INTERLAKEN – Assemblyman Phil Palmesano (R,C,I-Corning) today announced that the Village of Interlaken has successfully secured Safe Routes to School program funding in the amount of $458,890, which will help improve walking and bicycle routes for students to travel safely to and from school.

The village was recently notified of the grant award by the Department of Transportation (DOT), which oversees the program. The goal of the Safe Routes to School program is to help a community improve its infrastructure in ways which will facilitate physical activity by children, such as walking and biking to and from school. At the same time, the program is focused on easing traffic congestion and reducing pollution around schools.

"I congratulate all the village officials who worked on this program," said Palmesano. "Ensuring the safety and physical well-being of school children is important, and I know the Safe Routes funding will result in positive improvements in the village."

"I am very proud of the hard work of our village officials in securing the Safe Routes award and the support of the community," Interlaken Mayor William Larsen said. The mayor commended Public Works Superintendent Ray Langlois and Trustee Barbara Stewart for their dedication to making the project successful. Larsen also complimented Hunt Engineers of Big Flats for the firm’s assistance with the village’s program application.

The Safe Routes to School program is a federally-funded reimbursement program, overseen by the state Department of Transportation.