City of Dunwoody receives $460,000 grant for Safe Routes to Schools.

Just 12 days after the City of Dunwoody was created, a group of citizens with the help of the City, the DeKalb County School System and the DeKalb County Police Department submitted an application for infrastructure improvements to encourage children to walk to school.  Today the city was officially notified half a million dollars of infrastructure improvements around Kingsley Charter Elementary School.

ATLANTA – The Georgia Department of Transportation announced awards of more than $4.6 million to improve bicycling and walking conditions to 31 schools around the state. The federally funded grants are administered through the Department’s Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program.

“We’re pleased to announce these funds which will help communities provide a safer environment for students and parents to walk or bike to school, which ultimately reduces congestion and air pollution in the school vicinity,” said Georgia DOT Commissioner Vance C. Smith, Jr. “An added benefit is increased physical activity of our children.”

Georgia DOT received 65 applications totaling more than $23 million. Projects were carefully selected to represent each Georgia Congressional District. The selection process for this program involved extensive review and comment by the SRTS Project Review Panel that included a diverse group of professionals with expertise in several areas including project planning, community development, community health and engineering. The next call for projects will be in the fall.

The following school systems/schools received infrastructure funds:

City of Dunwoody: $459,333.00
Kingsley Charter Elementary School

Safe Routes to School is a national program to improve the health and well-being of children by enabling and encouraging them to walk and bicycle to school. With the support of parents, schools, community members, local, state and federal government, sustainable programs can be implemented. The program evaluates built environment around schools, conducts activities and funds projects that improve safety, reduce traffic and air pollutions in the surrounding area of the school. As a result, this program makes walking and bicycling to school a safer and more appealing transportation option. Further information about the program is at http://www.dot.ga.gov/localgovernment/FundingPrograms/srts/Pages/default.aspx.

The Georgia Department of Transportation is committed to providing a safe, seamless and sustainable transportation system that supports Georgia’s economy and is sensitive to both its citizens and its environment. Additional transportation revenues are imperative to grow and sustain Georgia's economic vitality and quality of life through the 21st Century. Georgia is the 3rd fastest-growing state in the nation, yet 49th in per capita spending on transportation. For general information on the Georgia DOT, please visit www.dot.ga.gov.