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TO: Mayor John Laesh
FROM: Jason Bauer, P.E., Director of Public Works
DATE: October 14, 2025
SUBJECT:
A Resolution financially supporting City Safe Routes to School (SRTS) projects in SD129, SD131, SD204 & SD308, using primarily ward funds for any City local share.
PURPOSE:
To execute a resolution in support of the proposed Safe Routes to School projects for SD 129, 131, 204 & 308 with financial commitment.
BACKGROUND:
Safe Routes To School (SRTS) is a federal grant funding program to improve conditions for students walking/biking to school. The grant program is a reimbursable program and serves three main goals:
1. To enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school.
2. To make biking and walking to school a safer and more appealing transportation alternative, thereby encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle from an early age;
3.To facilitate the planning, development, and implementation of projects and activities that will improve safety, reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and air pollution in the vicinity (within 2 miles) of public and private elementary, middle, and high schools (grades K-12).
DISCUSSION:
City staff have identified infrastructure improvements such as elimination of sidewalk gaps & enhance crossing facilities at intersections, to provide safe and continuous routes for students to walk or bike to school, in each of the four school districts. The project scopes are subject to change pending additional coordination and are listed below:
School District 129 (Ward 6): Proposed improvements involve filling sidewalk gaps/adding new sidewalk along Hammond Ave including ADA ramps and detectable warning surfaces.
School District 131 (Wards 1 & 4): Proposed improvements involve filling sidewalk gaps/adding new sidewalk along Sheffer Rd including ADA ramps and detectable warning surfaces. Proposed improvements also include curb bumpouts and enhanced signage near Bardwell Elementary School...
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