DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
P.O.
SUPTS. MEMO NO. 205
September 29, 2006
INFORMATIONAL
|
TO: |
Division
Superintendents |
|
FROM: |
Billy K.
Cannaday, Jr. Superintendent
of Public Instruction |
|
SUBJECT: |
|
Safe Routes to School is a new program in the
federal transportation bill designed to encourage
greater participation in biking and walking to school. The Safe
Routes to School program provides funding for comprehensive solutions that focus on enhancing student
health and safety through education, law enforcement
partnerships, and engineering
accommodations for bicyclists and pedestrians.
A
total of approximately $5 million of federal funds will be awarded for local Safe Routes
to School plan and program development and implementation as well as safety
projects during this school year. No
local match is required.
Local Safe Routes to School programs should include a plan addressing the
challenges faced by individual schools or school divisions in attempting to
increase biking and walking transportation.
Plans may be developed with the program grant funding. Individual schools are eligible for up to
$5,000 for plan development.
Program grants may
also fund education, law enforcement, and encouragement activities. Once a school or division has an approved
plan, additional grant funds may be used to implement critical components of
the plan.
Project grants will provide communities
up to $500,000 for engineering and construction improvements to sidewalks,
trails, and roads within two miles of elementary and middle schools.
For general information about the Safe Routes to School program, please go
to www.saferoutesinfo.org. For specific information about the Virginia
Department of Transportations Safe Routes to School program and grant application process, please go to http://www.vdot.virginia.gov/infoservice/Prog-Safety-Center.asp.
Completed proposals must be received by
the Virginia Department of Transportation no later than 4 p.m., Friday,
December 29, 2006.
If you have questions, please contact
Jakob Helmboldt, Safe Routes to School
coordinator, Virginia Department of Transportation, Traffic Engineering
Division, by e-mail at Jakob.Helmboldt@vdot.virginia.gov,
or by telephone at (804) 225-3269; or Vanessa Wigand, principal specialist for
health education, physical education and driver education, Office of Middle and
High School Instruction, by e-mail at Vanessa.Wigand@doe.virginia.gov,
or by telephone at (804) 225-3300.
BKCJr/VW/yba