Safe Routes to School Program (SRTS)

The main objectives of the Safe Routes to School Program are:

To enable and encourage children in grades K-12 (previously K-8), including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school.
To make bicycling and walking to school a safer and more appealing transportation alternative, thereby encouraging a healthy, active lifestyle from an early age.
To facilitate the planning, development, and implementation of projects and activities that will improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and air pollution in the vicinity of schools

Applications currently being accepted through November 13, 2026.

Program Overview

The Safe Routes to School Program is a federally funded reimbursement program that was established in August 2005 by the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act – A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU). While previous legislation made the Safe Routes Program optional, the current legislation, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) has reinstated it as a standalone program. The New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) had elected to continue funding the Safe Routes Program separately in previous years, ensuring that there has not been a gap in serving this important program need.

How to Maximize Your Chances of Success

Applying for Safe Routes funding is time-consuming and involves multiple requirements, which means multiple ways to miss something and risk funding. However, there are ways to ensure your application does not get disqualified for simple mistakes and has the maximum opportunity to be considered for its merits. Here are some things to pay special attention to and to take advantage of to improve your chances of receiving Safe Routes funding.

Contact Info

Jenna Monaghan

Program Manager - Safety Initiatives & Complete Streets

jmonaghan@sjtpo.org

Avoid Common Mistakes

- Your responsible charge must be a full-time employee. Part-time employees or employees of consultant firms or nonprofits listed as the responsible charge will disqualify your application.
- Don’t wait to schedule your pre-application meeting. Pre-application meetings are mandatory and for good reason. These meetings are an opportunity to speak with individuals that know the program and understand what reviewers are looking for. Historically, these meetings have been critical for helping guide projects in a more competitive direction and avoid common mistakes.
- Don’t forget to attend at SRTS training webinar. Attending a webinar is not mandatory, but will provide critical information about the program including the application process, tips and tricks and Q&A time with NJDOT Local Aid staff. The webinar is designed to assist you in making your grant application stronger and turning your project into a reality.
- Show the problem that you are solving. Do not assume that those reviewing your application will know your community as well as you do. Your application will be reviewed only based on your application materials. Be sure that you are exhaustive in demonstrating the need or problem in your project location and be sure it is clear that your project solves that problem. And remember, a picture (or a map) is worth a thousand words!
- Don’t forget the SAFE in Safe Routes. Getting every person to their destination safely is our number one job as owners/designers of the roadway network. This is even more true when our children are involved. Designing projects with minimum standards in mind is not sufficient to protect children’s safety. Consider every opportunity to include Proven Safety Countermeasures in your design. Want to know where the most dangerous roads in your community are? Check out the Network Screening (High Crash) Lists in our region.
- Do not forget to attach signed resolutions of support for your project. Applications must include signed resolutions of support from school boards, municipalities, and any entity relevant to the project as well as maintenance commitments. Many applicants forget to attach resolutions, or their attachments are not signed. Do not overlook your resolutions. You will not have the opportunity to send them in after the application deadline has passed.
- Follow-up on previous applications. If you have submitted applications in previous years and were not awarded funds, you should follow-up, first with the Local Aid Resource Center, to get a debrief to learn more about why your application may not have been competitive or may have even been disqualified. This is especially important if you are a community relying on consultant support for application submission.

Application Process

The Safe Routes program is funded through the Federal Highway Administration’s Federal Aid Program and is being administered by the NJDOT, in partnership with the SJTPO, the Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission (DVRPC), and the North Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA).

County, municipal governments, school districts, and schools are eligible to apply to the program. Nonprofit organizations are not eligible as direct grant recipients for this solicitation. However, nonprofit organizations may partner with a local public agency that will assume responsibility and administration for the grant.

Infrastructure projects include planning, designing, and installing sidewalks, crosswalks, signals, traffic-calming, and bicycle facilities. Operating or maintenance costs are not eligible for Safe Routes funding.

NJDOT is soliciting Safe Routes grant applications for infrastructure projects only. The Safe Routes to School Application Guidance explains the infrastructure program’s eligibility requirements, guides the applicant through the application, and describes the process by which projects are selected.

All applicants will be required to submit their applications using SAGE (System for Administering Grants Electronically). Training and instructions on how to apply are available at this link.

Schedule Your MANDATORY Pre-Application Meeting

All applicants must participate in a Mandatory Pre-Application meeting. Applicants in the SJTPO region can schedule a meeting Calendly. Applicants must schedule by October 9, 2026.

This meeting typically includes participants from the Local Aid Resource Center and your local MPO. These meetings can help guide applicants to ensure their projects are eligible for funding, competitive, and have not missed necessary elements. A staff member must be in attendance (in addition to consultants, if any).

Applicants are asked to come prepared with a project map (which can be made using the Map Maker Tool), a brief project description, and an estimated project cost.

Attend a Safe Routes to School Webinar

Attendance at one Safe Routes to School webinar is strongly encouraged. Webinars are virtual and will be held on the following days:

Wednesday, September 9, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM (register now)
Thursday, September 24, 2026, from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM (register now)
Thursday, October 8, 2026, from 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM (register now)

Assistance is available for applicants of Safe Routes funding.

Cross County Connection Transit Management Association (CCCTMA) is the designated Safe Routes Regional Coordinator for South Jersey. For assistance, contact Patrick Farley at (856) 596-8228 or farley@driveless.com.

Do not wait until the last minute!

SJTPO and CCCTMA are happy to assist you but need time to help get you the answers or assistance you need. Give yourself the time to ensure you do not make simple mistakes. You will not have the opportunity to correct mistakes after the application deadline has passed.

Got Questions? Check out the FAQs

NJDOT has assembled a list of questions that frequently come up during the process. Check out their Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) first, as any questions arise as you are putting together your application.

Any other questions? Do not hesitate to ask us!

Contact Jenna Monaghan at jmonaghan@sjtpo.org with any remaining questions. We will work to get the answer or direct you to someone who can.

Did not receive funding for a Safe Routes Application? Find out why!

Projects are selected on a competitive basis. However, some projects are disqualified due to easy-to-correct mistakes, including unsigned resolutions, improper responsible charge, and missing attachments. You can contact NJDOT for a debriefing about your application.