School communities in West Seattle keep taking big steps to make it safe for kids to walk and bike to school. In fact, for as much as North Seattle schools get (well deserved) attention for their walk and bike programs, West Seattle schools may actually be poised to take the top honors.
We told you a few days ago about Saturday’s “Think Outside the Car” event at Westside Elementary (the day of car-free fun starts at 10 a.m.). Now, Highland Park Elementary has landed a $25,000 grant from FedEx through Safe Kids Seattle that, added to a $75,000 Safe Routes to School grant, will fund safety improvements on streets all around the school’s campus.
Safe Kids Seattle and FedEx assembled a pedestrian safety task force of community leaders interested in child pedestrian safety. FedEx provided the Safe Kids task force with the grant to work throughout 2012 to make changes that improve the permanent walking conditions for child pedestrians. The City of Seattle has matched and exceeded that grant with a $75,000 additional grant for the program through Safe Routes to School.
The crosswalks at 10th s.w. and 11th s.w. and Trenton will both be improved under the program. The crosswalks on Holden and other sites in the “walk zone” will also be improved.
The Pedestrian Safety Assembly marks the kickoff for the yearlong effort to enhance safety at Highland Park. The event also celebrated national walk/bike month and included a safety presentation by the Seattle Police Department’s Tomeka Williams. This is the thirteenth year the Safe Kids Walk This Way program has been active in communities across the United States.
Last day to comment on Delridge changes
West Seattle Blog reminds us that today is the last day to submit your comments on a planned rechannelization on Delridge Way led by King County Metro. The changes aim to speed up transit by adding a bus-only lane and make the street safer for cycling by adding a southbound bike lane. People cycling will also be able to share the northbound bus lane.
You can tell Metro what you think of the plans by taking this survey or email [email protected].
Comments
2 responses to “West Seattle school lands safe streets grant + Last day to comment on Delridge changes”
Two thoughts: Incredible how cheap improvements for walking can be! Can you imagine any sort of car facility costing only $100,000?
and second: this is the 13th year for a “safe kids walk this way” program?!! Who knew? Does this program make kids responsible for traffic safety, or does it include training for drivers?
Training for drivers?