Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Major Grant

The Major Grant program offered through Michigan's Safe Routes to School (SRTS) initiative is a comprehensive funding opportunity designed to promote safe, accessible, and active travel options for students commuting to school. This initiative aligns with a nationwide movement and federally supported efforts to encourage walking and bicycling among school-aged children. The overarching goal of the program is to improve student health, reduce traffic congestion near schools, and foster stronger community ties through infrastructure enhancements and educational programs. SRTS grants support both the physical improvements necessary to make routes safer and the programming efforts that encourage sustained behavioral changes among students and families. The Major Grant offers up to $300,000 per school for infrastructure improvements and up to $15,000 per school for non-infrastructure activities. Infrastructure funds are directed toward physical improvements such as sidewalks, crosswalks, signage, and traffic-calming measures. Non-infrastructure funds support activities like educational programs, enforcement initiatives, and promotional events that promote walking and biking. To be eligible, applicants must complete a robust planning process, including assembling a SRTS team, collecting survey data from parents and students, conducting walk/bike audits, and hosting action planning meetings. This process, which typically takes six months to one year, ensures community collaboration and project readiness. Applicants must be based in Michigan and represent schools intending to implement both infrastructure and non-infrastructure components. A key eligibility requirement is that the applicant must have completed a series of preparatory steps before applying. Applications are submitted via the Michigan Department of Transportation’s (MDOT) Grant System (MGS), and the process includes eight detailed sections with supporting documentation. Required uploads include school-specific SRTS action plans, survey results, maps, photos, and itemized budgets for proposed activities. Applications undergo a multi-stage review cycle. Each year, the program hosts three rolling review cycles, with recommended deadlines for early contact with a grant coordinator at least 12 weeks before submission. The next key cycle involves contact by March 25, 2026, with complete applications due by June 17, 2026. The Application Review Committee (ARC) will meet on August 26, 2026, with final decisions expected around November 18, 2026. The program encourages applicants to review guidance documents, attend webinars, and consult their assigned grant coordinators throughout the process. There is no stated cost-share or matching requirement for this grant. Evaluation criteria likely include project readiness, community involvement, and alignment with SRTS goals, though the specific scoring rubric is not detailed. Key contacts for the program include the main office in East Lansing, reachable at (517) 347-7891. Mailing correspondence should be sent to PO BOX 27187, Lansing, MI 48909. Although applications are accepted online, applicants are encouraged to engage with their grant coordinators well in advance to ensure full readiness and compliance with all program components.

Contact your SRTS grant coordinator early; complete required planning steps; review infrastructure eligibility carefully; use provided templates for uploads.