Grants and Funding

Grants and funding opportunities are available to support Safe Routes to School planning, programs, and infrastructure improvements. These include the Kansas SRTS Planning Grant, Kansas SRTS Programming Grant, and Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program.

To learn more, explore each opportunity below, review the Q&A, watch the informational webinar recording, or reach out to SRTS Coordinator Ann Katt at ann.katt@ks.gov.

Planning and Programming Grant Award Recipients

Congratulations to our P&P Grant awardees! The Kansas SRTS Program is working with the following communities to create SRTS plans that will get SRTS momentum going in communities throughout the state. Follow us on social media for updates and highlights from these efforts!

2026-2027 Planning Grant Recipients

  • Coffeyville

  • Garden City

  • Liberal

  • Newton

2026-2027 Programming Grant Recipient

  • Lawrence

Planning Grants

Planning Grants provide technical assistance to help communities develop SRTS Plans. No local match is required, and KDOT's consultant team works directly with communities to create a plan that guides future SRTS improvements.

  • SRTS Plans include an analysis of existing conditions, summary of public outreach, and identification of potential infrastructure and non-infrastructure solutions to help more students walk, bike, and roll to school. See our completed plans here.

  • Most applicants are school districts or local governments, although any person or organization can apply. Buy-in from both the school district and local government is necessary for successful implementation, and their knowledge and support of the effort must be documented in the application.

  • SRTS plans can be developed for one (1) school or up to eight (8) schools within a single school district. Elementary, middle, and high schools are all eligible for SRTS plans. For districts with more than eight schools contact KDOT’s SRTS Coordinator, Ann Katt, at ann.katt@ks.gov for assistance with selecting schools for the application.

  • Planning Grant applications window for the 2026-2027 school year is now closed.

    Apply by filling out a short form on the KDOT SRTS website. The form asks for a main point of contact, why your community would benefit from a SRTS Plan, the members of your proposed SRTS Team, and basic information about the schools that will be part of the plan.

  • The development of the SRTS Plan will take about eight months, beginning in late August 2026 and wrapping up in April 2027. If selected, grantee should be prepared to support plan development by meeting regularly with the project team (KDOT and their consultant), providing information, surveying parents and students (with online tools provided by the consultant team), helping to arrange and publicize public workshops, and participating in identifying local issues and solutions. Additionally, the grantee should be able to demonstrate a commitment to implementing the plan once it is complete.

  • A completed SRTS Plan can be used as a communication and visualization tool for grant applications and to support SRTS programs and activities in your community. It can also be used as a catalyst for broader community conversations about walking, biking, and rolling.

Programming Grants

Programming Grants provide up to $75,000 over three years to implement education, encouragement, and enforcement (non-infrastructure) strategies identified in a community’s SRTS Plan. A 10% local match is required.

  • The SRTS Programming Grant is for Kansas communities with an existing SRTS Plan. The Grant is for a three-year period and provides up to $75,000 to support implementation of programming priorities identified in your SRTS Plan. See our completed plans here.

  • Kansas communities with an existing Safe Routes to School Plan.

  • Yes. A 10% local match is required.

  • Programming Grant applications window for the 2026-2027 school year is now closed.

    Apply by filling out a short form on the KDOT SRTS website. The form asks for a main point of contact, a description of your project, a rough cost estimate, staff or community members that will help to implement the program, and basic information about any schools that will be part of the effort.

  • Programming Grant recipients should be prepared to work with KDOT SRTS staff to finalize a scope for the program before it begins. KDOT staff will not implement programming. Grant funds can be used to supplement existing staff or hire consultant services through an RFP. The local project lead will meet with KDOT staff throughout the grant period to discuss program progress and outcomes.

  • This grant is meant to help develop and implement education, encouragement, and enforcement activities identified in your SRTS Plan. A list of eligible and ineligible expenses is included on the following page. For specific eligibility questions, please contact Ann Katt.

Transportation Alternatives Program

Transportation Alternatives (TA) Program provides federal funding every two years for projects that expand active transportation options and enhance community connectivity.

The current Call for Projects is now closed!

  • Eligible projects include pedestrian, bicycle, and other non-motorized transportation infrastructure; Safe Routes to School construction projects; rail-trail conversions; historic transportation facility preservation and rehabilitation; and scenic or environmental improvements.

    Have additional questions? Learn more about the Transportation Alternatives program or email SRTS Coordinator, Ann Katt, at ann.katt@ks.gov.

    More funding opportunities for active transportation can be found on the KDOT website.

  • Entities that are eligible to apply for TA funds for construction projects are:

    • Local governments

    • Regional Transportation Authorities

    • Transit agencies

    • Natural resource or public lands agencies

    • Schools/School Districts

    • Tribal governments

    • Any other local or regional governmental entity with responsibility for oversight of transportation or recreational trails that the State determines to be eligible

    • Non-urbanized communities within the WAMPO and MARC MPO regions are eligible to apply.

    • Small MPO’s may now develop and submit an application on behalf of a community within that area. These MPOs include Flint Hills, Metro Topeka, Lawrence Douglas County MPOs and St. Joseph Area Transportation Study Organization.

    *Please note, a Federal Employer ID Number (FEIN) is required to accept federal funds.

    Learn more about the Transportation Alternatives program or email SRTS Coordinator, Ann Katt, at ann.katt@ks.gov.

Grant Writing Assistance and Support

Kansas State University | Grant Support Services offers grant writing assistance and support. See Grant Searches, Personal Coaching and Grant Feedback, for free help to find grants, review your grant proposals or connect you with a contract grant writer.  For more information, see the KSRE Grant Writing Flyer.