INDIANAPOLIS – Indiana students will soon find it safer to walk or bike to 51 schools thanks to $3.35 million in federal awards the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) announced today. Safe Routes to School funds awarded to cities, towns and schools increased nearly 20 percent, allowing a larger proportion of applications to be approved this year.

“INDOT is responding to growing childhood health and safety concerns with increasing investments promoting walking and bicycling among Indiana’s youngest commuters,” said INDOT Commissioner Michael W. Reed.

Safe Routes to School aims to influence a new generation of healthy, sustainable travel behavior. The federally funded program recognizes traffic congestion, fuel consumption and air pollution near our schools—coupled with growing health and childhood obesity concerns—makes walking and bicycling to school an attractive and convenient solution. Examples of eligible projects and activities include new sidewalks, motor vehicle speed reduction techniques and bicycle and pedestrian skills training.

$250,000 to the St. Thomas Aquinas School in Indianapolis for sidewalks, medians, flashers, pedestrian countdown signals, bike parking and curb ramps

· $75,000 to The Project School in Indianapolis for a Comprehensive Safe Route plan, encouragement, outreach, education, enforcement, equipment and incentives

· $56,000 to the St. Joan of Arc School in Indianapolis for a Comprehensive Safe Route plan, outreach, education, equipment and incentives

· $75,000 for a Comprehensive Safe Route plan, encouragement, outreach, education, enforcement, equipment and incentives at five schools within the City of Carmel