The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT), through its Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program, has awarded the Town and the Alcott School a $10,000 grant through the 2025-2026 Signs and Lines Program. The funds will be used to implement low-cost infrastructure improvements, such as signage, ADA compliant curb ramp and pavement markings to improve safety and accessibility along key walking and biking routes to the Alcott School.

“Education is a right and ensuring that our youth, their families and educators can safely get to and from school is an investment in our future.  This grant funding will enable municipalities and schools to make upgrades that create more reliable and accessible routes for everyone, “said Interim MassDOT Secretary and MBTA General Manager and CEO Phillip Eng.  “Under the leadership of the Healey-Driscoll Administration, we are prioritizing safety and education as the foundation to improve quality of life for the communities we serve across the state.”

“The Safe Routes to School program builds safer communities and empowers students to walk, bike, and roll to school with confidence,” said Undersecretary and State Highway Administrator Jonathan Gulliver. “The Signs and Lines program makes travel to school more welcoming, more predictable, and more accessible for communities across the Commonwealth.”

The Massachusetts SRTS Program, sponsored by MassDOT and with funds from the Federal Highway Administration, promotes safer routes for students to actively get to and from school by fostering partnerships between community-led organizations, local law enforcement, education leaders, and public health departments. The program currently serves more than 1,200 schools in more than 280 communities across the Commonwealth. Through these partnerships, the Massachusetts SRTS Program highlights the importance of pedestrian and bicycle safety. SRTS also provides information, materials, and resources to support schools and communities with their local SRTS initiatives.