Oregon DOT awards $1.1 million for 8 school safe routes programs

Photo credit: Smallman12q via Wikimedia Commons

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has awarded eight school safe routes programs a combined $1.1 million for 2017-2019.

“The funds are specifically set aside for non-infrastructure investments, aimed at education and encouragement, and include things like teaching students safe practices, developing action plans around schools and more,” ODOT says.

“While this award program does not pay for engineering or infrastructure, the work it does support can lead to those kinds of investments, in partnership with local transportation agencies. For example, action plans involve activities such as identifying what barriers exist in the infrastructure surrounding schools. These plans also look at ways to increase the physical activity level of children while safely going to and from school.”

Programs receiving the funds include:

• City of Gresham, ($29,912 award, match of $92,035): for completing action plan, crosswalk enforcement and other efforts.
• City of Hillsboro ($99,999 award, match of $23,901): for creating action plans for eight schools, holding educational events and more.
• City of Portland ($135,000 award, match of $135,783): for hiring a coordinator that will be shared with Portland Bureau of Transportation and David Douglas School District, expanding program and other efforts.
• Clackamas County ($127,500 award, match of $58,999): for hiring staff to implement safe routes activities, develop action plans, conduct training and more.
• Jackson County ($90,000 award, match of $18,000): for hiring coordinator that will partner with Eagle Point, Central Point and Medford schools, develop “school champions” and other activities.
• Lane Transit District Point2Point ($134,652 award, match of $134,427): for hiring coordinator that will be housed in Springfield Public School District and will be responsible for planning/implementation of comprehensive safe routes program.
• Oregon Cascades West Council of Governments ($133,447 award, match of $29,730): for supporting coordinated safe routes program in Sweet Home School District, Lebanon Community Schools, Greater Albany Public Schools, Jefferson School District and Harrisburg School District.

Commute Options of Central Oregon ($129,682 award, match of $45,900): for hiring coordinator to implement strategies and collect data that supports efforts in Bend-La Pine School District.