Funding

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Grants

These programs and grants are funded through the state non-infrastructure program, federal and Safe Routes to School transition funds designated for Safe Routes to School by MnDOT. They are subject to change as funding changes occur each year.

Infrastructure grants

State funded SRTS Infrastructure Grants:
Available statewide to communities to construct infrastructure that improves access and safety on prioritized routes to and at schools. Past grants have included sidewalks to schools, trails along state highways, and improved crossings on school walking routes. A SRTS plan is recommended to apply, no funding match required.
Infrastructure grants
Greater Minnesota Transportation Alternatives (infrastructure opportunity):
Safe Routes to School is an eligible program for the Transportation Alternatives Solicitation. Greater Minnesota communities are eligible to apply to this competitive infrastructure program. A SRTS plan is recommended to apply, 20 percent funding match required.
Greater Minnesota Transportation Alternatives

Planning assistance grants

Grants to schools and communities to develop comprehensive SRTS plans. Plans are completed by regional development organizations or a statewide SRTS consultant. Since 2006 MnDOT has funded almost 300 schools.
Planning assistance grants

SRTS Boost grants

Intended to boost local walking and bicycling efforts, SRTS Boost grants fund non-infrastructure strategies to help support current SRTS plans or programs.
SRTS Boost grants

Technical Assistance

Training and technical assistance to communities implementing Safe Routes to School strategies are often available here. They are subject to change.

Safe Routes to School Demonstration Project Technical Assistance

Safe Routes to School Demonstration Project Technical Assistance will support communities with existing Safe Routes to School plans, or other comprehensive SRTS approaches, in undertaking the process to plan, design and implement a SRTS demonstration project in their community.
SRTS Demonstration Project Technical Assistance

Engineering Studies

Solicitation currently closed.

SRTS engineering studies are intended to bridge the gap between potential safety strategies documented in a SRTS plan and implementation.
Engineering Studies grants

The schedule, programs, and grant funding levels were developed by MnDOT under advisory from the SRTS Steering Committee. Sign up for our MnDOT SRTS email list for updates on funding opportunities and more.

Federal funds

Safe Routes to School was a stand along federal program from 2005-2012, federal funding was distributed to every state. In 2012, the federal Safe Routes to School program was replaced with the Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP), a program which SRTS projects are eligible to apply for. More info can be found on TAP and future Minnesota TAP solicitations on the TAP website. Additional federal funds were designated for Safe Routes to School by MnDOT leadership to transition between the original program and the changing funding sources. These federal funds require a 20 percent match.

State funds

In 2012, the Minnesota State Legislature created a state Safe Routes to School program modeled after the federal program (Minnesota State Statute 174.40). In 2013, the state invested $250,000/year in non-infrastructure programs from the general fund. In 2014, the state increased this to $500,000/year and also provided a $1 million one-time investment of infrastructure funding. The legislature has repeated the $1 million dollar investment each biennium, those funds continue to fund non-infrastructure strategies through the Safe Routes to School program at MnDOT. Additionally, $1 million from the general fund was invested by the state legislature for SRTS infrastructure projects. An infrastructure solicitation for $1 million was held in 2015. In 2017, the state legislature again put $1 million toward SRTS infrastructure, then an additional $3 million in 2019, and $5 million in 2021.