Applications due October 1, 2008

The Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program enables and encourages children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school safely. The program sets out to make walking and bicycling a more appealing transportation option for students in grades kindergarten through eighth, thereby encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle from an early age.

Forty years ago, roughly half of all children ages five to 18 years old walked and bicycled to school. Today, 85% of our children are driven to school either by bus or private vehicle. Approximately 25% of the country’s morning traffic is private vehicles driving children to school. The result? Increased traffic congestion, a reduction in air quality and the deterioration of our children’s health. And in Mississippi, 4 out of 10 of our children are at-risk of becoming overweight or are overweight.

The overarching goals for the Safe Routes program is to address student health by encouraging more physical activity, to reduce traffic congestion and improve air quality in the vicinity of schools. The goal of Mississippi’s SRTS program is to empower Mississippi communities in planning, developing and implementing programs that make walking and bicycling to school a safe and healthy alternative to being driven by bus or motor vehicle. Through available federal funds, communities can stage a wide variety of projects and activities to encourage, from building safer street crossings to establishing programs that encourage and educate children and their parents to safely walk and bicycle to school.

Program Overview

Planning A Program

Funding Available

Assistance Offered

Forms & Checklist

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