Oregon – With a $31 million investment meant to improve infrastructure around schools across the state, the Oregon Transportation Commission announced a significant increase in student safety last Thursday. Especially in underdeveloped areas, this money will help to build and enhance sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, and curb ramps inside a two-mile radius of schools.
The initiative, part of the Safe Routes to School Competitive Construction Grant Program, has approved 28 projects aimed at making the journey to school safer for students traveling by foot, bike, or mobility devices.
“It’s important to us to help students and their families get to school safely by foot or bike or mobility device,” said ODOT’s Public Transportation Division Administrator Suzanne Carlson. “We are excited to support cities and counties who want to make these improvements in their communities. They’re making an amazing difference around the state.”
The projects are a reaction to a competitive application procedure whereby ODOT had 89 submissions requesting a total of $138.2 million in safety enhancements. The chosen projects were those most likely to be finished in five years, those addressing the top safety concerns, and those removing obstacles for students attending low-income schools.
Among the noteworthy initiatives supported, the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation will see major enhancements to Mission Road. Originally the main east-west corridor through Mission, the rural highway will be converted into a more community-oriented road to better meet various travel demands and improve access and safety for the two local schools.
Improvements in Redmond are expected to arrive around Sage Elementary School with improved crosswalk markings and traffic calming techniques meant to lower school zone speeding. Likewise, Florence will utilize its money to repair 35th Street, a vital link between U.S. 101 and Rhododendron Drive, therefore enhancing safety and connectivity for students using new pedestrian routes.
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The Safe Routes to School program has sponsored 104 building projects since 2019; almost half of them have already been finished, while the remaining projects are either in different phases of design or construction. These initiatives not only improve safety but also inspire more children to bike or walk to school, therefore fostering better practices and lessening of traffic congestion.
The Safe Routes to School program of ODOT continues to strive to provide youngsters with safe, practical, and fun surroundings where they may roll, bike, and walk to and from their schools. This covers not just improving infrastructure but also outreach campaigns meant to teach students the need of safety when traveling.
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Visit oregonsaferoute.org for additional details on the projects and effects of the Safe Routes to School program. This website offers tools for localities eager to encourage more active and safer commuting for Oregonian students.