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Information on the QuickStart Mini-grant program and a link to the online application is available on the website under School Travel Plans and Grants.  Two more rounds are planned for the fall, with application deadlines of November 15 and December 20. 

Five More Grants Awarded

Oct 12 -- The Virginia Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School Program has awarded another five $1,000 QuickStart Mini-Grants, bringing to 22 the total number of schools benefiting from this program.  
Two more rounds of applications are available this fall:  Thursday, October 18 and Thursday, November 15.  Click here for more details. 

17 Grants Awarded So Far

September 18, 2012 – The Virginia Safe Routes to School program awards 17 $1,000 QuickStart Mini-grants. 

Bayview Elementary School
     Walk to school event

Bensley Elementary School
     BikeSmart curriculum in grades 4-5

Berkeley Glenn Elementary School
     Berkeley Glenn Elementary SRTS new sidewalk ribbon cutting event

Burnley Moran Elementary School
     Burnley Moran Walk-A-Thon

Clover Hill Elementary School
     Clover Hill Elementary Safe SWARM to School

Crestwood Elementary School
     Crestwood Safe Travels Program

Cumberland County Elementary School
     Instructing students on how to ride a bicycle properly

Daniel's Run Elementary School
     Daniel's Run Elementary International Walk/Bike to School Day

Garfield Elementary School
     Garfield Bike Rodeo

Jennie Dean Elementary School
     Bike rodeo and bike/walk safety promotion (at Harvest Moon Family Fun & Fitness Festival)  

Louise Archer Elementary School
     International Walk to School Day; Walking Wednesdays; Vienna Bike/Walk to School Challenge

Marshall Road Elementary School
     Monthly "Walking Wednesdays" and "Bike Trains"

Nottingham Elementary School
     Walk to school event, Bike Safety Unit

Oakridge Elementary School
     Walk to School Event

Robious Elementary School
     A Walking School Bus on Our New Sidewalks!

Shoemaker Elementary School, Gate City Middle School
     Crosswalk designation and proper marking

Vienna Elementary School
     Walking Wednesdays

QuickStart Mini-grants are appropriate for communities that plan to start a SRTS program or for communities with an on-going SRTS program that need a little help with a SRTS event.  Title 1 schools are encouraged to apply and will be given priority. 

Many first round awardees will use their grant to support an International Walk to School Day event.  Additional grants are available this fall.  The next application deadline is September 27. 

A total of 50 $1,000 mini-grants are available. Fifty percent of the award will be provided to grantees within 10 days of notification; the remaining amount will be provided upon completion of the project and submission of a brief final report. 

More information and the online application are available on School travel plans and grants landing page, under QuickStart Mini-grants.

Call for SRTS Grant Applications, More Resources for Local SRTS Programs

September 10, 2012 -- The Virginia Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School Program has issued a call for grant applications for both infrastructure projects and non-infrastructure projects.  This is the first time since 2010 that VDOT SRTS Program is accepting applications for non-infrastructure projects and represents another outcome of the Program’s Strategic Plan completed earlier in 2012.  More information on the grant application and new, user-friendly travel plan information are available on the School Travel Plans and Grants section.

VDOT is also offering resources for local SRTS programs with four new programs:

Three local technical assistance coordinators (LTACs) are now available to assist local SRTS programs.  Each LTAC is assigned to work in one of three state regions.  Their work will involve both direct contacts (telephone, email, in-person) with local communities and VDOT District Offices, and on broader activities that support SRTS statewide and locally.  For contact information and to find out which LTAC serves your community, visit the Contact Us section.

A new online Starter Kit is now available to assist local programs just getting underway.  The Kit includes information on forming a SRTS team, planning a walk and bike to school event, and talking points to use for community SRTS presentations.  See the Starter Kit section for more information. 

VDOT has also created an acknowledgement program to recognize those that contribute to local safe routes to school programs.  See the Acknowledgement Program section for more information. 

On August 24, VDOT announced a SRTS QuickStart Mini-grant program, Student Travel Tally Week (a statewide count of student travel-to-school modes) and a reminder about the October 3 Walk to School Day.  This announcement and others are in our announcement archives for easy access.

 

August 23, 2012 -- The Virginia SRTS program is pleased to announce the first in a series of changes designed to encourage more communities to start and maintain a safe routes to school program.   

A new hotline and email address

It’s easier to contact us now with a new program hotline and email. Call the hotline during regular business hours with a quick question or for more information about the Virginia SRTS program.  The number is 1‐855‐601‐7787.  If email is easier, write to us at info@VirginiaSRTS.org .  We’ll respond within one business day.

If you’re new to SRTS and want to make a quick start, or have a SRTS program and need a bit of help with an event, consider applying for one of our new QuickStart Mini-grants.  The first round of these $1,000 grants is available to help with an October 3 Walk to School Day event (or any walking and biking event in October).  The application deadline is Thursday, September 6 for these grants, with awards announced by Tuesday, September 18.  After that, grant applications will be accepted and considered on a rolling basis.  Click here for more information and to access the application.

Student Travel Tally Week

The new school year is a great opportunity to establish a new tradition, especially one that will lay the groundwork for better Safe Routes to School (SRTS) programs in the future! With this in mind, the Virginia SRTS program has named the week of the September 17 as Student Travel Tally Week!   As a school that values Safe Routes to School we ask you to participate in this new statewide tradition. Click here for more information.

More to come

We have more in store.  In two weeks, we’ll issue a call for grant applications, introduce you to three Local Technical Assistance Coordinators, and new content to our website, including our theme - Learn it. Do it. Live it.

2012 Funding Selections Announced

The VDOT Safe Routes to School Program has selected 28 schools in 18 communities from across the commonwealth to receive SRTS funding as part of the 2012 award round.  

Through a competitive application process VDOT will distribute $5.9 million to these communities to fund projects including:

• New sidewalks
• Bicycle parking
• Bike/ped crossing improvements
• Multi-use trails

These are designed to make it safer and more convenient for kids in kindergarten through 8th grade to walk or bicycle to school.   

2012 SRTS infrastructure awards

To learn about how you can apply for VDOT’s Safe Routes to School funds, visit our school travel plans and grants page.