The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) on March 18 awarded $52 million to cities and counties for 139 projects funded through the state’s Safe Routes to School program, which is designed to give students in grades K-12 easier and healthier ways to safely travel to and from schools.

“Safety is Caltrans’ number one priority, and nothing is more important than assuring the health and safe mobility of our children,” said Caltrans Director Will Kempton.

Since the program’s inception in 2000, Caltrans has awarded $196 million for 709 Safe Routes to School projects. In 2007, Governor Schwarzenegger signed Assembly Bill 57, which extended the program indefinitely.

To ensure a fair and competitive project selection, Caltrans works closely with the following diverse group of state, local and regional stakeholders:

• Federal Highway Administration

• Assemblywoman Nell Soto, author of Safe Routes to School legislation

• Safe Routes to School National Partnership

• Cities, Counties and Schools Partnership

• California Highway Patrol

• California Department of Education

• California Department of Public Health

• California Office of Traffic Safety

• Bicycle and pedestrian advocates

For more information, visit www.dot.ca.gov/hq/LocalPrograms/SafeRTS2School/7thCycleProgramPlan.xls.

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