Ithaca (N.Y.): City, School District Collaborate on Safe Routes to School

The City of Ithaca and Ithaca City School District are working together to make it safer for students to get to school.

The city and school district recently received a Safe Routes to School Grant from the state Department of Transportation. The award of $297,950 will be used to make infrastructure improvements for walking and biking to three ICSD schools — Boynton Middle, Fall Creek Elementary and Beverly J. Martin Elementary. The funding also will cover the development of non-infrastructure improvements aimed at engaging students in educational activities about walking and biking to school.

Margaret Boice, assistant superintendent for business services, told the Board of Education at its Jan. 8 meeting that the district found out about the ability to apply for a Safe Routes to School grant last June around the time when a group of Ithaca High School students gave presentations on issues surrounding safety getting to the high school.

“It just seemed to meld well, so I made contact with the city officials and they had done it before, so they were quite excited to do it,” said Boice.