VDOT Considers Manassas Park for Safe Routes To Schools Grant

The is being considered for a Virginia Department of Transportation grant that, if received, will be used to build a sidewalk on Euclid Avenue near Manassas Park Middle and High Schools.

  deputy superintendent Dr. Ritchie Carroll told school board members in June that Manassas Park was now in the pool to be considered for a grant through the Safe Routes to Schools program.

 The school division and Manassas Park city officials worked together on the project, Carroll said.

 Safe Routes to Schools is a program administered by VDOT. The purpose of the program and grant money is to provide a safe and easily accessible way for children to walk and bike to schools, in this case, Manassas Park Middle School and Manassas Park High School, both located on Euclid Avenue.

 The application process began in April with city and schools employees asking for feedback and opinions from the community about a travel plan for the proposed project, Manassas Park inspector and project manager Calvin O’Dell said.

 VDOT accepted the travel plan and the funding application from the city, O’Dell said.  Now it’s time to wait for the department of transportation’s decision, he added.

 O’Dell surmised that the agency probably has a large pool of grant applicants to choose from.

 The decision is not expected until late August, at the earliest, he said.

 O’Dell said two things can happen at this point: The city could receive no funding from the Safe Routes to Schools Program and will have to pay 50 percent of the cost for the sidewalk, he said. The other half will be paid through the revenue-sharing agreement the city has with VDOT.

 The city could also receive partial funding for the project through Safe Routes to School,  he said. This means that the remaining balance will be paid by the city and through the revenue-sharing agreement.

 Of course, there’s always the chance that the project could be fully funded by the grant, O’Dell said.

In that case, the revenue-sharing funds will be reallocated to other projects, he said.