Gideon Pond Elementary Receives Infrastructure Grant From MnDOT

BURNSVILLE, MN — Gideon Pond Elementary School received an infrastructure grant from the Minnesota Department of Transportation.

The grant is part of the MnDOT's "Safe Routes to School" grant program, the department said.

Over 180 schools will benefit from grants totally over $8.2 million, MnDOT said.

The infrastructure grant awarded to Gideon Pond Elementary is to "provide funding for projects that promote and encourage more students to walk or bicycle to school," MnDOT said. Examples of this include adding sidewalks, trails, crosswalk markings and more, the department said.

"Thousands of school children now have more opportunities to walk and bike to schools because of the Safe Routes to School program," Nancy Daubenberger, interim MnDOT commissioner, said. "More students walking and biking means less traffic on the road and near schools, improving safety and promoting healthier kids."

Since 2005, MnDOT said it has awarded over $50 million in grants for Safe Routes to School.