The Vermont Agency of Transportation today announced that 22 schools received a total of $1.3 million in Infrastructure Awards through the Agency’s Safe Routes to School program.
Safe Routes to School is a federally funded safety program that is administered through VTrans. The program, which supplies money for bicycle and pedestrian improvements, has a goal of increasing the number of students who can safely walk or ride bikes to school.
‘Safe Routes to School is about kids walking and biking to school regularly, routinely, and safely,’ said VTrans Secretary David Dill. ‘The program is an opportunity to have schools and communities work together to solve some of their pressing safety, environmental and health challenges.’
Competition for funding was stiff, as VTrans received 31 applications for a total request of $2.8 million. The Agency was able to provide $1.3 million that will aid 19 projects. Awards were granted to safety projects that include sidewalks, improved crossings, school zone signs, and traffic calming.
A complete list of schools and awards is provided below.
Seventy schools across the state have participated in the program since the 2006/2007 school year. Efforts include student and parent surveys regarding transportation behavior and attitudes, as well as safety education. Schools have also encouraged students to walk and bike to school through the use of chaperoned ‘Walking School Busses’ and regular ‘Walking Wednesdays’ that offer incentives like water bottles and T-shirts. Participating schools work in partnership with their local governments to identify infrastructure needs on the routes to school.
Source: VTrans. 7.14.2010
2010 Grant Receiving Schools
School Name
City
Project Description
Total
Guilford Central School
Guilford
Feasibility Study
$26,500
Chamberlin School
So. Burlington
Feasibility Study
$20,000
Jericho Elementary School
Jericho
Sidewalk connecting sidewalk on VT 15 to School entrance
$175,000
Warren School
Warren
Radar feedback signs and feasibility study
51000
Warren School
Warren
Feasibility Study
$35,000
Moretown Elementary School
Moretown
Install radar signs, upgrade signage and crosswalk markings
$42,000
Weathersfield Elementary
Weathersfield
Upgrade signs and radar speed sign
$12,000
Readsboro Central
Readsboro
Funding for construction of additional sidewalk and curbing on VT 100
$27,809
Barre Town Elementary
Websterville
Upgrade School Zone signs and erect radar speed feedback sign
$33,500
Middletown Springs Elementary School
Middletown Springs
Construction of sidewalk along School House Road
$196,000
Rutland Middle School & Rutland Intermediate School
Rultand
Sign and pavement marking improvements to intersection around School Complex
$10,607
Saxtons River Elementary School
Saxtons River
Construction of sidewalk from school to village and bus drop off lane
$209,000
Champlain Elementary
Burlington
Feasibility Study
$24,000
Champlain Elementary
Burlington
Upgrade signs around school and radar speed sign
$23,000
Dothan Brook School
White River Jct.
Feasibility study
$27,000
Waitsfield Elementary
Waitsfield
Upgrades to school signs, radar feedback signs, and intersection improvement near school.
$141,000
Poultney Jr. Sr. High School
Poultney
Sign upgrade, 4 radar signs
$67,100
Poultney Jr. Sr. High School
Poultney
6 foot wide sidewalk, curbing 300 linear feet near jr/sr high school, retaining wall
$149,200
Malletts Bay School
Colchester
Multi-Use path to access mallets bay school - small sections and crosswalks
$31,537
Total Award
$1,301,253