Michigan announces "Safe Routes to School" recipients

January 28, 2008 - - The Granholm administration today announced that nine Michigan elementary and middle schools will receive more than $1.6 million in federal "Safe Routes to School" funding for safety improvements and education programs that will encourage students to travel safely between home and school.

"We want to protect the health and safety of our Michigan children," said Governor Jennifer M. Granholm. "This program offers our children encouragement and opportunities [?] to walk or bike to school. These schools are to be commended for pursuing these grants to improve safety and encourage healthy lifestyles."

State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle said that MDOT's role as the administering agency for the federally legislated program creates opportunities for collaboration with agencies and partners not traditionally involved with transportation funding.

Today's announcement was the first wave of Safe Routes to School funding; three additional rounds of grants will be announced this spring, next winter, and in the spring of 2009.

[it's got nothing to do with student safety - despite the ad-nauseam references - it's another money grab by a public agency hiding behind our children to do so...> http://www.michigan.gov/som/0,1607,7-192--184423--,00.html ]