Funding available for 2016 Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Infrastructure and Non-Infrastructure Projects

The Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) has announced their 2016 Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Infrastructure and Non-Infrastructure Projects Grant Applications for project funding. The guidelines and application is posted on the CDOT website at https://www.codot.gov/programs/bikeped/safe-routes/funding-evaluation.

The CDOT Transportation Commission recently approved the continuation of the Colorado Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program by committing to fund the grant program with $2 million for infrastructure projects and $0.5 million for non-infrastructure projects, beginning in FY 2016 (July-June).

The goal of SRTS is to help schools, school districts and local communities enable and encourage more children in Kindergarten through 8th grade to safely bicycle and walk to and from school.

Eligible activities include, but are not limited to:

• Planning, design, and construction of safe school routes for children to walk and bike to and from school
• Planning, design, and construction of facilities for pedestrians and bicyclists to travel to and from school
• Educating children, parents, and communities about safe walking and bicycling practices and the health benefits that result from walking and bicycling to and from school

To provide guidance on completing the application and understanding the requirements of a CDOT grant, the Colorado SRTS program manager will be hosting grantee training sessions at various locations throughout the state in mid-November. Please email me if you are interested in applying for a grant or would like to attend a training.

Funds are awarded through a statewide competitive process and chosen by an appointed advisory committee. Funding is available for one or two year projects.

Applications are due to CDOT-SRTS by COB Friday, January 8, 2016. A Word version of the application is available upon request.

For more information, contact Leslie Feuerborn, Colorado SRTS Program Manager at 303.757.9088 or dot_srts@state.co.us.