Funding pours in for walking, biking to school projects

By Margo O’Hara

Until now, some students at Monee Elementary School had no choice but to take the bus to their school – only 500 feet away.

That is about to change thanks to the Safe Routes to School grants that were announced earlier this month. The Illinois Department of Transportation is awarding $13 million in Safe Routes to School grants around the state, with roughly $5.9 million going to the Chicago metro region.

The Village of Monee was awarded a grant to build 500 feet of sidewalk that connects the school to the neighboring subdivision.

Installing the sidewalk will give 110 students who live nearby the option to walk and bike to school. The sidewalk will also eliminate two bus routes and the carbon emission that goes with them.

“I’ve spoken with everyone on the Monee Safe Routes Team, and we can’t wait for the groundbreaking!” said Active Trans’ Leslie Phemister, who worked as the Southland Safe Routes to School Coordinator.

The new sidewalk will also eliminate $60,000 in transportation costs, said Heidi Gonzales, community liaison for the Crete-Monee School District.

She said this could be the start of a major village-wide improvement that would be hugely beneficial for a nearby seniors community.

The funding also allows Active Trans to continue its Safe Routes work with a full-time person who manages Safe Routes to School activities at a local, state and national levels.

Other projects, small and large, will enable and encourage kids to walk and bike to school. You can check the entire list of funded projects on IDOT's website

Other funded projects include:

• New sidewalks around schools in Woodstock
• Bike and pedestrian safety instruction in South Chicago Heights
• Pedestrian refuge islands around Itasca schools
• Walking School bus program in Elgin schools

“We are so fortunate to have a federal Safe Routes to School program that invests in kids’ health and safety,” said Melody Geraci, Active Trans program director. “If we can demonstrate fun and safe ways for kids to get around that don’t involve the back seat of a car, we will find that walking and biking to school is an everyday occurrence, just like it used to be.”

Monee Mayor Dan Tovo said this sidewalk is just the beginning.

“I think [this sidewalk] going to spur us to be able to connect our subdivisions. I know there is more grant money out there and we are going to apply for it.”

He encourages other communities to do the same.

“Be patient. Due diligence. Look for the help. Just don’t give up,” he said. “If you can’t afford it, try to find a way to make it happen.”

Margo O'Hara is Active Trans' communications director.