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Walking and biking route improvements
Using data from the Pedestrian Master Plan around public school sites, SDOT selects five schools per year to receive dedicated funding for engineering improvements, an education and encouragement campaign and additional enforcement efforts. The program is funded by Seattle’s Bridging the Gap levy as well as grants from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission and the Washington State Department of Transportation.
SDOT begins the program at each school during October, which is International Walk to School month. During the winter, SDOT convenes a Safe Routes to School Team of volunteer parents, school staff and neighborhood representatives to understand the physical barriers to walking and biking to school. During this planning process SDOT transforms school concerns into engineering solutions. Engineering solutions can include:
- New sidewalks
- Sidewalk repair
- Flashing school zone beacons
- Radar speed signs
- Traffic calming, such as speed cushions or traffic circles
- Curb ramps
- Curb bulbs or pedestrian median islands
Construction of the improvements occurs during summer vacation.
What Are SDOT’s 2013 Safe Routes to School Projects?
The following schools have participated in the program:
- Arbor Heights Elementary
Constructed 350 linear feet of new sidewalk, curb, gutter and installed new street trees along SW 104th St immediately adjacent to the school playground. 
- Wing Luke Elementary
Constructed 300 linear feet of new concrete sidewalk, curb and gutter on 37th Ave S. 
- Northgate Elementary
Constructed 300 linear feet of new sidewalk, curb, gutter, and bus load area immediately in front of the school on 1st Ave NE. Before:
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 - Sanislo Elementary
Constructed 300 linear feet of new sidewalk and curb along SW Myrtle St and 18th Ave SW. Before:
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 - Bailey-Gatzert Elementary
Installed new marked crosswalk and curb ramps on 14th Ave S at S Washington St. Revised school load zones to provide separate parent/school bus load and unload areas. Before:
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 - Broadview-Thompson K-8
Installed new curb and asphalt along school bus load area on Greenwood Ave N. Before:
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 - Dunlap Elementary
Installed 200 linear feet of new curb and sidewalk on S Cloverdale St. Before:
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 - Summit K-12 at Jane Addams
Installed 300 linear feet of new curb and sidewalk on 31st Ave NE. Before:
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 - Cleveland High School
Widened sidewalk to 10 feet wide at Metro bus stop frequently used by students and installed new bike lane on Swift Ave S. Planted over 200 trees in the neighborhood adjacent to the school. Before:
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 - Kimball Elementary
Repaired three segments of sidewalk adjacent to the school on S Hanford St. Installed flashing beacons in the school zone on 23rd Ave S. Before:
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 - Blaine K-8
Installed bulbs on 32nd Ave W. Marked new crosswalks on 32nd Ave W and 34th Ave W. Installed flashing beacons in the school zone on 34th Ave W. Before:
 - Sacajawea Elementary
Constructed 250 linear feet of new sidewalk in the school bus load area and three new curb ramps. Before:
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 - North Beach Elementary
Constructed a segment of sidewalk to connect the Olympic Hills neighborhood with the school. Installed new landings and curb ramps at the intersection of NW 90th St and 24th Ave NW. Before:
 - Concord Elementary
Reconstructed the intersection of 7th Ave S and S Trenton St to reduce turning radius and shorten the pedestrian crossing from 100 feet to 30 feet. Also installed new all-way stop and marked crosswalks. Before:
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SDOT also helps schools get modern bike racks to enable children to bike to school. In collaboration with school administrators, SDOT can find the best locations for bike racks and help secure funding to purchase racks. SDOT can place racks within the public right-of-way or the Mini Grant program can provide funding for schools to procure and install racks on school property.
For more information contact SDOT Safe Routes to School Coordinator Brian Dougherty at 206-684-5124 or brian.dougherty@seattle.gov
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