Funding opportunity: Illinois Safe Routes to School Program

From the Illinois Department of Transportation:

The Illinois Department Of Transportation will be accepting applications for the  Safe Routes to School (SRTS) funding cycle 2019 from Monday, September 24, 2018 through Monday, November 19, 2018. They will make an announcement of selected projects in  March 2019.

SRTS uses a multidisciplinary approach to improve conditions for students who walk or bike to school.  The program has three main goals: 1) to enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school; 2) to make bicycling and walking to school a safer and more appealing transportation alternative, thereby encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle from an early age; and 3) to facilitate the planning, development, and implementation of projects and activities that will improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and air pollution in the vicinity (within 2 miles) of both public and private primary and middle schools (grades K-8).

For the SRTS Funding Cycle 2019, these goals will be achieved by providing 100% reimbursable funding for infrastructure projects and non-infrastructure projects.

Eligible project sponsors may be Schools or School Districts, Political Subdivisions (municipalities, cities, towns, etc.), Metropolitan Planning Organizations/Regional Planning Commissions, Councils of Government, Local and Regional Agencies (law enforcement agencies, health departments, etc.), and Non-Profit Organizations.  Project sponsors are responsible for supplying the upfront costs of the project and will be reimbursed by IDOT.

Eligible infrastructure projects include sidewalk improvements, traffic calming/speed reduction improvements, traffic control devices, pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements, on-street bicycle facilities, off-street bicycle facilities, and secure bicycle parking facilities.

Eligible non-infrastructure projects include events, equipment, and supplies that help to address areas of Education, Enforcement, Encouragement, and Evaluation.

Additional information and more specific details can be reviewed in the SRTS Funding Cycle 2019 Program and Application Guidelines. Read more.