Colorado Safe Routes to School Announces New Grantees

Denver —The Colorado Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School Program is awarding nearly $8 million for projects during the 2025/2026 Fiscal Year that will provide students and families with safe and accessible means of active transportation to and from school.

This grant cycle features two new developments. One, in response to the November 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, funding previously available only to elementary and middle schools now includes high schools. In addition, in line with rising costs, the CSRTS Advisory Committee increased the maximum award from $750,000 to $1 million. The committee also was able to consider and continue awarding 100% funding to projects from qualifying communities. Eligibility for this match funding exemption was determined by utilizing the Multimodal Transportation Options Fund matrix.

"We're thrilled to have received top quality applications from throughout the state,” says CDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator Annelies van Vonno. “Expanding Safe Routes to School funding, especially to include high schools, is an investment that yields returns in well-being, community connection, and multiple generations more empowered to move."

A total of $7,739,665 is being awarded to the following applicants:

Infrastructure Grants

Cañon City: $1 million with no match requirement to improve a key corridor serving as the direct connection between the high school and middle school. Additionally, the project aims to improve school zone safety with upgraded signage and pedestrian crosswalks that facilitate the movement of K-12 students between the three school campuses.

City and County of Denver: $838,045 to enhance safe routes for Stanley British Primary School by installing a Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon at the busy Quebec Street and E. 4th Avenue intersection. The project also incorporates pedestrian improvements such as curb ramps and a pedestrian refuge island and School Zone enhancements, including updated signage, striping, and school zone flashing beacons.

La Veta School District: $875,625 with no match requirement toward construction of an ADA-compliant sidewalk connecting downtown La Veta to its new Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 12 school. This infrastructure will enable safe access to both school and downtown educational resources.

Paonia: $872,825 with no match requirement to provide safe routes for students to walk, bike, and roll to and from the local elementary school while also offering a means for students to walk to the River Park for school outings.

Lakewood: $793,450 toward improving safe, accessible routes for students of Stober Elementary School through the construction of two detached sidewalks, ADA-compliant ramps, and a traffic calming device at a crucial intersection.

Basalt: $573,200 to construct a cohesive system of sidewalks, crosswalks, signage, bike lanes, and drainage in partnership with the Roaring Fork School District.

Fort Collins: $835,000 toward roadway improvements for students walking, biking, and rolling to/from Irish Elementary School. The project will include construction of a concrete side path where no sidewalks nor bike lanes exist, an improved bike-ped crossing, a widened sidewalk, and a crosswalk in front of the school.

Cedaredge: $387,709 with no match requirement to support students actively commuting to Cedaredge Elementary School through increased connectivity among pedestrian routes in the town. This project will replace sidewalks in disrepair and integrate them with existing sidewalks, including ADA accessible ramps at all intersections and in front of the school

Lyons: $758,012 to support safe routes for Lyons Elementary School by adding ADA accessible bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure where none currently exists and improving two drainage inlets identified as a safety hazard.

Johnstown: $368,953 to support safe routes for students at Elwell Elementary. The project scope will also include a High-Intensity Activated crosswalk (HAWK) system that allows for safe crossings at Colorado Boulevard.

Non-Infrastructure Grants

City and County of Denver: $258,825 toward expanding the Denver Department of Transportation and Infrastructure established SRTS initiative to high schools, creating curriculum, educational modules, and engagement events.

Town of Windsor: $178,021 to empower more children to walk, bike, and roll to school by creating safe travel plans from neighborhoods to schools, delivering bicycle and pedestrian education in physical education classes, raising awareness through public communications, and mobilizing a Task Force Coalition to sustain the initiative long term.

Safe Routes to School is a federally funded reimbursement program. It was established in 2005 to increase pedestrian safety awareness among motorists and schoolchildren. Administered by CDOT, Colorado Safe Routes to School delivers a comprehensive approach to support the overarching goal of increasing the number of children walking, biking, and rolling to school. This mission is accomplished by establishing, building upon and sustaining, safe, accessible active transportation routes to and from school throughout the state, as well as through thoughtfully designed and implemented educational programming.