The City of Reno has embarked on an ambitious endeavor to elevate student safety with the initiation of the School Zone Flashing Beacon Project, a comprehensive plan to install 114 flashing beacons at 35 school zones throughout the city. This initiative is in response to the ever-growing necessity to enhance the protection of students as they journey to and from their educational institutions. As part of the 2025-2026 construction season, these flashing beacons will replace the outdated static signs, flashing conspicuously during the hustle of school arrival and dismissal times to remind drivers to decelerate in the presence of children, according to a recent announcement by the City of Reno.
Brandi Anderson, a councilmember representing Ward 6, lauded the commencement of the project with an affirmation of its significance in bolstering student safety, she commended U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto and Jacky Rosen alongside Congressman Mark Amodei for their pivotal roles in securing the necessary federal funds, as reported by the City of Reno's official statement. The investment, amounting to $1.89 million, amalgamates various funding sources such as the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds, and a $1,000,000 federal Community Project Funding grant, that was championed at the federal level and is administered by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, as reported by the City of Reno.
Senator Cortez Masto and Senator Rosen have each expressed their enthusiasm for the safety enhancements the beacons will bring to Reno's educational landscapes. Cortez Masto shared her pride in assisting to procure funding for these critical improvements, while Rosen emphasized the consequential peace of mind that these beacons will extend to Nevada parents, promising continued advocacy for finances to bolster community safety; Representative Amodei also mirrored these sentiments in his remarks on the significant step towards student protection.
In determining which school zones would be recipients of the new flashing beacons, a methodical, data-driven prioritization process was employed, leveraging national safety guidelines from the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO); such analysis looked at traffic volumes, roadway conditions, collision history among other factors to identify where the greatest safety benefits would be delivered. Additionally, lower-risk zones are set to receive updated static signage that conforms to current federal standards; WCSD Superintendent Joe Ernst praised these initiatives, acknowledging the role of increased visibility in ensuring safer student commutes, as per the statement obtained by the City of Reno.
Construction for the new beacons began in the fall of 2025 and will press on into spring 2026, with the city administration being mindful not to disrupt school activities. Post-installation, the City will carry out evaluations of the project's efficacy via traffic speed studies, collision data analysis and feedback from students, parents, and crossing guards. The cumulative 281 flashing beacons, when considering the current endeavor and past projects, represent a $5.2 million investment into the safeguarding of school zones across Reno. The remaining beacons, which are not part of the 114 new installations, had their funding secured through Councilmember Discretionary Funds, the Washoe County Regional Transportation Commission (RTC) Fuel Tax and the City Street Fund.
