The Umatilla School District has received a $390,000 "Safe Routes to School" grant from the Oregon Department of Education to create safer conditions for students walking or biking to two local schools.

The grant will be used to build a bus lane at McNary Heights Elementary to relieve congestion and to provide safer lighting for students using the footbridge near Clara Brownell Middle School.

Designs for the projects will begin within the next two months and construction will begin this time next year.