Gov. Pat Quinn announced Illinois has been awarded a $5.9 million federal investment to create Illinois Safe Routes to School. This federally funded program is designed to enable and encourage children to walk and bike to school by creating a safe environment. The announcement is part of Quinn's agenda to improve public safety across Illinois.
"Students deserve to feel safe while traveling to and from school every day," Quinn said. "The Safe Routes to School program will help communities improve public safety to keep students safe and promote healthy habits like walking and biking to school."
The 58 projects encompass safety efforts such as repair and new construction of sidewalks, pedestrian countdown signals, speed feedback signs and equipment for police to ensure students' safety when walking and biking to school.
In support of the program, the Illinois Department of Transportation will continue to work with communities to provide safety training and educational materials to further encourage safe, healthy and green alternatives for children to get to school. This will help ensure a consistent statewide program and favorable outcomes from the Safe Routes to School projects.