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23 U.S.C. § 208 — Safe routes to school

Verified against govinfo.gov as of June 20, 2026View official text on govinfo.gov ↗
  1. (a)DefinitionsIn this section:
    1. (1)In the vicinity of schoolsThe term “in the vicinity of schools”, with respect to a school, means the approximately 2-mile area within bicycling and walking distance of the school.
    2. (2)Primary, middle, and high schoolsThe term “primary, middle, and high schools” means schools providing education from kindergarten through 12th grade.
  2. (b)EstablishmentSubject to the requirements of this section, the Secretary shall establish and carry out a safe routes to school program for the benefit of children in primary, middle, and high schools.
  3. (c)PurposesThe purposes of the program established under subsection (b) shall be—
    1. (1)to enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school;
    2. (2)to make bicycling and walking to school a safer and more appealing transportation alternative, thereby encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle from an early age; and
    3. (3)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.
  4. (d)Apportionment of Funds
    1. (1)In generalSubject to paragraphs (2), (3), and (4), amounts made available to carry out this section for a fiscal year shall be apportioned among the States so that each State receives the amount equal to the proportion that—
      1. (A)the total student enrollment in primary, middle, and high schools in each State; bears to
      2. (B)the total student enrollment in primary, middle, and high schools in all States.
    2. (2)Minimum apportionmentNo State shall receive an apportionment under this section for a fiscal year of less than $1,000,000.
    3. (3)Set-aside for administrative expensesBefore apportioning under this subsection amounts made available to carry out this section for a fiscal year, the Secretary shall set aside not more than $3,000,000 of those amounts for the administrative expenses of the Secretary in carrying out this section.
    4. (4)Determination of student enrollmentsDeterminations under this subsection relating to student enrollments shall be made by the Secretary.
  5. (e)Administration of AmountsAmounts apportioned to a State under this section shall be administered by the State department of transportation.
  6. (f)Eligible RecipientsAmounts apportioned to a State under this section shall be used by the State to provide financial assistance to State, local, Tribal, and regional agencies, including nonprofit organizations, that demonstrate an ability to meet the requirements of this section.
  7. (g)Eligible Projects and Activities
    1. (1)Infrastructure-related projects
      1. (A)In generalAmounts apportioned to a State under this section may be used for the planning, design, and construction of infrastructure-related projects that will substantially improve the ability of students to walk and bicycle to school, including sidewalk improvements, traffic calming and speed reduction improvements, pedestrian and bicycle crossing improvements, on-street bicycle facilities, off-street bicycle and pedestrian facilities, secure bicycle parking facilities, and traffic diversion improvements in the vicinity of schools.
      2. (B)Location of projectsInfrastructure-related projects under subparagraph (A) may be carried out on any public road or any bicycle or pedestrian pathway or trail in the vicinity of schools.
    2. (2)Noninfrastructure-related activities
      1. (A)In generalIn addition to projects described in paragraph (1), amounts apportioned to a State under this section may be used for noninfrastructure-related activities to encourage walking and bicycling to school, including public awareness campaigns and outreach to press and community leaders, traffic education and enforcement in the vicinity of schools, student sessions on bicycle and pedestrian safety, health, and environment, and funding for training, volunteers, and managers of safe routes to school programs.
      2. (B)AllocationNot less than 10 percent and not more than 30 percent of the amount apportioned to a State under this section for a fiscal year shall be used for noninfrastructure-related activities under this paragraph.
    3. (3)Safe routes to school coordinatorEach State shall use a sufficient amount of the apportionment of the State for each fiscal year to fund a full-time position of coordinator of the safe routes to school program of the State.
  8. (h)Clearinghouse
    1. (1)In generalThe Secretary shall make grants to a national nonprofit organization engaged in promoting safe routes to schools—
      1. (A)to operate a national safe routes to school clearinghouse;
      2. (B)to develop information and educational programs on safe routes to school; and
      3. (C)to provide technical assistance and disseminate techniques and strategies used for successful safe routes to school programs.
    2. (2)FundingThe Secretary shall carry out this subsection using amounts set aside for administrative expenses under subsection (d)(3).
  9. (i)Treatment of ProjectsNotwithstanding any other provision of law, a project assisted under this section shall be treated as a project on a Federal-aid highway under chapter 1.