City seeks grant for school safety

Walking or biking to Spring View Middle School and St. Bonaventure School could become safer for students if the City Council approves a resolution to accept state funding.

The Safe Routes to School program would improve traffic safety in the vicinity by updating sidewalks, street signs and street markings. The key element of the plan is the installation of a traffic signal at the complicated intersection of Heil Avenue and Trudy Lane, said city Transportation Manager Bob Stachelski.

“This is a crossing that has fairly large numbers of school pedestrians mixed with heavy school vehicle traffic,” Stachelski said in an e-mail.

The program also called for improvements to curb ramps, or wheelchair ramps, to meet ADA requirements.

Spring View Principal John Drake said in his three years at the school, there haven’t been any particular safety incidents, but the improvements would be a move in a positive direction.

“Anything that’s going to make it safer for kids to get to school is going to make them feel more comfortable from the start,” Drake said.

The city applied for the grant in April and the project has already been authorized by the California Department of Transportation. The grant is for $306,900, which would cover the majority of the estimated $341,000 project.

The city has been successful in obtaining grant funds for several school improvements over the years. Agnes L. Smith and Golden View elementary schools and Ethel R. Dwyer, Isaac L. Sowers and Marine View middle schools are some of the sites improved through the Safe Routes to School program.

Dwyer Principal Don Ruisinger said he believes the city is doing the best it can to keep citizens safe under the current economic situation.

If the resolution is approved, city staff is accelerating its schedule to complete design and construction bidding to allow construction to begin over the summer, Stachelski said.

“This helps us avoid conflicts between construction and the heavy activity associated with the school,” he said.

The City Council will vote on the resolution at 6 p.m. Monday in Council Chambers at the Civic Center.