Seattle students are set to enjoy a safer trek to their classrooms this year, thanks to a series of safety enhancements implemented around numerous schools. Among the improvements, the Seattle Department of Transportation (SDOT) has introduced new traffic calming measures like speed cushions and better crosswalks in various neighborhoods, as detailed in a recent SDOT blog post. One example is at Adams Elementary in Ballard, where curb extensions, also known as curb bulbs, have been added to shorten crossing distances and slow down vehicular speed.
In response to community concerns about speeding, SDOT collected data showing that vehicles often exceeded the speed limit near schools. New 'blue mountain' designs at curb bulbs are meant to spark joy among students, with one resident expressing appreciation over Facebook for the calmer streets. According to the SDOT blog post, "Thank you! It has been amazing to see how much calmer the traffic is [on NW 65th St]." Similarly, Kimball Elementary and South Shore PK-8 have seen safety upgrades with push button flashing beacons and sidewalk repairs promoting safer crossings.
Speed cushions are also newly present near the premises of other Seattle schools such as Viewlands Elementary, Sacajawea Elementary, and McGilvra Elementary. SDOT's efforts include the addition of all-way stop signs and marked crosswalks around educational institutions like John Stanford Elementary and Gatewood Elementary. As part of a broader endeavor to ensure safer routes, the department plans to widen the scope of these improvements to include additional schools like Orca K-8 and Chief Sealth High School by the year's end.
Another facet of the initiative is the Let’s Go Safety Education Program, a partnership among Seattle Public Schools, Cascade Bicycle Club, and the Outdoors for All Foundation. This program teaches safe walking and biking as part of the physical education curriculum to 3rd through 8th graders. In tandem with this program, SDOT is introducing new Traffic Gardens, which are miniature street grids on school play yards with traffic markings. They provide a practical and engaging space for children to practice their biking and road safety skills. With the overall goal of reducing vehicle speeds and fostering a safer environment for kids, these designs and implementations have been shown, consistently, to make an impactful difference.
Further involvement from the community is encouraged, with initiatives such as School Streets and walking or biking school buses. Community members have the opportunity to request walking and biking packages or apply for mini-grants to support local activities that promote active and environmentally friendly ways to get to school. Moreover, all youth aged 18 and under can now ride transit for free in Seattle, facilitating another safe option to get to school. The community is also encouraged to display supportive yard signs available at various pickup centers, reminding drivers of the need to navigate school zones safely and responsibly.
