Grafton School Honored With 'Safe Routes To School' Award

GRAFTON, MA – Millbury Street Elementary School was honored Thursday by Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and Transportation Secretary and CEO Stephanie Pollack for its efforts in establishing programs for students to safely walk and bike to school. Millbury received a gold "Safe Route to School" award and was one of 80 schools and community organizations to be recognized.

The Massachusetts Department of Transportation's Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program promotes annual events such as Walk and Bike to School Day and the International Walk to School Day. SRTS also offers pedestrian and bicycle training activities at close to 780 schools in 200 Massachusetts communities. The program helps schools and local communities plan activities, provide event materials, assist with forming walking routes to and from school and offers personal assistance to meet the needs of each school.

"Programs like Massachusetts Safe Routes to School are extremely important to public safety in the Commonwealth’s communities," Polito said in a statement. "By educating and encouraging our students at an early age to safely walk and bike, we encourage them to be independent and empower them to make healthy transportation choices now and in the future."

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