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MARYVILLE

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News Brief

April 10, 2025

Grant awarded to help increase the use of "traffic gardens" in Missouri

The Missouri Department of Transportation has received a national grant to expand a youth safety initiative aimed at teaching children the rules of the road in a safe, hands-on way.

The $25,000 grant, awarded by the Governors Highway Safety Association and the National Road Safety Foundation, will help MoDOT increase the use of “traffic gardens” across the state.

Traffic gardens are small-scale street environments with signs, intersections, and crosswalks—built specifically for kids to learn and practice traffic safety skills in areas free of motor vehicles.

MoDOT plans to host at least ten traffic garden events at rural or high-priority elementary schools throughout the year.

State Highway Safety and Traffic Engineer Jon Nelson says traffic gardens provide a safe space for developing smart habits early. He says the grant will also help schools and communities learn how to create their own traffic gardens and keep the effort going beyond the life of the grant.

So far, five Missouri communities have committed to the program, with funding available for up to ten.

Communities interested in participating can contact MoDOT’s Highway Safety and Traffic Division at 800-800-BELT. More details are available at savemolives.com.