NEWS RELEASE
City of Carbondale, Illinois
January 31, 2012
City of Carbondale Receives Illinois Safe Routes to School Grant
Governor Pat Quinn announced that the City of Carbondale will receive a grant in the amount of $107,444 through the Illinois Safe Routes to School Program to upgrade pedestrian areas surrounding Thomas School and Carbondale Middle School. The federally-funded program is designed to enable and encourage children to walk and bike to school safely. “These projects enhance roads, sidewalks and other infrastructure within communities, which is important in keeping both drivers and pedestrians safe,” Governor Quinn said. “Encouraging children to walk and bike to school not only makes school routes safer, but also improves the quality of life for Illinois residents by easing traffic congestion and reducing emissions.”
Funding through the program includes $103,442 to construct, replace and/or repair sidewalks and $4,002.00 to install, enhance and/or repair crosswalks in the areas surrounding Thomas School and Carbondale Middle School. Mayor Fritzler stated, “The grant will help us continue our work of building pedestrian friendly roads and sidewalks while at the same time providing a safer environment for children and students near our schools and recreation areas. The work will be completed this summer and be ready when the new school year begins.”
Illinois Safe Routes to School is a program of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration, designed to enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school and encourage a healthy lifestyle from an early age. The program also facilitates projects and activities that will improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption and air pollution in the vicinity of primary and middle schools.
