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Safe Routes to School news

Funding awards for 2024 Safe Routes to School program

The Minnesota Department of Transportation recently awarded millions of dollars in funding for communities, school districts, and organizations across Minnesota to support the Safe Routes to School program! This funding makes it safer and easier for youth to walk, bike and roll in Minnesota.

• “Parents should be able to send their kids off to school knowing they will arrive safe and sound,” said Governor Walz. “By improving safety and promoting active modes of transportation for students, this program supports safe and healthy kids in communities across the state.”
• “Thanks to this funding, students across the state can learn how to do these lifelong, foundational activities in a safer setting, and embrace active modes of transportation,” said MnDOT Commissioner Nancy Daubenberger.

Infrastructure

We recently released a solicitation for up to $10.9 million in the competitive SRTS Infrastructure program. Thirty-nine applicants requested $22.3 million in SRTS Infrastructure funding.  

2023 Project selection results

• 2023 program and project summary (PDF)
• 2023 applications summary (PDF)

The next SRTS Infrastructure solicitation of up to $8.5 million will be announced this fall.  Contact Steve Prusak with any SRTS Infrastructure program questions.

Non-infrastructure – Planning, Design Assistance and Programming

MnDOT awarded $1.4 million for communities, school districts, and organizations across Minnesota to support the Safe Routes to School program.

The full list of awards is available online, along with Governor Walz’s press release on grant awards

Previous Design Assistance awards announced in February

The next SRTS Non-Infrastructure solicitation for Planning Assistance, Boost grants, and Design Assistance are anticipated to launch in Fall 2024.  Contact Kelly Corbin with any SRTS program questions.

Bike to School Day in Minnesota

More than 160 schools celebrated national Bike to School on May 8 and Minnesota had the fourth-largest number of events in the country! But this event day is not about numbers - its about seeing the smiling faces of kids and families enjoying the outdoors and learning to commute by pedal or foot.

• Governor Walz proclamation
• See who biked in 2024
• View photos and stories – MN SRTS Facebook Page

Minnesota Safe Routes to School Meetup

Register now for the free one-day Minnesota Safe Routes to School Meetup 2024 training featuring Kori Johnson from the Safe Routes Partnership. Kori will help us learn what’s happening outside of MN, Safe Routes to Parks program, Youth Engagement strategies, and success stories from local partners.

• Thursday, July 18 from 9 m. - 3 p.m. in Saint Paul

Safe Routes in the News

• All Kids Bike grant for Kindergarten and First Graders is off and running – Grand Rapids, Minn.
• Kellogg Middle School kicks of new bike club – Rochester, Minn.
• RMS Students Create Traffic Gardens for Local Park – Richfield, Minn.

Upcoming Walk! Bike! Fun! Trainings

Help us spread the joy of teaching children how to ride a bike! The Walk! Bike! Fun! curriculum meets Minnesota Department of Education standards for Physical Education classes.

The educator training is free and sub-pay is available to reduce barriers for attending.

Dates and registration links: June 18: Minneapolis Sept 11: Thief River Falls Sept 25: Leech Lake   Learn more about the Walk! Bike! Fun! curriculum, bike fleet trailer request, and future training opportunities.

Upcoming events:

June 6, 10-11 a.m. – MN SRTS Network Call

• Share and learn with whose working on SRTS from across Minnesota.
• To join the Minnesota Safe Routes to School Network and receive log-in information, please email dot@state.mn.us
• View past recordings and slides

July 18 – Minnesota SRTS Meet Up in St Paul

Oct. 9 – Walk to School Day

Feb. 5, 2025 – Winter Walk to School Day

May 7, 2025 – Bike to School Day

More about MnSRTS

Visit: http://www.mnsaferoutestoschool.org

Follow us on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/MinnesotaSafeRoutestoSchool/

MnDOT invites and encourages participation by all people in their programs, services and activities. If you need an ASL, a foreign language interpreter, or documents in an alternative format (such as braille, large print or in a different language) at no cost, please email your request to Janet Miller at ADArequest.dot@state.mn.us or call 651-366-4720. Relay service: 711.

If you need any other reasonable accommodation to participate (such as seating modification or auxiliary aids), please email your request to Accessibility.DOT@state.mn.us or call 1-833-400-8432. Relay service: 711.