Safe Routes to Schools Will Reach Hundreds of Alameda County Schools

Large Grant Awarded for TransForm's Work to Increase Biking and Walking to School

TransForm, the leader of the Safe Routes to Schools Alameda County Partnership, has been working with dozens of urban public schools to increase how many kids walk and bike to school for the past two years. Now, our reach is about to expand to more than 100 schools!

On April 23, 2009, the Alameda County Transportation Improvement Authority (ACTIA) approved an $820,000 grant for the Safe Routes to Schools Alameda County Partnership. Funds are for July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2011.

Here are some of the big things we'll be able to do thanks to this grant:

• Offer comprehensive program support to 90 K-8 schools in the county and technical assistance to another 90 K-8 schools.
• Establish new partnerships with community-based organizations.
• Give stipends to school-based Parent Center and Community Relations staff and teachers so they can integrate Safe Routes to Schools Programming into their jobs.
• Increase the capacity of a key partner, Cycles of Change, so they can provide on-demand bicycle safety and education classes to 50% more schools each year.
• Explore piloting a youth-led middle school education program modeled on Marin County's "Teens Go Green" campaign.
• Offer the highly successful "A Breath of Fresh Air" puppet show to many more schools each year.