ST. PAUL, Minn. – This week, the Minnesota Department of Transportation announced the city of Chaska will receive $28,605 in state grant funding from MnDOT’s Safe Routes to School Program. The city of Chaska will be able to use the grants for planning assistance to convene a team, understand key issues, and prioritize strategies and identify solutions to make routes to school safer in Chaska. Rep. Lucy Rehm (DFL-Chanhassen), a member of the House Sustainable Infrastructure Committee, cheered the state investment.
“I’m glad to see MnDOT prioritizing our community with this round of Safe Routes to School grant funding,” said Rep. Rehm. “Kids deserve to be safe not only in school, but on their way to the classroom. Our students face some significant transportation challenges, especially on Highway 7, and I look forward to continuing the partnership with the department and our community to make needed improvements to keep more people safe.”
The Safe Routes to School program aims to improve safety and reduce traffic congestion around schools. It does this by making it safer and easier for students to walk and bicycle to school, with an added benefit of increasing physical activity and student health.
Since 2005, MnDOT has awarded more than $60 million in federal and state funds to communities to support Safe Routes to School. The majority of funding was awarded for infrastructure projects. The remainder was allocated for programs and planning that promote walkable and bikeable communities.
More information on Safe Routes to School is available at www.mndot.gov/saferoutes.
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