The Urbanist takes a close look at the first of 12 Safe Routes to School projects scheduled for Seattle schools this year.
"Twelve schools across Seattle will see safety improvements in 2016 as part of the city-wide Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program," reports Stephen Fesler. The program has already begun work at Mercer Middle School in Beacon Hill, where the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is building "a new 12-foot paved surface suitable for walking and biking by improving a gravel maintenance road east of 15th Ave S and a dirt pathway at the north end of Jefferson Park."
In addition to that construction work, according to Fesler, "SDOT plans to collaborate with a variety of walking and biking advocacy organizations, like Seattle Neighborhood Greenways and Cascade Bicycle Club, to carryout education and encouragement programs for the school. Those programs will focus on safety education, evaluation of arrival and departure procedures, and organizing walking school buses and bike trains to and from school."
The article lists the remaining 11 schools that can expect similar efforts in 2016. The total budget for the projects is $6.7 million. "The City has prioritized these schools based upon the highest need and available funding for the year, but SDOT will continue the SRTS program in future years to help achieve the City's larger goal of Vision Zero to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries by 2030," adds Fesler to conclude the article.
FULL STORY: SEATTLE ROLLING OUT 12 SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOLS IN 2016
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