(Washington, DC)  The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) announces the receipt of a five-year, $5 million federal award to increase the safety of District students who walk and bike to school. 
 
The Safe Routes to School funds will be used to build new sidewalks and curb ramps, improve and add crosswalks, install traffic-calming measures, increase safety education and enhance police enforcement. In addition, DDOT will conduct an intensive pilot program to promote safer walking and cycling at schools in each ward.
 
“These funds will help make walking and biking to school safe for children, our longest-served customers,” said Dan Tangherlini, Director of Transportation. “Our goal at DDOT is to make every part of DC safe and accessible for pedestrians with a sidewalk on at least one side of every street in the District.”
 
Thirty years ago, a majority of children walked or biked to school; today, less than 15 percent do. Safe Routes to School plans to reverse this trend by promoting “walking school buses” and “bike trains” and other safe biking and walking practices.
 
Safe Routes to School will also help improve the health of children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found that 16 percent of school-age children nationally are overweight or obese—up from 4 percent thirty years ago. Regular physical activity, such as walking and biking, tends to reduce obesity. 
 
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