As part of the national "Safe Routes to School" program, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) is now accepting applications for Colorado's 2009 Safe Routes to School funding. CDOT will be awarding up to $1.5 million in non-infrastructure (education) projects and infrastructure (capital) in order to help communities educate their students about safely walking or biking to school and improve their pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure.

"Research has shown the most successful way to increase bicycling and walking among kids grades K-8 is through a comprehensive approach that includes the '5 Es,'" Evaluation, Encouragement, Education, Enforcement, and Engineering," said CDOT Safe Routes to School Coordinator Lenore Bates. "Through this program, communities can receive funding that will improve or focus on all '5 Es', ultimately leading to a safer environment for students traveling to school on foot or on a bike."

Eligible applicants include any political subdivision of the state (school district, city, county, state entity, tribal entity). Nonprofits may also apply by partnering with a state subdivision. The state subdivision must agree to be the contracting authority.

Applicants requesting funding for infrastructure projects are also required to include an educational component in their project. At a minimum, grantees are required to collect and report information from a pre- and post-evaluation using the Safe Routes to School Student In-class Tally and Parent Survey, and provide a final accomplishment report.

Colorado's 2009 Infrastructure and Non-Infrastructure Applications are available online at www.dot.state.co.us/bikeped/SafeRoutesToSchool.htm. The application deadline is 4 p.m. on Friday, December 12, 2008.

In addition, CDOT will host numerous Colorado Safe Routes to School application training sessions across the state in order to provide communities with assistance in completing the application. For a complete list of training sessions and the locations or to sign-up for one of these following sessions listed contact Lenore Bates at (303) 757-9088 or e-mail at www.lenore.bates@dot.state.co.us . Space is limited so RSVP soon.

•Limon, CO- September 3, 2008, Wednesday, noon to 1:30 p.m., Limon Community Building, 477 D Avenue, Limon CO 80828

•Colorado Springs, CO - September 5, 2008, Friday, noon to 1:30 p.m., City of Colorado Springs Transit Admin Bldg, 1015 Transit Dr, Colorado Springs CO 80903

•Greeley, CO - September 10, 2008, Wednesday, noon to 1:30 p.m., CDOT, Trail Ridge Conf Rm, 1420 2nd Street, Greeley CO 80631

This program is 100% federally funded, and managed through CDOT. Grants are awarded through a statewide competitive process, and in proportion to the geographic distribution of the student population K-8 grades. Non-infrastructure will receive 10% to 30% of the total Safe Routes to School funds, with the remaining funds going towards infrastructure (capital) projects and CDOT program staffing.

For more information and/or evaluations (scannable parent surveys and student tallies) go to the National Center for Safe Routes to School at www.saferoutesinfo.orgor call toll-free at 1-866-610-SRTS.