Governor Haslam Announces $1.8 Million in Safe Routes to School Grants

NASHVILLE – Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam today announced Safe Routes to School funding totaling $1.8 for 12 municipalities in Tennessee.  The funds will be used by multiple schools to improve sidewalks, crosswalks, signs and safe walking and biking educational activities.  The Safe Routes to School Program is a statewide initiative designed to make bicycling and walking to school a safer, more appealing and healthier alternative for students in kindergarten through eighth grade.

“Safety is a crucial component in our efforts to promote a healthier lifestyle for Tennessee children,” Haslam said.  “The Safe Routes to School program helps create safer walking and biking environments for students and funds activities to encourage children and their parents to increase their physical activity.”

Cities receiving Safe Routes to School funds are (click on each link for copies of individual press releases for each recipient):

The grants are made possible through a federally funded program administered by the Tennessee Department of Transportation. 

“Since 2005, the Safe Routes to School grants have funded improvement projects at 126 schools across Tennessee,” said Commissioner Schroer.  “This creative program allows us to work closely with schools, the community, and local government to promote healthy lifestyle choices and to reinforce those choices by creating a safe environment for children to walk or bike to school.”

Nationally, more than 12,000 schools have benefited from funds through state SRTS programs. To learn more about the Safe Routes to School program at the Tennessee Department of Transportation, please visit www.tn.gov/tdot/bikeped/saferoutes.htm.

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