Ord Terrace Elementary School Crossing Improvements Project

 

Location

1775 La Salle Avenue, Seaside CA 93955

City or County Responsible for Project

City of Seaside

Category

Safety or Intelligent Transportation System Projects

Description

The City of Seaside is committed to developing Safe Routes to School for the children of Seaside. Ord Terrace Elementary School (School), a public school located at 1775 La Salle Avenue, serves over 400 students in Kindergarten through 6th grade in the City. The Ord Terrace Elementary School Crossing Improvement Project (Project) was a traffic-calming project to benefit the families and staff of the School by improving an important route to school. Prior to the implementation of the Project, heavy traffic and parking congestion were experienced during the morning and afternoon drop-off and pick-up periods. The prior crosswalk located across La Salle Avenue was less visible to vehicles as were the crosswalk signs which added to the safety issues students faced when crossing at this location. The City of Seaside collaborated with the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District to alleviate traffic congestion and provide a safer crossing for the students. The Project included the construction of a curb extension, median, accessible curb ramps, a lighted school crosswalk, and striping. The City coordinated construction with the District’s onsite construction project, which redesigned the bus and student loading and unloading zones in addition to visitor and staff parking. Through our partnership with the District, the project was constructed together in a short window of time over the summer break to avoid impacting traffic during the school year. The City’s Project was funded through Measure X funds, SB 1 funds, and the City’s General Fund. The Project provided traffic calming improvement for the primary goal of safety with advanced crosswalk flashing lights, in addition to providing a refuge island and shortening the crossing distance for students. Additionally, the Project was designed with sustainability in mind with the use of solar paneled lighted crosswalks.