CITY OF ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN
301 E. Huron St., P.O. Box 8647
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48107-8647
www.a2gov.org
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release CONTACT:
Patrick Cawley, P.E., Sr. Project
Manager, pcawley@a2gov.org,
734.794.6410, ext. 43632
LOCAL PARTNERSHIPS NET FEDERAL GRANT FOR
“SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROGRAM”
AT THURSTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
ANN ARBOR, Mich., December 21, 2010 — Before the end of 2011, Ann Arbor’s Thurston
Elementary School students will benefit from safer walking and biking routes to classes and health
education programming thanks to a federal grant provided through the Michigan Department of
Transportation (MDOT). The Safe Routes to School initiative is a collaborative effort lead by Washtenaw
County Public Health with the Ann Arbor Public Schools, the City of Ann Arbor, and the Thurston school
community. The federal monies granted to Thurston’s “Safe Routes to School Program” will total
$160,840.
As part of the effort the City of Ann Arbor will construct improvements in the school area to road and
sidewalk infrastructure. Elements will include pedestrian refuge islands, flashing traffic beacons,
crosswalk markings, and increased signage. These infrastructure improvements will be coordinated
through MDOT’s Local Agency Programs (LAP) Unit.
This grant will also help fund Thurston to implement school-based programs to teach safe walking and
biking skills and to encourage students who live within the walk zone to get to school on foot. Programs
will include pedestrian and bicycle safety classes and assemblies, organizing monthly walk-to-school
events, and a walk-to-school mileage club.
The Thurston Safe Routes to School grant is a result of a two-year collaboration between the City of Ann
Arbor, Washtenaw County Public Health Department, Thurston Parent Teacher Organization, and school
administration. In 2008, the Washtenaw County Public Health Department and Thurston Elementary
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CITY OF ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN
301 E. Huron St., P.O. Box 8647
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48107-8647
www.a2gov.org
received a Safe Routes to School planning grant from the Michigan Department of Community Health.
Through this grant, they formed a Safe Routes to School Team, which included participation from
parents, neighbors, school administration, the county and city. The team gathered information from
students and parents about their primary safety concerns and identified types of road improvements that
would promote safer commuting. The resulting action plan was submitted to the state and was fully
funded. Washtenaw County Public Health is working with several other elementary and middle schools
Ann Arbor, Ypsilanti, and Willow Run school districts on Safe Routes to School planning. For more
information, contact Lily Guzman at 734-544-2983 or guzmanL@ewashtenaw.org.
Safe Routes to School is a federal program that aims to make it safer for kids to walk and bike to school
and to increase the number of kids who do so. The program creates an opportunity for schools to work
closely with local government to promote a safer environment and lifestyle for children. For more
information on the Michigan Safe Routes to School program, visit www.saferoutesmichigan.org.
The Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) announced in mid-December that ten Michigan
schools in six counties will receive $1.4 million in federal Safe Routes to School (SRTS) funding for
safety improvements and education programs in 2011.
"This federal funding will enable schools to offer educational activities and make infrastructure
improvements that encourage students to walk and bicycle safely between home and school," said State
Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle. "MDOT is pleased to partner with the Michigan Fitness
Foundation, schools, teachers, parents, students and neighborhoods on this important initiative."
Ann Arbor has 114,000 residents, spans 27.7 square miles, and is frequently recognized as a foremost place to live, learn,
work, thrive and visit (www.a2gov.org/news). To keep up with City of Ann Arbor information, subscribe for e-mail updates
(www.a2gov.org/subscribe), follow us on Twitter (http://twitter.com/a2gov) or become a city fan on Facebook
(www.facebook.com/thecityofannarbor). The city’s mission statement reads: The city of Ann Arbor is committed to providing
excellent municipal services that enhance the quality of life for all through the intelligent use of resources while valuing an
open environment that fosters fair, sensitive, and respectful treatment of all employees and the community we serve. # # #
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