Students at Mount Daniel Elementary and Mary Ellen Henderson Middle School will soon find it safer to walk or bicycle to school, resulting from $500,000 in projects approved today by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). The Falls Church City public schools are two of 28 elementary and middle schools in Virginia awarded a share of $5.9 million in “Safe Routes to School” (SRTS) funding.

“The Safe Routes to School program’s primary goal is to support communities that want to make walking and bicycling to school a safe and convenient option for children,” said Gov. Bob McDonnell during the award announcement. The Falls Church City “Safe Routes to School Plan” was approved last March following months of study of the needs of our community by a committee comprised of school division and City employees as well as Falls Church citizens.

The funds awarded this week to Falls Church will pay for new and repaired sidewalks, bike/pedestrian crossing improvements and traffic calming and speed reduction measures.