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Safe Routes to School Funding in Minnesota | Success Stories | Minnesota Partner Affiliates | Existing Legislation and Policies
Safe Routes to School Funding in Minnesota
From 2005-2012, each state received federal funding specifically for Safe Routes to School projects via the federal transportation legislation SAFTEA-LU. Many states still have funds remaining from the Safe Routes to School program; see our State of the States quarterly tracking report to see whether this funding is still available in Minnesota. To learn more about federal funding for Safe Routes to School, read through the Five Steps to Federal Funding: A Brief Explanation of the Safe Routes to School Program Process. You can find additional resources in our national learning network too.
In July 2012, Congress passed a new transportation bill, MAP-21, which consolidated several bicycling and walking programs, including Safe Routes to School, into a new program called Transportation Alternatives. Starting in 2013, states have the option to continue running standalone Safe Routes to School programs or to have Safe Routes to School projects contend with other types of projects in a Transportation Alternatives competition.
Additional information on how Transportation Alternatives works is available in our National Policy section.
The Minnesota Department of Transportation's Safe Routes to School program announced the awards for $3.8 million in federal grant funding for Safe Routes to School. The 2013 grant cycle received 102 applications requesting almost $15 million in funding. The money can be used for infrastructure improvements, such as sidewalk and trail repairs, education and enforcement, and planning assistance. More information on these awards are available here.
Application Guidelines
Since 2005, MnDOT has given out $11.7 million in Safe Routes to School grants.
Visit the Minnesota Safe Routes to School program website for more information.
State Outreach Programs
The Minnesota Safe Routes to School program is currently piloting a bicycle and pedestrian safety curriculum designed to target students K-8. More information is available here, under "SRTS Curriculum - Education Training".
State Advisory Committee
Minnesota’s state advisory committee is made up of members from the State Departments of Education, Health and Public Safety. The committee is evaluating various roles and opportunities to leverage key stakeholder resources to support our goal of more children safely walking and bicycling.
Success Stories
If you would like to submit a success story for consideration, please email it to Margaux Mennesson.
Robbinsdale schools are getting kids to use leg power
A Brooklyn Center school has launched a program to get kids walking and bicycling. Five schools in the Robbinsdale district are also taking part. Click here to read more.
Fond du Lac Reservation Completes Safe Routes to School Plan - January 2010
There is a new addition to the diversity of Safe Routes to School planning in the State of Minnesota. The Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Tribe has become the first Indian tribe in the State to have completed a Safe Routes to School plan. Click here to read more.
Minnesota’s State Advisory Committee is made up of members from the State Departments of Education, Health, and Public Safety. The Committee is evaluating various roles and opportunities to leverage key stakeholder resources to support our goal of more children safely walking and biking.
Minnesota Partner Affiliates
Find out which organizations in your state have pledged their support for the Safe Routes to School movement. If your organization isn't yet a partner affilate, we would love for you to join us; it's free! Find more info on joining here.
Existing Legislation and Policies
In May 2013, the Minnesota legislature agreed to provide $500,000 in state dollars for the 2013-2014 Safe Routes to School program. This is the first-ever commitment in the MN state transportation budget to ensure that state funds are available to improve conditions for children to safely walk and bicycle to school. This funding will support non-infrastructure and help communities plan Safe Routes to School programs, provide training for staff and volunteers and reinforce other non-infrastructure programs that are crucial to a successful Safe Routes to School. Minnesota also recently included a clause in its Transportation Finance bill that requires MNDoT to fund the federal Transportation Alternatives program (TAP) at previous SAFETEA-LU levels (33 percent higher than TAP), despite the federal cuts to Transportation Alternatives. The initial estimate is that MN, as a result of the clause, will be spending $6 million more a year for bicycle and pedestrian projects.
The Governor signed the Omnibus Transportation bill into law on May 10, 2012, making Safe Routes to School officially signed into law. The Safe Routes to School language may be found in Session Law Ch. 287 (HF2685) in Article 3, Section 45 or click here for the Safe Routes to School language as it appears in the unofficial session law. This was a true coalition effort. A coalition of 34 organizations came together to support the Safe Routes to School legislation. These organizations included a wide range of stakeholders spanning health, bicycle, transit/transportation, education, and local government. Coalition partners mobilized their constituencies to reach out to lawmakers and the media at key points in the process.