Safe Routes to School
Safe Routes to School (SRTS) is an approach that promotes walking and bicycling to school through infrastructure improvements, enforcement tools, safety education, and incentives to encourages walking and bicycling to school.
Safe Routes to School programs aim to make it safer for students to walk and bike to school and encourage more walking and biking where safety is not a barrier. Community members; public health, planning and transportation professionals; and school communities all have roles to play to change norms in how we move around our communities and make it appealing and safe for students to walk, bike or roll to school. Underserved communities traditionally lacking in transportation investments deserve priority as they do not have access to safe, comfortable roads for walking, biking, or rolling. They are also overrepresented in pedestrian and bicyclist injuries.
The City of Clarkston has received Safe Routes to School funding from the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) for safety improvements surrounding the Holy Family Catholic School. The City has selected Keller Associates to complete design, Right-of-Way, and construction phase services for the improvements around the school. Keller Associates previously prepared the City of Clarkston Safe Routes to School Study (also known as the Clarkston Schools Safety Study) which identified potential locations for safety improvements.
Planned Improvements
Curb Extensions, new sidewalk, and Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB’s) along Chestnut Street for crossings at 10th and 11th Streets. New ADA-compliant sidewalks on 9th, 10th, 11th, and Diagonal Streets to create ADA-compliant pathways to and from school. “Compact Peanut” Roundabout at the intersection of Diagonal, 10th, and Sycamore Streets to improve traffic flow and safety for pedestrians and passenger traffic.