The federal Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program was created by Section 1404 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users  (SAFETEA-LU), which was signed into public law (P.L. 109-59) on August, 10 2005.

As a result of this legislation, every state now has dedicated dollars to help with infrastructure improvements (e.g. new sidewalks and traffic calming projects) and noninfrastructure activities to encourage and enable students to walk and bicycle to school.

Additional funding information can be found in Appendix F of Michigan's Safe Routes to School Handbook. Visit the Handbook page to download the Handbook in its entirety.

New Mini-Grant Opportunity from the National Center for Safe Routes to School

The National Center for Safe Routes to School is now accepting applications for up to 35 $1,000 mini-grants for creative, youth-focused ideas that support safe walking and/or bicycling to school. Eligible activities must occur at an elementary or middle school in Fall 2010 and support the overall goal of Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs -- to enable and encourage children nationwide to safely walk and bicycle to school.

Mini-grant applications are available now at www.saferoutesinfo.org/minigrants. Applications are due Wednesday, April 7, 2010, and recipients will be announced by Wednesday, May 26, 2010.

New Funding Opportunity With Active Living Research