Waukegan Arts Council Micro Grant Program

The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is accepting applications for its Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Bicycle and Pedestrian Education Program, a grant initiative aimed at enhancing safety and promoting active transportation. This program aligns with the broader mission of moveDC, DDOT's strategic plan, which seeks to strengthen the multimodal network for all roadway users and support goals in safety, mobility, and sustainability. The grant, ranging from $500,000 to $1 million over a four-year duration, focuses on providing comprehensive education to reduce injuries and fatalities related to walking and bicycling in the District of Columbia. The target beneficiaries of this program include DC charter school students, adults, families, and children who will benefit from various safety courses and events. The impact goals are multifaceted: to reduce the number of injuries and deaths, promote healthy and active lifestyles that can lower healthcare costs, and further the moveDC objectives of safety, mobility, and sustainability. By addressing critical areas of bicycle and pedestrian safety, the program aims to foster a culture of safe and active transportation within the District. The program's priorities and focuses are clearly defined. These include providing in-school pedestrian and bike safety classes for DC charter schools, establishing a Bike Ambassador program, offering "learn to ride" and bicycle safety courses for adults, families, and children, and organizing pedestrian and bicycle safety events. Furthermore, the initiative emphasizes maintaining a pedestrian and bicycle safety website with a calendar of events and a dashboard for Bike Ambassador activities, providing necessary equipment, and distributing printed educational materials. Expected outcomes and measurable results revolve around increased participation in safety education, a reduction in pedestrian and bicycle-related incidents, and greater adoption of active transportation methods. The program's success will be tracked through metrics such as the number of participants in courses and events, engagement with the safety website, and ultimately, a decline in injury and fatality rates. This continuous commitment reflects DDOT's strategic priority to enhance the safety and functionality of its multimodal network, operating under the theory that comprehensive education and outreach are critical drivers for achieving a safer, healthier, and more sustainable urban environment.