Foothill Middle School and Walnut Acres Elementary School Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements
Location
Wiget Lane & Cedro Lane, Walnut Creek
City or County Responsible for Project
Walnut Creek
Category
Bridge: Efficient and Sustainable Bridge Maintenance, Construction and Reconstruction Projects
Author
Katie Bruner
City of Walnut Creek
1666 N Main Street, Walnut Creek, CA 94596
925-256-3536
Project Description
The Foothill Middle & Walnut Acres Elementary Schools Pedestrian & Bicycle Improvements Project was the result of community advocacy and collaboration between schools, the Mount Diablo Unified School District, parents, and the City of Walnut Creek. In November 2015, an ad hoc neighborhood committee approached the City regarding several issues with access to the Walnut Acres Elementary & Foothill Middle schools. Parents and school personnel witnessed speeding in the neighborhood, near collisions on streets around the schools, and even a student hit by a car outside of the middle school. After several meetings in local coffee shops, schools offices, and on-site reviews, a list of needs was prepared and agreed upon by the City and the stakeholders. After the City was not successful in securing grant funding in order to implement the improvements, a two year plan was developed, coordinating the projects with scheduled street maintenance projects in order to minimize the impact on the community and to maintain cost-effectiveness. Overall, this project improved pedestrian & bicycle safety through the construction of new, enhanced crosswalks, on-street exclusive bike lanes, installation of speed display signs, and intersection improvements to slow vehicle speed and increase visibility at the crosswalks. In April 2016, The City began work on Phase I, which it was able to fund with its existing maintenance budget. In 2017, the City leveraged pavement rehabilitation money along with general funds to complete the remaining improvements. Phase II was completed in Spring 2017, in conjunction with the City’s 2017 Overlay project. On October 4, 2017, National Walk to School Day, the City, Mount Diablo Unified School District, parents and community members celebrated the completion of the “Safe Routes to School” project at Walnut Acres & Foothill Middle schools. Kids who walked or biked to school received prizes and Street Smarts, Diablo Region fitted kids with bicycle helmets. The project has been successful in slowing traffic in the area, making it safer for kids to walk or bike to school. The improvements have helped encourage families to walk to bike rather than drive to school.
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