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Schools hoping to get Safe Routes funding
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By WENDY MITCHELL, Staff Writer
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The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet has once again announced funding available to Kentucky communities which are seeking ways to provide children with a safer path to school while encouraging healthier lifestyles.
The cabinet announced late last week the application deadline for its Safe Routes to School Program is March 15: approved projects will receive 100 percent federal funding through the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
The goal of the project is to promote traffic safety around schools and encourage children to walk or ride bicycles to school.
According to a KTC press release, "The Safe Routes to School program was designed to enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and ride bicycles to school. It also aims to facilitate the planning, development and implementation of projects that will improve safety while reducing traffic, fuel consumption and air pollution in the facility of schools."
For Mason, Bracken, Lewis, Fleming and Robertson counties, the Buffalo Trace Area Development District is handling the local grant application process.
"They still have plenty of time to decide," said Vicki Brace, project coordinator for BTADD.
Brace said a few projects are already under consideration or inclusion by BTADD.
"Bracken County has applied for it, but Buffalo Trace (Area Development District) is handling the paperwork," said Bracken County Judge-Executive Gary Riggs. "We are looking into extending the sidewalks north past the high school."
Bracken County had also applied to fund the project in 2007.
"That time they didn't get it, but that does not mean it couldn't happen another time. Vanceburg applied for about $250,000 to extend sidewalks to the elementary school. It is also a good cause, but didn't get it. They are probably going to apply again," said Brace.
While not all applications are granted the funds, there have been successful applications awarded in the region.
"Last year Germantown was awarded $65,000 to complete its sidewalk replacement, Flemingsburg got grant money for its request and the Fleming Fiscal Court got $75,000 for sidewalks," said Brace.
There is a limit to how much funding is available, since Kentucky only receives a certain amount of funding from the Federal Highway Administration each year. According to the FHWA, in the last three rounds of grant cycles, Kentucky has been allotted a total of nearly $3.6 million. In 2008, $1,885,289 has been allotted to Kentucky for the Safe Routes to School program.
"It is a great program. I know they get tons and tons of applications," said Allen Blair, KDOT District 9 spokesperson.
For Safe Routes To School program information go to http://www.saferoutesinfo.org.
For more area news, go to http://www.maysville-online.com.
Contact Wendy Mitchell at wendy.mitchell@lee.net or call 564-9091, ext. 276. |
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