DALLAS, TX — Regional Transportation Council approved $23.5 million in federal funding for construction of active transportation projects in three North Texas counties.

In all, 12 projects spanning six communities in Collin, Dallas, and Tarrant counties received a total of $27 million through the Transportation Alternatives Call for Projects, with the addition of $3.5 million in local funding.

Approximately $16.5 million in federal funding was awarded for the construction of regionally significant projects consisting of trails and separated on-street bikeways in Dallas, Fort Worth, Garland, Plano, and Richardson.

The projects will implement significant sections of the Regional Veloweb network, providing commuting access to transit and major destinations. The funded projects will also improve safety at major highway or roadway crossings and increase comfort for people making bicycle trips.

An additional $7 million in federal Transportation Alternatives program funding was approved for six Safe Routes to School projects that will improve the safety of children walking and bicycling to and from school in Arlington and Dallas.

In encouraging more students to walk and ride their bicycles to school through a mixture of improvements to infrastructure near campuses, the Safe Routes to School projects are expected to lead to the lessening of local traffic congestion and improved air quality by reducing the number of vehicle trips necessary to transport children to and from school.