Helping children travel more safely to and from school, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has completed construction of this year’s five Safe Routes to School projects. Working closely with school staff, students and parents, this Bridging the Gap (BTG) funded program helps eliminate barriers and create solutions to make walking and biking safer and more accessible.
The 2011 projects were completed at Coe Elementary, Greenlake Elementary, West Seattle Elementary, Concord Elementary and Van Asselt Elementary. At West Seattle Elementary and Coe Elementary, SDOT installed new curb ramps and new flashing warning beacons. The department installed an illuminated overhead crosswalk sign and repaired a sidewalk at Green Lake Elementary. Van Asselt Elementary gained sidewalk repairs and Concord Elementary received 600 feet of new sidewalk. Each of these improvements creates safer routes alongside or across roads and furthers the city’s goal of encouraging more kids to walk and bike to school.
Over the past four and a half years, the Safe Routes to School Program has made improvements at 23 schools across the city. Those schools include Concord Elementary, Olympic Hills Elementary, BF Day Elementary, Thurgood Marshall Elementary, Roxhill Elementary, Dearborn Park Elementary, Sacajawea Elementary, North Beach Elementary, Cleveland High School, Blaine K-8, Kimball Elementary, Broadview Thomson Elementary, Dunlap Elementary, Bailey Gatzert Elementary, Summit K-12 School, Sanislo Elementary, Northgate Elementary, Wing Luke Elementary and Arbor Heights Elementary. Over the life of the nine-year levy, SDOT anticipates making enhancements at more than 30 schools throughout the city through this program.
Bridging the Gap is the $365 million levy passed by Seattle voters in 2006. It enables much-needed work by the Seattle Department of Transportation, such as roadway paving, sidewalk development and repair, bridge maintenance, and tree pruning and planting. It also supports the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plans, enhanced transit connections and large Neighborhood Street Fund projects.
Contact: Peg Nielsen, 206.684.8114
