Safe Routes to Schools grant to help fund Reser Road improvements

Safe Routes to Schools grant to help fund Reser Road improvements

Walla Walla County is expected to receive $330,000 in June from the Washington State Department of Transportation Safe Routes to Schools grant program to help fund a $1.7 million project to improve Reser Road from Howard to Fern Streets.

If all goes as scheduled, the project will begin June 13 and be completed August 19. The road will be closed during the construction phase.

A list recently released from the Washington State Department of Transportation places Walla Wallas project in the highest ranking category citing the grant is most likely to receive funding. According to the states list, Walla Wallas Reser Road project ranks 5th among the 124 Safe Routes to Schools applications submitted this session from 97 agencies and organizations.

The total cost for the Safe Routes to Schools grant requests is approximately $43 million. Funding requests will go to legislators during the 2011 legislative session. A final funding decision will be made by June 2011.

The Walla Walla County Public Works Department submitted the grant request last fall to secure some of the funding needed to make sidewalk, signs, bridge, roadway and bike lane improvements on Reser Road. This street provides access to Prospect Point Elementary and Walla Walla High School and is heavily used by students and families.

As part of the grant application process, Walla Walla County Public Works officials met with Safe Routes to School Coordinator Charlotte Claybrooke to tour the proposed project site on Reser Road. Claybrooke was welcomed by Walla Walla Public Schools Superintendent Mick Miller, Prospect Point Elementary Principal Chris Gardea, Walla Walla High School Principal Pete Peterson, Walla Walla County Public Works officials, law enforcement officers and concerned parents during her visit.

Claybrooke said Walla Walla Public Schools willingness to partner on the education component of the project and the countys ability to accept the enforcement requirements improved the chances of the grant being funded. Claybrooke said she was also impressed with the outpouring of community involvement for safe school routes initiatives.

The purpose of the Safe Routes to Schools program is to improve safety and mobility for children by enabling and encouraging them to walk and bicycle to school. Funding from this program is for projects within two miles of primary and middle schools (K-8) and will be targeted to address all of the following:

• Engineering and infrastructure improvements
• Education and encouragement activities
• Enforcement

Learn more about the Safe Routes to Schools program online: http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/localprograms/saferoutes/