Funding Requests now accepted for Safe Routes to School
DENVER – The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) now is accepting applications for Colorado’s 2013 Safe Routes to School (SRTS) funding. Awards for both non-infrastructure (education) and infrastructure (capital) projects are available. The goal of SRTS programs are to provide education to get more kids walking and bicycling where it is safe and to fix conditions where it is not safe.
Eligible applicants include schools, school districts, cities, counties, tribal entities, and/or any other local or regional government entity. Non-profits may apply by partnering with any of the above entities.
Colorado has one of the most sustainable SRTS programs in the nation. Each SRTS project selected must demonstrate in its application a strong commitment to program sustainability and ensure their SRTS efforts will live on long after the grant is concluded. SRTS grants also are performance based; the before and after results are reported.
CDOT’s 2013 Safe Routes to School Applications are available online at: http://www.coloradodot.info/programs/bikeped/safe-routes. The application deadline is Friday, December 7, 2012.
CDOT also is encouraging schools to participate in Walk to School Day on Wednesday, October 3, 2012, as part of Colorado Pedestrian Month. By participating, these schools teach students how to walk and bicycle safely and inform parents and other drivers how to drive more safely around pedestrians and bicyclists.
Schools can register their Walk to School events at www.walkbiketoschool.org. This website also contains useful resources such as promotional and educational materials, media toolkits, and low to no cost event ideas.
All Colorado schools that register their event on the website by October 3rd and commit to holding other walk to school events this school year will be included in a drawing to win fun incentive items and materials for their future events.
One in seven Colorado elementary schools registered Walk to School events in 2011. Each year, the state sees an increase in the number of schools registering for Walk to School Day events and expects to see more schools walking in 2012.
For additional information, please contact Marissa Robinson at (303) 757-9088 or e-mail at [email protected].
