Grant Money May Make it Easier for Illinois Students to Walk to School

A March 7, 2008 article from the Chicago Sun-Times reports that $8.3 million in federal grant money has been awarded to schools, towns and community groups throughout Illinois, in an effort to encourage students to walk or ride their bikes to school. Increased exercise and a heightened sense of independence are potential benefits students might see when they walk, rather than take the bus, to school. Over the course of three years, a total of $23 million in grant money will be awarded to assist with projects ranging from sidewalk repairs to walking contests. The funds are provided by the federal government to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) via a national Safe Routes to School program. IDOT determines which schools or organizations will receive the money, based on the applications they submit. For this first year, approximately 10 percent of requested projects received grant funding.

The article is available at the Chicago Sun-Times Web site.