The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) announced the grant solicitation period for the 2022 Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program is open, with applications being accepted now through October 14, 2021.
The SRTS program is funded through the Federal Highway Administration’s Federal Aid Program and is administered by the NJDOT Division of Local Aid and Economic Development, in partnership with the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA), the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), and the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization (SJTPO).
SRTS grants are available for infrastructure projects that encourage and enable K-8 students to walk and bike safely to school. Proposed project improvements must be within a two-mile radius of a K-8 grade school. SRTS facilitates the planning, development and implementation of projects that improve safety and air quality, as well as reduce traffic and fuel consumption around schools. Municipalities, counties, schools and school districts are welcome to apply! Examples of eligible SRTS projects include installation of ADA compliant sidewalks, bike paths, striping, lighting, signals, traffic calming improvements, etc.
Free SRTS Grant Training Webinars:
The Safe Routes Resource Center at Rutgers University in partnership with the NJDOT Division of Local Aid and Economic Development are conducting free grant training webinars which will include:
- Overview of Federal Aid programs and the Safe Routes to School Program
- Detailed Review of the Safe Routes to School Grant Application
- Grant Application Process
- Grant Resources, Tips & Strategies
- Q&A with NJDOT Local Aid Staff
The session is designed to assist with making grant applications stronger to turn projects into realities.
Please register or view any of the following online sessions:
Tuesday, June 15, 2021, from 10am to 11:30am — view video of webinar
Tuesday, July 13, 2021, from 3pm to 4:30pm — view video of webinar
Thursday, August 19, 2021, from 10am to 11:30am — view video of webinar
Thursday, September 9, 2021, from 3pm to 4:30pm – register here!
One-on-One Application Meeting with Local Aid:
NJDOT is offering One-on-One Application Meetings to provide direct assistance to applicants in developing better and stronger applications. Meetings will be held from June 22 – September 23, 2021.
- Schedule a meeting through the NJDOT Local Aid Resource Center
- One-on-One Meetings will be held with NDOT District Staff and MPO Representative
- Applicant requesting the meeting must be a representative of the Local Public Agency, NOT a consultant
- Meetings will be up to one hour
- One-on-One meetings are NOT a mandatory requirement
SRTS Grant Resources:
Here is a list of helpful resources when preparing for your SRTS grant application:
- 2022 SRTS Grant Training Presentation Slides
- NJDOT Application Guidance/Handbook for SRTS Infrastructure Grants
- NJDOT SRTS Grant Application Screen Shots
- NJDOT SRTS Frequently Asked Questions
- Webinar Slides: Applying for Federal 2022 Safe Routes to School Program Funds
- Federal Grant Process Flow Chart
- Estimating SRTS Improvement Costs can assist with budgeting. See 2020 Design Treatment Typical Costs for more information.
- Resolutions of Support are required from the municipality and a support letter from the Board of Education/School Board when applying for SRTS grants. Here is a Sample Resolution of Support of SRTS Grant for Municipality and Template Letter of Support for SRTS Grant Application from School District.
- The Trenton School Wellness Policy is a good example of school wellness policy that includes support for active transport to school.
- The New Jersey School Zone Design Guide from NJDOT provides guidance for the community, government and schools involved in the effort to enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities to walk and bicycle to school.
- NJDOT Pedestrian Safety Action Plan Toolkit offers success stories and guidance on pedestrian safety infrastructure improvements.
- SRTS Grant Strategies and Tips gives quick bits of information to help make a grant application stronger.
- Contact your Safe Routes to School Regional Coordinator with any questions about the grant applications.
Good luck with your SRTS grant application! Please contact us with any questions.