Contact:            Shalanda Cole

                        shalandacole@dotd.la.gov

                        504-234-6261

BATON ROUGE, La. – Private non-profit organizations, local governments, elementary and middle schools wishing to apply for the next round of Safe Routes to School funds through the Section 82 Highway Safety Safe Routes to School Program are encouraged to attend the 2008 Safe Routes to School Training Conference. The conference will take place on November 13-14, 2008, at the Ambassador Hotel, 535 Tchoupitoulas Street, New Orleans, LA.

Safe Routes to School programs aim to improve the health of kids and the community by making walking and bicycling to school safer, easier and more enjoyable by to assessing the safety of school travel routes; making changes to current conditions; educating students and drivers about safe travel; and encouraging walking and biking to school.

The Department of Transportation and Development has received approximately $9 million to fund Safe Routes to School projects throughout the state over the next two years. Interested organizations will have an opportunity to apply for up to $300,000 to conduct Safe Routes to School programs in their areas.

For more information about the program, email Shalanda Cole at shalandacole@dotd.la.gov.

-30-

www.dotd.la.gov