INDOT grants promote walking, biking to school

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - The state transportation department is funding efforts around the state to promote walking and biking to school with more than $3.4 million in awards announced Friday.

The grants are part of the Safe Routes to School program, which awards federal transportation funds for approved construction, planning, training and encouragement activities. Nineteen projects were funded this year. Here’s a look at them:

Indianapolis Area

• $250,000 for sidewalks, curb ramps, crosswalks, curb and gutter for Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic School and Indianapolis Public School (IPS) No. 84 Center for Inquiry.
• $250,000 for sidewalks, crosswalks and curb ramps at Amy Beverland Elementary School in the Lawrence Township School District.
• $67,500 for a comprehensive Safe Routes plan, outreach and safety education materials at Amy Beverland Elementary School in the Lawrence Township School District.
• $249,875 for a shared use path, sidewalks, crosswalks, shared lane designation, bike racks, traffic calming, beacons and feedback signs for two schools, Danville South Elementary and Danville Community Middle School in Hendricks County.
• $74,825 for a comprehensive Safe Routes plan, encouragement, enforcement, incentives and equipment purchases for two schools, Danville South Elementary and Danville Community Middle School in Hendricks County.
• $75,000 for a comprehensive Safe Routes plan, safety education materials and incentives at one school in Westfield, Hamilton County.
• $75,000 for a comprehensive Safe Routes plan, encouragement, promotion, equipment purchases, education and training for one IPS school.

Madison County

• $249,376 for sidewalk and curb rehab or replacement, curb ramps and crosswalks at two Elwood Community Schools in Madison County.
• $247,241 for sidewalks, curb, curb ramps, crosswalks, signs and pedestrian flashing beacons at three schools in Alexandria, Madison County.

Northeast Indiana

• $250,000 for sidewalks, sidewalk replacement, curb ramps and a retaining wall at one school in Angola, Steuben County.
• $250,000 for sidewalks, sidewalk replacement and curb ramps at one school in Waterloo, Dekalb County
• $250,000 for sidewalks, curbs, curb ramps and bike route signage at one school in Auburn, Dekalb County.
• $46,000 for a comprehensive Safe Routes Plan, promotion, encouragement, equipment purchases and a speed trailer for two schools in Butler, Dekalb County.

Northwest Indiana

• $249,996 for a shared use path, sidewalk, bike lanes, crosswalks and curb ramps at two schools in Winamac, Pulaski County.
• $249,950 for sidewalks, crosswalks, curb, curb ramps, signs and speed trailers at one school in Attica, Fountain County.
• $246,158 for sidewalk, sidewalk reconstruction, crosswalks, curb ramps and a speed trailer at one school in Logansport, Cass County.
• $64,550 for a comprehensive Safe Routes Plan, encouragement, education, training, enforcement and equipment purchases for two Rossville Consolidated Schools in Clinton County.

Southern Indiana

• $250,000 for sidewalks, sidewalk replacement, crosswalks and curb ramps for two schools in Linton, Greene County
• $75,000 for a school travel plan, encouragement, promotion, education, training, enforcement, incentives and equipment purchases for one school in Versailles, Ripley County

Along with those constructed under the Safe Routes to School program, INDOT has installed 378 miles of new or rebuilt sidewalks since 2005. In addition, bicycle and pedestrian trails have grown by more than 50 percent in the past few years to enhance recreation and other types of active transportation. More than 215 miles of trails and shared use paths have been built with the innovative Hoosiers on the Move trails plan.