AHTD ANNOUNCES FEDERAL FUNDING FOR SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROGRAM

    LITTLE ROCK (11-1) The Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department (AHTD) has announced the establishment of the “Safe Routes to School Program” in Arkansas, according to AHTD Director Dan Flowers. The program is a Federally-funded initiative of the 2005 Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).

     “The program is directed toward enabling and encouraging students in Kindergarten through 8th grade to walk or bicycle to school,” said Flowers. “We are able to provide 100 percent funding for those facilities meeting the criteria. Two million dollars are available for the initial funding process.”

     The AHTD will conduct a series of 15 public outreach sessions around the state, beginning on November 8 in Fort Smith and concluding on December 12 in Harrison, to fully explain details of the program.

     Areas within two miles of a K-8th grade school are eligible for funds to be disbursed in two categories – infrastructure improvements and educational programs. Improvement projects can include the planning, design and construction of sidewalks, crossings, bicycle facilities, as well as traffic diversion and speed reduction improvements. Educational programs can include public awareness campaigns, traffic education, enforcement and outreach activities.

     The application period will be announced by the Arkansas Highway Commission in early 2007.

     Times and locations of the outreach sessions are:

 

Fort Smith, Wednesday, November 8, 2006 at 6:00 p.m. at The Echols Center, 5600 Kinkead on the University of Arkansas – Fort Smith campus.

 

Russellville, Thursday, November 9, 2006 at 5:30 p.m. at the Hughes Community Center, 1000 East Parkway.

 

Texarkana, Monday, November 13, 2006 at 5:00 p.m. at the Cathedral Heights Church of the Nazarene, 4010 Fairground Road.

 

Hot Springs, Tuesday, November 14, 2006 at 5:30 p.m. at the Hot Springs Transit Center, 100 Broadway Terrace

 

Little Rock, Thursday, November 16, 2006 at 5:30 p.m. at the offices of Metroplan, 501 West Markham.

 

Jonesboro, Monday, November 20, 2006 at 5:30 p.m. at the Allen Park Community Center, 3609 Race Street

 

Batesville, Tuesday, November 21, 2006 at 5:30 p.m. at the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department District 5 Headquarters, 1673 Batesville Boulevard (3 miles south of Batesville).

 

Brinkley, Monday, November 27, 2006 at 5:30 p.m. at the Brinkley Convention Center, 1501 Weatherby.

 

West Memphis, Tuesday, November 28, 2006 at 5:30 p.m. at the West Memphis Civic Center, 228 West Polk.

 

Pine Bluff, Thursday, November 30, 2006 at 5:30 p.m. in the R.J. Fallis Building (Waterfront Meeting Building) on Cecil Mosley Drive in Pine Bluff Regional Park.

 

Monticello, Monday, December 4, 2006 at 5:30 p.m. in the Caucus Room of the University Center at 517 University Drive on the University of Arkansas – Monticello campus.

 

Magnolia, Tuesday, December 5, 2006 at 5:30 p.m. in Foundation Hall at the Donald W. Reynolds Campus Center, 100 East University on the Southern Arkansas University campus.

 

Mena, Thursday, December 7, 2006 at 5:30 p.m. in the Spencer Building Lecture Hall, 1100 College Drive on the Rich Mountain Community College campus.

 

Springdale, Monday, December 11, 2006 at 5:30 at the offices of the Northwest Regional Planning Commission, 1311 Clayton Street.

 

Harrison, Tuesday, December 12, 2006 at 5:30 at the Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department District 9 Headquarters, 4590 Highway 65 (0.5 mile south of Highways 62 and 412).

 

 

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For Further Information Contact:

Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department
10324 Interstate 30, Little Rock, AR 72209
Tel: 501-569-2000
FAX: 501-569-2400
e-mail: info@arkansashighways.com