The original item was published from March 30, 2022 11:57 AM to March 30, 2022 12:05 PM
DATE: March 17, 2022
For Immediate Release
CONTACT: Rachel Leonard
(763) 295-2711 | rachel.leonard@ci.monticello.mn.us
Monticello Awarded MnDOT Safe Routes to School 2022 Grant
Monticello, MN – The City of Monticello and the Monticello School District have been awarded a Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) Safe Routes to School 2022 Infrastructure Grant.
The Monticello School District and the City of Monticello adopted their jointly prepared Safe Routes to School Plan in 2019. The plan strives to make it safer and easier for students to walk and bicycle to school, with an added benefits of increasing physical activity and overall community health. 
Monticello's Safe Routes to School Plan includes 13 high-priority improvements; two that directly impact the Monticello Middle School, five that directly impact Pinewood Elementary, and six that affect a combination of Monticello High School, Little Mountain Elementary, and Eastview Education Center. The adopted plan makes Monticello eligible to apply for infrastructure grants to complete the identified improvements.
The funding will be used for safety improvements near Pinewood Elementary School, including an enhanced pedestrian crossing at 3rd Street and Elm Street, upgrades to ADA compliant ramps at 4 intersections along Elm Street, and additional sidewalk on the east side of Elm Street between Broadway Street and 6th Street. Other sidewalk gaps will be completed on 4th Street between Elm Street and Minnesota Street and on 6th street between Elm Street and Minnesota Street. These items were listed as high priority projects in the recently completed safe routes to school study.
This year, MnDOT will provide $8.2 million in grants to 179 schools around the state through its Minnesota Safe Routes to School program, funding sidewalks, trails and crossings, and programs across the state.
To learn more about the Monticello plan, please visit our project page.