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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTrans 2012-04-16 Item 2D - Grant Applications - WA State Department of Transportation Grant for Safe Routes to SchoolTO: City of Tukwila Jim Haggerton, Mayor INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM Mayor Haggerton Transportation Committee FROM: Jack Pace, Community Development Dire Bob Giberson, Public Works Director BY: Jaimie Reavis, Assistant Planner DATE: April 10, 2012 SUBJECT: Safe Routes to School Grant Applications ISSUE Authorize the submittal of two grant applications to the Safe Routes to School program available through the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT). Authorize the addition of these two projects to the Tukwila Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) to meet grant criteria. BACKGROUND The Washington State Department of Transportation has issued a Call for Projects for Safe Routes to School funding; applications are due May 4, 2012. A grant application for Safe Routes to School funding was submitted in 2010 to formalize an existing shared use path connecting the south side of Cascade View Elementary to S 140th Street. This application was ranked as a contingency project and did not receive a grant award in the 2011 -2013 grant cycle. The Tukwila School District however received a substantial grant award through the Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) program that was used in the development of an education, encouragement, and enforcement program, a bicycle safety education PE curriculum, as well as Walking Route Maps and Walking Audits. DISCUSSION City staff from Public Works and DCD met with the Tukwila School District to review projects recommended in the Walking Audits for each elementary school, projects listed in the TIP, and projects included in the Walk and Roll Non - Motorized Transportation Plan. Cascade View Elementary Many of the students at Cascade View Elementary walk along 33rd Ave S and continue along an informal pathway north of S. 140th Street, which connects directly to the school just north of the 32 Avenue S. street end. There is a striped shoulder on the east side of 33th Ave S.; however, multiple driveways and no curbs along this street make walking to school less safe than is desirable. To the north, students must cross S. 140th Street to access a well -used, informal path, which continues through the Riverton Church parking lot and the school playground. S. 140th Street is a local access street that provides a through- connection between Military Rd. S and Tukwila International Blvd (TIB). The curve in the roadway in proximity to the crossing location makes it difficult for students to see oncoming traffic, which is often exceeding the speed limit along S. 140th Street. This project proposes additional education, enforcement, and encouragement at the school (to be determined by the School District) along with the following engineering improvements: • Traffic circle at the intersection of 33rd Ave S and S 140th St to assist in reducing vehicle speeds and increase visibility and safety of pedestrians crossing the street here. 31 INFORMATIONAL MEMO Page 2 • Curb bulb -outs and /or pedestrian refuge islands at the crossing of 33rd Ave S and 34th PI S. • Sidewalks on the east side of 33rd Place S to improve visibility and safety. • Formalizing and paving the shared use path between the street end of 32 Avenue S. to S 140th St, which entails obtaining an easement or right -of -way from Riverton United Methodist Church for the southern portion of the shared use path. Thorndyke Elementary Many students at Thorndyke Elementary travel along the paved shoulder on the north side of S 150th Street between Tukwila International Blvd (TIB) and 42nd Ave S. This project proposes additional education, enforcement, and encouragement at the school (to be determined by the School District) along with the following engineering improvements: • New sidewalk on the north side of S 150th between TIB and 42nd Ave S. • Possible mid -block crossing improvements along S. 150th Street east of the entrance to the school. • Improved pick -up and drop off procedures at the school and enforcement of "No Parking" on S. 150th Street. FINANCIAL IMPACT There are expected to be a large number of applications for Safe Routes to School funding during this call for projects; applications that include a match will be more competitive. The following matches are proposed for each project. Cascade View grant application: staff recommends that the CIP Walk and Roll Project sheet be updated with funding shown in years 2013 and 2014. Some $ percentage would then be used as a match for this Cascade View project Thorndyke grant application: the City of Tukwila has dedicated funding for an upcoming overlay project and surface water improvements planned for S. 150th Street, which can be used as match. RECOMMENDATION Authorize submittal of two Safe Routes to School grant applications to WSDOT; for Cascade View Elementary and Thorndyke Elementary. Authorize the addition of these two projects to the Tukwila TIP. Attachments: Cascade View Project Site Plan Thorndyke Elementary Project Site Plan W: \Long Range Projects \Walk and RoI Grants \TC_4- 16- 12_Safe Routes to School.doc 32 Thorndyke Elementary School - Safe Routes to School Project Site Plan Cascade View Elementary School - Safe Routes to School Project Site Plan Legend Project Area ° z ° Proposed Shared Use Path Transit Center ® Post Office © Library Major Employer School