BATON ROUGE, La. –The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development has received approximately nine million dollars to fund Safe Routes to School projects throughout the state.

Safe Routes to School programs aim to improve the safety of children by making walking and bicycling to school safer, easier and more enjoyable. They work to assess the safety of school travel routes, make changes to current conditions, educate students and drivers about safe travel, and encourage walking and biking to school.

The Louisiana Safe Routes to School Program is pleased to announce two completed projects along with several projects scheduled to be let during the summer of 2010.

The first completed projects are located in Claiborne Parish and Vinton, Louisiana. More information on these and other Safe Routes to School projects in Louisiana can be found DOTD’s Web site at http://www.dotd.la.gov/planning/highway_safety/safe_routes/.

For more information on Safe Routes to School in Louisiana, contact Shalanda Cole at shalanda.cole@la.gov.

-30-

www.dotd.la.gov