Safe Routes To School
Stockton, CA – Caltrans is awarding $48.5 million of state Safe Routes to School Program funds for 139 projects. More than $7 million of those funds are being awarded to critical safety projects in rural counties. One of those projects is in Angels Camp. It’s getting $450,000 to install bike lanes, and construct curb ramps, sidewalks and minor drainage near Mark Twain Elementary School.
The goal of the Safe Routes program is to increase safety and help reduce injuries and fatalities among children in grades K-12 who walk and bicycle to school. In addition, 82 projects totaling $28 million will create jobs and benefit at least one low-income school within each project.
Caltrans chose each project based upon need, effectiveness, and how quickly it could be delivered. By improving safety, more kids are encouraged to walk and bicycle to school, resulting in healthier children while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and vehicle congestion.
Caltrans Director Malcolm Dougherty says “Safety is Caltrans’ number one priority.” “We are committed to providing the highest safety possible for our children as they travel to and from school in California.”