Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam last week announced Safe Routes to School funding totaling $1.8 million for 17 municipalities in Tennessee. The grants will be used by multiple schools to improve sidewalks, crosswalks, signs, and fund safe walking and biking educational activities. The Safe Routes to School Program is a statewide initiative designed to make bicycling and walking to school a safer, more appealing and healthier alternative for students.
“Increased physical activity is key to improving the health of Tennessee families,” Haslam said. “The Safe Routes to School Program helps communities across the state create safer walking and biking environments for students and encourages a healthy lifestyle.”
Chattanooga will receive $243,222 to fund sidewalk and crosswalk construction in the Lakeside Academy school zone area.
The grants are made possible through a federally funded program administered by the Tennessee Department of Transportation.
“The Safe Routes to School program integrates health, safety, traffic relief, and environmental awareness, all under one umbrella,” said Commissioner Schroer. “Funds may be used for infrastructure projects and non-infrastructure activities that directly support increased safety and conveniences for students to walk and bike to and from school.”
Since 2005, the Safe Routes to School grants have funded improvement projects at 167 schools across Tennessee. Nationally, more than 15,000 schools have benefited from funds through state Safe Routes to School programs.
Source: Office of the Governor