Safe Routes to School Program

The Illinois Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program is administered by the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) through its Bureau of Programming. Initially created as a federal stand-alone program in 2005 under SAFETEA-LU, the SRTS program has evolved over time. While earlier cycles required no local match, the 2025 cycle will revert to 100% federal funding under the Transportation Alternatives (TA) Set-Aside from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) of 2021, requiring no local match. The program's objective is to encourage and facilitate safe walking and biking to school for K-12 students through infrastructure and non-infrastructure projects. The program takes a comprehensive approach using six strategic components—Engineering, Education, Enforcement, Encouragement, Evaluation, and Engagement & Equity. It supports projects that reduce traffic, promote student safety, and encourage healthy transportation habits among school-aged children. Projects must be located within a two-mile radius of a primary, middle, or high school. Only one infrastructure and one non-infrastructure application may be submitted per school district per cycle. All applications must comply with federal and state procurement and accessibility regulations and must be registered through the Grant Accountability and Transparency Act (GATA) grantee portal. Eligible applicants include public, private, and parochial schools serving grades K-12, as well as municipalities, counties, townships, school districts, non-profit organizations, and planning organizations. Infrastructure applications can be sponsored by school districts or governmental jurisdictions and must involve roadways with secured Right-of-Way (ROW) and easements. Non-infrastructure applications can be sponsored by educational, governmental, or non-profit entities. All projects must be managed by a single Sponsoring Agency, responsible for the fiscal and administrative aspects. For infrastructure projects, the funding limit is $250,000 per project with a minimum of $25,000. These projects must be obligated within 18 months and completed within three years of award announcement. Non-infrastructure projects have a maximum funding limit of $50,000 and a minimum of $2,500. Mini-grants are available and funded based on student participation. Projects must be completed within a school year. Eligible costs include construction, engineering, supplies, printing, promotional materials, and equipment; however, salaries and operational expenses are not eligible. Applicants must include required documentation such as Student Tallies, Parent Survey summaries, cost estimates, resolutions, and letters of support. GATA documentation including the Uniform Grant Application, Risk Assessment, Budget Template, and Conflict of Interest Affidavit is also required. Optional but beneficial attachments include photos, school wellness policies, and walk audit findings. The 2025 grant cycle opens August 1 and closes October 13, 2025. Completed application packets must be submitted via the OneDrive system, with a live submission link to be provided on July 30, 2025. Hard copies are not required. Applications will be reviewed by a committee composed of IDOT personnel and scored on project scope, need, cost estimates, and demonstrated barriers. Final selection is determined based on scoring, geographic balance, and funding availability. For more information, applicants may contact John Paris at DOT.SafeRoutes@illinois.gov or call (217) 785-1250.

Include summaries, not full surveys; ensure PE and ROW readiness; use optional attachments to strengthen application.