A grant has been accepted on behalf of the city for continued efforts creating a Safe Routes to School program for Scottsdale elementary and middle school campuses.
The Scottsdale City Council …
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A grant has been accepted on behalf of the city for continued efforts creating a Safe Routes to School program for Scottsdale elementary and middle school campuses.
The Scottsdale City Council accepted two, one-year Transportation Alternative Program federal grants totaling $94,297 with a total requirement of $5,700.
The program cost of $99,997 funds an existing part-time, temporary Safe Routes to School coordinator position in the transportation department and the purchase of incentive items for students.
The grant monies were accepted on consent during a Dec. 4 City Council meeting, at the municipal headquarters, City Hall, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd.
The grants are through the Maricopa Association of Government for the Safe Routes to School program. Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane, along with many other Valley mayors, is a member of the MAG’s Regional Council.
The grant amounts are $47,148 in fiscal year 2020-21 and another $47,149 in fiscal year 2021-22. The city’s match requirement is $2,850 each year, funded by the operating .2% Scottsdale transportation sales tax.
The city established this program with the acceptance of earlier transportation alternative program grants and the authorization of a part-time temporary program coordinator position to run the program in April 2018, according to a city staff report.
The coordinator will work with other city departments and school stakeholders including administrators, teachers, Parent Teacher Organizations and students to plan and assist with related events and activities.
The transportation department’s goal is to fully establish the Safe Routes to School program at all elementary and middle schools in the Scottsdale Unified School District.
The Safe Routes to School program stems from the United States Department of Transportation, which describes the program as an approach to promote walking and bicycling to school. Through infrastructure improvements, enforcement, tools, safety education and incentives, alternative methods of arriving to school are encouraged.
“Nationally, 10%-14% of car trips during morning rush hour are for school travel,” the Transportation.gov website states. “SRTS initiatives improve safety and levels of physical activity for students.”
Melissa Rosequist Managing Editor | East Valley @mrosequist_
I first started my journalism portfolio at the age of 15 while in high school before going on to study at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communications. Being in the journalism field is the only professional avenue I was ever interested in, and have worked hard covering topics from school boards to hard news while working for the Independent, where I have been awarded for my reporting.
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