Last modified: Tuesday, June 5, 2007 11:31 AM PDT New Plymouth is one of 21 towns across Idaho that recently received funding through the Idaho Transportation Department’s Safe Routes to School program. The program is designed to provide funding for cities to improve walking and bicycling routes for school students. New Plymouth acquires key grant By Jennifer Colton - Argus Observer New Plymouth - Friday, the Idaho Transportation Department launched its Safe Routes to School — SR2S — program, by announcing 21 communities throughout the state will receive funding awards for safety projects — including New Plymouth. The SR2S program will reimburse schools, communities and other organizations that improve walking and bicycling routes for school children, according to a press release from the ITD Office of Highway Operations and Safety. No monetary match is required by the communities. New Plymouth received a $95,000 grant, with $85,000 slated to replace the curb, gutter and sidewalks from the intersection of Elm Street and Plymouth Avenue through the property border of New Plymouth Elementary School. The remaining $10,000 will be used for safety education — such as bicycle and crosswalk safety — by the Payette County Sheriff’s Office. “We’re very pleased to get this grant, and this grant combined with the Community Block Development Grant means that from the City Hall to the elementary school will be in good shape, with new materials,” New Plymouth Mayor Moscrip said. “It should do some good. The biggest challenge is going to be between Park (Avenue) and the boulevards where there is no curb and gutter.” At this point, Moscrip said he did not know when the work would begin, but it could be as early as this fall. The downtown work on North Plymouth Avenue will start next spring. “We’re are absolutely tickled to receive this grant,” Moscrip said, adding New Plymouth Public Works Superintendent Beau Ziemer will develop a plan for the safety project. Funding for the SR2S program comes from the $612 million designated in the 2005 Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act by the U.S. Congress, according to the press release, and communities were awarded based on applications and planned city pubic safety demonstrations. The New Plymouth City Council accepted the grant during its regular meeting Monday. night. Also during the meeting, the council set a budget workshop for 6 p.m. June 18 and in a 3 to 1 vote authorized Holladay Engineering to continue the scope of work for the sewer project draft engineering report.