Connecticut Schools to Receive Free Safe Routes To School Program Assistance for Safe Walking and Bi

CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

NEWS RELEASE

2800 BERLIN TURNPIKE P.O. BOX 317546

NEWINGTON CONNECTICUT, 06131-7456

FOR RELEASE: Mach 1, 2010

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:

OFFICE OF COMMUNICATIONS

TELEPHONE: (860) 594-3062

FAX: (860) 594-3065

WEB SITE: www.ct.gov/dot

Connecticut Schools to Receive Free Safe Routes To School Program Assistance for Safe Walking and Biking

The Connecticut Department Transportation is pleased to announce that six schools have been selected to receive Safe Routes to School (SRTS) planning assistance through the SRTS Noninfrastructure program.

The following schools will participate in the program:

Capt. Nathan Hale Middle School (Coventry, CT) - walk audit support
G.H. Robertson School (Coventry, CT) - walk audit support
Thompson Brook School (Avon, CT) - mapping assistance
Orchard Hill School (South Windsor, CT) - bicycle rodeo planned for May 2010
Eli Terry Elementary School (South Windsor, CT) - bicycle rodeo planned for May 2010
Henry James Memorial School (Simsbury, CT) - walk audit support

As this is the first round of assistance, there is still a chance for eligible schools, public and private kindergarten through eighth grade, to apply for one of the following types of assistance:

SRTS Program overview (Presentation with Question & Answer session)
SRTS Committee and Champion Assistance
SRTS Plan Walk Audit Support (Engineering Recommendation Assistance)
SRTS Plan Mapping Support (Geographic Information Systems Software Assistance)
Evaluation - Analysis of Success
Plan Review and Critique
Bicycle & Walking Education

Detailed program information and online application is available at www.walkitbikeitct.org. Scheduling for the second round of assistance for Fall 2010 will begin shortly after April 30, 2010; therefore, eligible schools are encouraged to apply.

What is the Safe Routes to School Program?

The SRTS Program was established in August 2005 as part of Safe, Accountable, Flexible, and Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). The objective of this federally funded initiative is to encourage more students in grades kindergarten to eighth grade (Grades K-8) to walk and bike to school, as opposed to other transportation alternatives; thereby encouraging a more healthy lifestyle. General program information is available on the Connecticut SRTS website: www.ctsaferoutes.org. Questions can be forwarded to the Safe Routes to School Coordinator, Ms. Sharon Okoye, via e-mail at sharon.okoye@ct.gov.