Lt. Governor John D. Cherry Jr. recently awarded federal “Safe Routes to School” funding to six Hamtramck, MI, schools in a check presentation held at Holbrook Elementary School. The Safe Routes to School program encourages parents, teachers, neighborhoods, and schools to work together to improve safety for children who walk or bike to school. “These Safe Routes to School grants will help children in Hamtramck get to school safely,” said Lt. Gov. Cherry. “Safe Routes to School is a vital investment in our neighborhoods and Michigan's future. It is part of a process that starts with our commitment to early childhood education and proceeds all the way to our goal of doubling the number of college graduates in Michigan.” Schools receiving funding will implement education and encouragement programs during the 2008-2009 school year and complete any infrastructure work, such as sidewalks and crosswalks, in 2009. Overall, Safe Routes to School funding, in this round of grants, amounts to $8.7 million to 41 Michigan schools. “These improvements will not only benefit Michigan schoolchildren, but will result in safer routes for all pedestrians and bicyclists in these local neighborhoods,” said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle. “As an engineer and a parent, I am pleased our department is working closely with parents, teachers, students, and neighborhoods to provide non-motorized transportation improvements between home and school that encourage children to be more physically active.” In all, six Hamtramck schools will receive a total of $967,406 for a variety of improvements. The six schools are: Bridge Academy, Dickinson East Elementary, Frontier International Academy, Hanley International Academy, Hanley International Academy, Kosciuszko Middle School, and Holbrook Elementary School. More information about Michigan's Safe Routes to School Program, the handbook planning process, the action plan and funding is available on the web at: www.saferoutesmichigan.org.
