Media Contact: Karyn Le Blanc @ DDOT, 202-671-3490, 202-497-4572 (mobile) or Mafara Hobson @ DCPS, 202-744-4549 (mobile)

(Washington, DC) The District Department of Transportation (DDOT) is partnering with the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCPS) to make it safer, more convenient and more fun for students to get to school on foot or by bike. Walking and biking to school mean healthier children and less traffic.

DDOT is launching the DC Safe Routes to School "Pilot School Program" and will work with DCPS and other partners to select eight lucky DC schools to receive assistance in a number of areas including: safety education, fixing safety problems, planning walking and bicycling events and contests, and working with police to enforce traffic laws. DDOT’s Safe Routes to School focuses on the five “E’s” including Education, Encouragement, Enforcement, Engineering and Evaluation.

DDOT will use the lessons learned at these schools for programs and improvements throughout the city.

All DC schools including public, private and charters with grades K-8 are eligible but they must apply to be considered.

Instructions and more information are available on the DDOT website at www.ddot.dc.gov/saferoutes.

Applications will be available beginning on March 3, 2008 and are due May 1, 2008.  Final decisions will be announced in early June 2008.