St. Paul, MN (NNCNOW.com) -- Legislation to increase the safety of students who walk and bike to school has been introduced in the Minnesota Legislature.
The legislation calls for funding a Minnesota-based Safe Routes to School Program.
The measure would ask for $12.8 million in bond proceeds and $3.2 million from the general fund to help develop, create and improve infrastructure such as sidewalks, trails, street crossings and bike paths.
Supporters of the legislation say the program was created because an existing federal SRTS Program does not adequately fund the safety needs of the state's students.
In addition, high schools aren't eligible for funding under the federal program.
"Funding a Minnesota Safe Routes to School Program will go a long way toward increasing the safety of students who want to walk and bike to school by addressing existing funding shortfalls and expanding the program to include highschools," said Rachel Callanan, Regional Vice President of Advocacy for the American Heart Association.
Posted to the web by Jenna Vogt
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