びびなび : World : () World

City of Seattle Logo - Preess Release Version




Press Release

For Immediate Release

*Contact Information*
sdot.media@seattle.gov



Seattle Surpasses 2015 Transportation Levy Goal to Build Safe Routes to School Improvements at Every Public School in the City

*Seattle* - The City of Seattle achieved the Levy to Move Seattle commitment to build Safe Routes to School improvements at every public school in the city. While this meets the goal established by the 2015 Move Seattle Levy, Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) is committed to continue building more to street and sidewalk safety and accessibility upgrades to help students walk, bike, and roll to school. For more detailed information on our Safe Routes to School improvements, visit this SDOT blog post [ https://sdotblog.seattle.gov/2024/10/25/safe-routes-to-school-milestone/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ] or the SDOT Safe Routes to School webpage [ https://www.seattle.gov/transportation/projects-and-programs/safety-first/safe-routes-to-school?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ].

Since the Levy’s approval in 2015, SDOT has built over *260 school-focused projects citywide*. Safe Routes to School projects often include upgrades to sidewalks, crosswalks, speed cushions, and other kinds of traffic calming. 

“Safe streets are essential for public safety and I am proud of Seattle’s award-winning Safe Routes to School program for reaching this milestone of delivering improvements at every public school in our city. These investments make a real difference in both protecting students on their way to class and as part of our larger commitment to help young people learn, grow, and achieve their potential.” – Mayor Bruce Harrell. 

The most recent upgrade was completed this week at Olympic View Elementary in the Maple Leaf neighborhood, where new all-way stop signs, marked crosswalks, and speed humps were installed to improve safety near the school.

More examples of projects completed this year are listed in this blog post [ https://sdotblog.seattle.gov/2024/08/30/school-year-starting-safe-routes-to-school/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ], including safety projects near Adams Elementary, Kimball Elementary, South Shore PK-8, Viewlands Elementary, Greenwood Elementary, McGilvra Elementary, James Baldwin Elementary, Hazel Wolf K-8, John Stanford Elementary, Sand Point Elementary, Gatewood Elementary, and more.   

These improvements demonstrate SDOT’s ongoing commitment to creating safer streets for students and their families.

“Eight years ago the Levy to Move Seattle set an ambitious goal of building a safe route for students to walk, bike, and roll to every public school in our city. I'm thrilled to have reached the exciting milestone of not only meeting this goal, but exceeding it.” – Greg Spotts, SDOT Director

*Annual Report Highlights Success*

The recently released *2023-2024 Safe Routes to School Annual Report* [ https://www.seattle.gov/documents/Departments/SDOT/SRTS/2023_2024_SRTS_Annual_Report.pdf?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ] provides a comprehensive overview of the program’s accomplishments and its impact on Seattle communities. Highlights from the annual report include:


* 28% of students are now walking, biking, or rolling to school.
* 21% reduction in speeds on arterial streets where we installed speed cushions.
* Distributed over 137 walking and biking packages with free supplies like walking lights, school patrol flags, and bike helmets to 48 schools.

*Community Support Programs Enhance School Safety*

Beyond infrastructure upgrades, SDOT supports schools and families through a range of community-focused initiatives. For example, SDOT offers *walking and biking packages* that provide essential safety items like reflectors, vests for walking school buses, and helmets for bike buses. Additionally, schools, PTAs, and community groups can apply for grants of up to $1,000 [ https://www.seattle.gov/transportation/projects-and-programs/safety-first/safe-routes-to-school/mini-grants?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ] to organize walking and biking activities, such as walking/biking school buses. These programs foster community connections while helping students get to school safely and on time.

In combination with these efforts, the *School Streets Program* [ https://www.seattle.gov/transportation/projects-and-programs/safety-first/safe-routes-to-school/school-streets?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ] has transformed residential streets near schools into safer spaces for walking and biking. By temporarily closing these streets to through traffic during school hours, SDOT has created more welcoming and calmer environments for students and families. Currently, 16 School Streets are in operation, and SDOT is working to make some permanent, with enhancements like sturdier barricades, signage, and student artwork at Emerson Elementary, Whittier Elementary, and Genesee Hill Elementary.

*Expanding Transportation Safety Education *

Complementing these community efforts, SDOT partners with Seattle Public Schools, Cascade Bicycle Club, and the Outdoors for All Foundation to deliver the *Let’s Go Safety Education Program* [ https://www.seattle.gov/transportation/projects-and-programs/safety-first/safe-routes-to-school/lets-go?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ]. This initiative teaches 3rd to 5th graders how to walk and bike safely as part of their Physical Education curriculum and is expanding to include all middle schools in Seattle. Last school year, the program reached over 14,000 students with over 1,100 students learning to ride. Having started in Seattle, the program has now grown to become the largest of its kind in the United States after expanding statewide.

 

###






seattle dot gov

Manage Preferences [ https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WASEATTLE/subscriber/edit?preferences=true#tab1 ]  |  Unsubscribe [ https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/WASEATTLE/subscriber/one_click_unsubscribe?verification=5.7e4abd93610d77ba0dce3e5196581a5c&destination=mshinji3056%40gmail.com ]  |  Help [ https://subscriberhelp.govdelivery.com/ ] |  Privacy [ https://www.seattle.gov/privacy-statement?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ]




________________________________________________________________________

This email was sent to mshinji3056@gmail.com using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: City of Seattle, Washington · 707 17th St, Suite 4000 · Denver, CO 80202 GovDelivery logo [ https://subscriberhelp.granicus.com/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery ]

body .abe-column-block { min-height: 5px; } table.gd_combo_table img {margin-left:10px; margin-right:10px;} table.gd_combo_table div.govd_image_display img, table.gd_combo_table td.gd_combo_image_cell img {margin-left:0px; margin-right:0px;} table.govd_hr {min-width: 100%;}