SPOKANE, Wash. — Residents along Hartson Avenue in Spokane have been enduring construction noise and road closures since late April, but many see it as a worthwhile investment in neighborhood safety.
“A lot of people probably fuss over a couple feet of their yard. But to me, I think it’s a pretty fair trade,” said Kyle Wilson, who lives in the area.
In 2022, the Washington Department of Transportation awarded Scott Elementary School with a ‘Safe Routes to School‘ (SRTS) grant, which funds construction projects within two miles of schools to improve safety and mobility for children and teens.
“Our district’s primary concern in this area was the long stretch of Hartson that did not have sidewalks or crossings,” said Spokane Public Schools.
With the funding, construction crews will build sidewalks, curb extensions and ADA ramps. They will also relocate the crosswalk at 5th and Rebecca to align with the new curb extensions.
According to Spokane Public Schools, most students living south of the Scott Elementary don’t take buses, making these improvements essential.
“It will be safer. And it just makes it easier to get around the neighborhood,” Wilson added. “I do see a lot of kids walking to school, past my house and coming down this way. So it’s kind of nice to know that they don’t have sprint across the street.”
The City of Spokane Public Works Department collaborated with the school district to identify priority areas for improvements.
“In winter, that’s when we hear the most about it, because if there isn’t even a sidewalk to shovel for kids to walk on, that means they’re walking in the streets,” explained Kirstin Davis from City of Spokane Public Works.
The project includes creating “bump outs” at corners, which extend curbs to narrow intersections.
“When those curbs get bumped out, it creates a more narrow space at that intersection, which alerts drivers to slow down so that’s safer,” Davis said.
WSDOT’s SRTS grant is available every two years. SPS and the City of Spokane applied again in spring 2024. Awards will be presented later this year.
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