School Streets

Updated: November, 2024

We made 3 of our School Streets Permanent!

Three of our School Streets are now permanent:

Which schools? Emerson Elementary, Whittier Elementary, and Genesee Hill Elementary. We selected these schools based on interest and street conditions. 

What does permanent mean? Rather than temporary barricades that close the street during school hours, permanent School Streets have signs installed in concrete that close the street 24/7. Permanent School Streets also include pavement art designed in partnership with the school!

We continue to accept applications for the School Streets program. Learn more below and apply today. If you are interested in in making your existing School Street permanent or have any questions about the program, please reach out to Diane Walsh at Diane.Walsh@seattle.gov.

A permanent school street showing two permanent street signs that say "Street Closed" and "healthy street" new street art, and painted lines around the signage.

Permanent School Streets at Emerson Elementary in Rainier Beach

Program Overview

What are School Streets?

School Streets are open for people walking, rolling, and biking to school, and closed to pass through traffic, including caregivers dropping off their students. The goals are to encourage families to walk or bike to school and to provide a safer school environment by reducing traffic congestion. School Streets are provided when requested by schools. 

A temporary school street showing movable 'Street Closed" signs and barricades and healthy street signage.

Temporary School Street at Layfayette Elementary in West Seattle

School Streets can include:

One or two blocks directly next to a school open for people walking, rolling, and biking to school and closed to through-traffic
Neighborhood activities like hop-scotch and basketball (that you would otherwise need to get a street closure permit for)

A graphic that describes how School Streets can be used, including for residential access, by district-provided transportation/ADA, for local deliveries, and by non-motorized modes of transportation

When is a School Street in effect?

Temporary School Streets are in effect 7AM-5PM on school days.
Permanent School Streets are in effect 24/7.

What does this mean for people getting to school?

When possible, walk, roll, or bike with your child to school.
If you must drive to school, try parking a block or two away and finishing the trip on foot.
School buses and other district transportation and students with mobility needs can access the block by car.

What does this mean for drivers?

People driving who need to get to homes and businesses on a School Street are still able to drive on these streets. Drivers should use caution and yield to people.
People enjoying the street should be mindful of drivers trying to get to homes and destinations as well

Apply for a School Street

Interested in getting a School Street at your school? Fill out the form to get started!

The requested block must:
- Be a non-arterial street (if there is no line - dotted or solid - running along the middle of the street, it is most likely a non-arterial street). You can find your street type here.
- Not have a public bus route
If you are a parent or PTA member making the request, we'll also ask for an email from the school principal in support of the School Street request.
If approved, we can have the School Street in place within a couple weeks and it will be in place through the end of the school year.
We'll provide you with a flyer to share with your school community and we'll let the nearby neighbors know about the closure.

2024-2025 School Street Locations

Background

In response to schools re-opening in person during the Covid-19 pandemic with two daily start and end times and no general education bus service, in the spring of 2021 we offered schools an opt-in option to close a non-arterial block adjacent to the school to pass through traffic and open the block up to people walking, rolling, and biking.

Schools opted to continue their School Street closures after returning to normal bell schedules and each year our number of School Streets has grown!

School Streets help to:

Encourage families to walk or bike to school or park a few blocks away and walk
Reduce traffic congestion in front of the school
Improve air quality in front of the school

Like any residential street, cut-thru traffic is discouraged, but local access for residents, school buses, deliveries, waste pickup, and emergency vehicles is allowed. Our evaluation of requested street closures from schools includes impacts to businesses, fire response routes, and transit operations and layover.