Iowa Legislature being asked to appropriate $1.5 million for Safe Routes to School program

Decorah has several "Walking School Buses"

A coalition that includes the American Heart Association, the Healthier Iowa Coalition and supporters of the Safe Routes To Schools program is banding together to lobby the state legislature to invest $1.5 million in a state-funded SRTS program.

Federal funding for Safe Routes To Schools was cut in 2012.  With no more federal dollars coming in, Iowa no longer had funds to dedicate to Safe Routes To Schools projects.  Some projects have been funded, but they had to compete for grants against environmental management projects, scenic byway projects, historic preservation projects and even trail projects.

 The coalition wants the legislature to create a fund that would support SRTS projects and SRTS projects alone.  The money would pay for both infrastructure, such as sidewalks and crosswalks, and non-infrastructure, such as Walking School Bus programs and safety education.

More information about the campaign for a state-funded Safe Route To Schools program for Iowa is available at: www.healthieriowa.com/take-action/