City Awarded $100,000 Safe Routes to School Grant from IDOT

The City, in partnership with School District 65, has been awarded a $100,000 Illinois Safe Routes to School (SRTS) grant from the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). This significant investment will support efforts to improve safety and accessibility for students traveling throughout the community. This funding will catalyze the launch of a comprehensive transportation safety curriculum and bicycle access program to equip young residents with the skills, confidence, and equipment needed for safe, environmentally sustainable community travel. 

The SRTS initiative is a key component of the Rebuild Illinois Capital Program, which strategically allocates funds to bolster safety, mobility, and overall quality of life. The grant will support a pilot program that will teach 200 District 65 5th-grade students to travel safely and confidently using sustainable, active transportation modes as part of their daily lives through a series of in-school physical education courses. 

“Every child deserves a safe path to opportunity. By investing in bike safety education and access, we are not only teaching students how to navigate our streets, but we are also empowering them with confidence, independence, and the freedom to move through their community safely,” said City Manager Luke Stowe.  

A Two-Tiered Approach to Student Safety

• Comprehensive Safety Curriculum: The City and District 65 will partner to develop a pilot curriculum that includes pedestrian education for all grade levels, as well as on-bike education for 5th-grade students. The curriculum will cover foundational traffic laws, “rules of the road,” signaling and communication with other road-users, and in-classroom, off-road, on-sidewalk, and in-street skill-building. 

• The Access Program: Recognizing that safety education is only effective when students can apply their skills in the real world, the program will include bicycle and safety equipment access for students who qualify for free or reduced lunch. 

Building a Healthier, More Connected Community

Beyond the immediate safety benefits, this aims to reduce morning traffic congestion and safety challenges in school zones and to improve local air quality. By encouraging 'active transportation', the City is investing in both the physical health of its youth and the environmental health of the region.