructure grants that support the Safe Routes to School program, the Minnesota Department of Transportation announced.
Safe Routes to School is an international program to improve safety and reduce traffic congestion around schools. It does this by making it safer and easier for students to walk and bicycle to school, with an added benefit of increasing physical activity and student health.
The funding is provided for:
Planning assistance grants provide communities the resources to convene a team, understand key issues, prioritize strategies and identify solutions that fit their local need.
Boost grants help enhance existing local programs. Past examples of this include funding for bike fleet with a trailer to teach children how to ride, or funding for bike parking.
Infrastructure grants provide construction funding for projects that promote and encourage more students to walk or bicycle to school. Ways to make these routes safer (and more accessible) include adding sidewalks, trails, crosswalk markings, flashing beacons and other traffic control devices.
“Thousands of school children now have more opportunities to walk and bike to schools because of the Safe Routes to School program,” said Nancy Daubenberger, interim MnDOT commissioner. “More students walking and biking means less traffic on the road and near schools, improving safety and promoting healthier kids.”
The Safe Routes to School grants in this solicitation are funded with state and federal Safe Routes to School dollars. Historically, nearly 70 percent of these funds have supported work within Greater Minnesota communities.
Since 2005, MnDOT awarded more than $50 million in federal and state funds to communities to support Safe Routes to School. The majority of funding was awarded for infrastructure projects. The remainder was allocated for programs and planning that promote walkable and bikeable communities.
The list of the 2022 grant recipients is below.
More information on Safe Routes to School is available at www.mndot.gov/saferoutes.
Safe Routes to School 2022 Awards:
Planning Assistance
Burnside School
City of Brooklyn Park
City of Graceville
City of Hayfield
City of Madelia
City of Tracy
Como Park/Saint Paul Public Schools
Farmington Public Schools
Harding High School and Nokomis Elementary/Saint Paul Public Schools
Lake of the Woods
Mahtomedi Schools ISD 832
Minneapolis Public Schools
Mississippi Creative Arts School/Saint Paul Public Schools
Pelican Rapids Public Schools
Pequot Lakes Public Schools ISD 386
Boost
Blue Earth Area Schools - Community Education
Fergus Falls School District
Independent School District 318
Independent School District 728
Minneapolis Public Schools
New Ulm Public Schools ISD 88
Richfield Public Schools Independent School District #280
Rochester Public Schools
Safe Kids Grand Forks
Saint Paul Public Schools
Underwood School
Infrastructure
City of Arden Hills
City of Brainerd
City of Coon Rapids
City of Duluth (Lincoln Park)
City of Edgerton
City of Edina
City of Jackson
City of Lakeville
City of Mahnomen
City of Minneapolis
City of Monticello
City of North Branch
City of Red Wing
City of Richfield
City of Saint Paul
City of St. James
City of Tyler
City of Warren
Dakota County (Inver Grove Heights)
Gideon Pond Elementary (Burnsville)
Lac qui Parle School District (Appleton)
Sibley County (Gaylord)
Washington County (Cottage Grove)