Grant Awarded To Pay For Safe Routes To School Assessment In Northwest Arkansas

EnergizeNWA, a community initiative from the Endeavor Foundation, has awarded more than $33,000 to the Bicycle Coalition of the Ozarks.

The grant will allow the coalition to do readiness assessment for implementing Safe Routes to School programs in all Northwest Arkansas school districts, according to a news release.

The goal of Safe Routes to School is: to enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school; to make bicycling and walking to school a safer and more appealing transportation alternative; and facilitate planning, development and implementation of projects and activities that will improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption, air pollution in the vicinity of schools.

Coinciding with development of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, Alta Planning & Design is helping the coalition by assessing infrastructure and policy readiness of school districts .

One of the project goals is to establish Safe Rides to School Task Forces in each district and hold meetings before the end of the year. Those interested are asked to contact [email protected] for more information.