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The Metropolitan Council recently released its 2022 Regional Solicitation. It includes up to $36 million for bicycle, pedestrian and SRTS projects. After technical experts from across the region rank and score the projects, the Transportation Advisory Board will select projects for funding later this year.
More information:
About $180 million in federal transportation funds is available for allocation in 2026 and 2027.
This metro solicitation occurs every other year and includes a solicitation for:
- Bicycle and pedestrian facilities
- Multiuse trails
- Safe Routes to School infrastructure
For those in greater MN, this solicitation opens every year in October with the same federal funds.
Golden Snow Boot Award Winner
Each Winter Walk to School Day, Minnesota Safe Routes to School asks participating schools to submit stories and photos of their event to compete for the Golden Snow Boot Award. After reviewing the stories and photos from participating schools, Rice Elementary in Rice, Minnesota, stood out as the 2022 Golden Snow Boot winner!
 Winter Walk to School Day for Rice Elementary School was originally planned for the morning of Feb. 2. However, with the cold Minnesota temps and wind chill advisory that week, the event was postponed until the morning of Feb. 9. This was Rice Elementary School’s first time participating in a walk to school day event, which is a recommended activity in their Safe Routes to School Plan. . More than 20 people participated, including students, parents, school staff, city staff, and other volunteers. Law enforcement was also present to ensure safety for all.
One group of volunteers helped students cross the railroad crossing on Main Street in Rice, which poses a safety concern for children who cross it while walking or biking to school. Benton County Public Health, the city of Rice, and their contracted engineering company are working together to develop a proposed pedestrian railroad crossing and apply for state grants to fund the project. During the event, our volunteers were able to explain and show the parents why an infrastructure change at the railroad crossing is needed to improve overall safety.
Rice Elementary School is interested in planning for similar events in the future, such as National Walk to School Day in the fall. To increase participation in these types of events, we hope to implement a school bus stop and walk location. This will help ensure that every student has an opportunity to participate, especially among students who ride the school bus or live too far away to walk from their residence. A school bus stop and walk would have every school bus stopping at a common location in the city and dropping students. The students would all walk together to school with staff and other volunteers. The school bus stop and walk idea could even be used more often and not just during walk to school day events.
We hope that future walk to school day events and potential infrastructure change at the railroad crossing will improve accessibility for students to walk and/or bike to school. This could result in increased physical activity and academic achievement, which will have lifelong benefits.
Congratulations to Rice Elementary School for your amazing Winter Walk to School Day event!
Learn more about Minnesota Winter Walk to School Day and find resources for future events.
Apply to host Walk! Bike! Fun! Training
Apply to host a Walk! Bike! Fun! curriculum training this spring for your school or program to learn how to teach on bike education. Apply here to host or learn more about the curriculum here.
SRTS in the news:
Winter walk at school was a hit in New Ulm with a ‘story stroll’ to get children outside during the school day walking and reading with their classes.
The program celebrates Winter Walk to School Day, a Minnesota Safe Routes to School initiative to promote getting outside for a walk in the winter time. It also celebrates “I Love to Read Month” that Jefferson Elementary School participates in.
“It can be easy to hibernate in the winter time, so it’s important to look for ways to get outside and enjoy our Minnesota winters,” said Sam Gatton, Safe Routes to School coordinator. “The idea for the story stroll is to do just that — create a fun opportunity to get outside for a walk.”
Upcoming events:
April 7, 10-11 a.m. – MN SRTS Network Call
May 4, 2022 - Bike to School Day
Resources
Order free MN Bike Maps and MN Bicycle Handbooks for your organization’s events!
Walk! Bike! Fun! curriculum, bike fleet trailer request, and future training opportunities.
More about MnSRTS
Visit: mnsaferoutestoschool.org
Follow us on Facebook!
MnDOT invites and encourages participation by all. If you need an ASL, a foreign language interpreter, or other reasonable accommodation, or need documents in an alternative format (such as braille or large print), please email your request to Janet Miller at ADArequest.dot@state.mn.us or call 651-366-4720.
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