THE WEEKLY HERALD   EVERETT, WASHINGTON
Published: Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Grants give kids a chance to walk safely to school

By Katie Murdoch, Herald writer
  • A school zone speed-limit sign reminds drivers to drive slow while entering a school zone for Terrace Park Elementary School on 56th Avenue West, north of 228th Street Southwest in Mountlake Terrace. Among other improvements, the school is receiving funding from grants secured by the city to install two school zone flashing beacons near the intersection.

    Weekly Herald/CHRIS GOODENOW

    A school zone speed-limit sign reminds drivers to drive slow while entering a school zone for Terrace Park Elementary School on 56th Avenue West, north of 228th Street Southwest in Mountlake Terrace. Among other improvements, the school is receiving funding from grants secured by the city to install two school zone flashing beacons near the intersection.

  • Christian Marshall (left), 14, and Austin Griggs, 13, both of Mountlake Terrace, cross into a school zone for Terrace Park Elementary School as they walk on 56th Avenue West just south of 228th Street Southwest in Mountlake Terrace. Among other improvements, the school is receiving funding from grants to install two school zone flashing beacons near the intersection. Marshall and Griggs are both Brier Terrace Middle School students.

    Weekly Herald/CHRIS GOODENOW

    Christian Marshall (left), 14, and Austin Griggs, 13, both of Mountlake Terrace, cross into a school zone for Terrace Park Elementary School as they walk on 56th Avenue West just south of 228th Street Southwest in Mountlake Terrace. Among other improvements, the school is receiving funding from grants to install two school zone flashing beacons near the intersection. Marshall and Griggs are both Brier Terrace Middle School students.

Three elementary schools in the Edmonds School District will see traffic safety improvements thanks to state Safe Routes to Schools grant funding.

Hazelwood and Lynnwood elementaries, both in Lynnwood, and Terrace Park in Mountlake Terrace will receive improvements such as sidewalks and flashing school-zone beacons.

Safe Routes to School programs aim to improve children's health by making it safer for them to walk and bicycle to school. The projects show an average increase of about 22 percent in the number of children walking and biking to school, said Charlotte Claybrooke, Safe Routes to School coordinator for the Washington Department of Transportation.

The programs are a joint effort of communities and local, state and federal governments.

It's not just about safety, Claybrooke said.

Physical activity coupled with adequate nutrition is linked with improved health, readiness to learn, academic achievement and a reduction in behavior problems, Claybrooke said.

“By providing support for walking and bicycling to school, local communities and schools are helping to achieve other important local and statewide goals as well, such as reducing traffic congestion, greenhouse gas emissions and other automobile-related air, water and noise pollution,” she said.

Hazelwood Elementary School, in partnership with Snohomish County, will receive funding to install school-zone flashing beacons, additional crossing guards and a bicycle safety program.

Working with city staff, Lynnwood Elementary will have sidewalks installed and students will be taught safety skills.

Terrace Park, in partnership with Snohomish County and the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, will see two school-zone flashing beacons installed along 56th Avenue West, north and south of 228th Street Southwest.

The flashing beacons are shown to be the most effective signage in reducing vehicle speeds, said Brian Jones, WTSC program director. Some communities have seen a 75 percent reduction in collisions.

“Reducing speeds substantially lowers the risk of injury to a student, particularly younger students, in the event they are struck by a vehicle,” Jones said. Drivers will have to drop their speed, said Will van Ry, Mountlake Terrace's engineering services director.

“The city's children are important to us; they're a priority,” van Ry said.