(KNZA)---The Kansas Department of Transportation has announced 12 Kansas communities--including Holton-- will receive grants to develop plans and support efforts to help build the Safe Routes to School Program in their areas.

According to a release from KDOT, this is the first year applications have been accepted for the two types of SRTS Planning and Programming grants.

Holton USD 336 was among five awarded planning grants. Programming grants were awarded to 7 communities.

The release says planning grants will help develop plans to study existing conditions, facilitate public outreach and find potential infrastructure and non-infrastructure solutions. Programming grants are designed to support initial programs, events and projects to help build the program in the future.

Safe Routes to School is a national program that promotes walking and bicycling to school through infrastructure improvements, enforcement, tools and safety education.