King County promoting safe walking & driving for back to school

It’s the first week of September, so that means back-to-school time. And, the King County Road Services Division would really like to stress safe driving and safe walking for everyone.

“Our department works with more than 15 districts that have schools in unincorporated areas of the county to keep students safe as they walk or bike to school,” said Linda Dougherty, the manager of the King County Road Services Division. “It’s a healthy habit for students, and it helps reduce traffic congestion around the schools.”

Statistics show that only about one of every 10 trips to school is made by walking or biking. Walking or riding a bike to school is a great way to add some exercise to your child’s daily routine.

Dougherty said the Road Division works with school district transportation officials, and with principals at individual schools, to make walking routes safer in unincorporated parts of King County. In some of these areas, there are not a lot of sidewalks and many of the roads are two-lane only.

The types of safety projects the Road Division has focused on are:

• Paving road shoulders and adding curbs to create walking paths alongside the roadway;

• Installing flashing signs for motorists that say “20 miles per hour when children present.” The timing of those signs is updated every year before school starts, so that they only operate when students are actually at school; and

• Restriping crosswalks and road markings to help improve safety on the roads near schools.

Over the past several months, the Road Division has completed several of these types of projects in a variety of locations in King County, including:

Panther Lake Elementary, Kent School District – Installed two sets of speed limit flashing signs that are solar powered, one on Southeast 216th Street and the other on 100 Avenue Southeast. Also, installed a paved shoulder walkway and updated the existing crosswalk to meet ADA standards.

Rainier View Elementary, Federal Way School District – Installed a pedestrian-activated crosswalk flasher on 28th Avenue South, and updated the existing crosswalk to meet ADA standards.

Briarwood Elementary, Issaquah School District – Installed two sets of speed limit flashing signs that are solar powered, one set on 168th Avenue Southeast and the other on Southeast 314th Street.

Pacific Cascade Middle School (formerly Pacific Cascade Freshman Campus), Issaquah School District – Installed curb, gutter and sidewalk on Issaquah-Fall City Road and installed speed limit flashing signs. The district received funding for the project through a “Safe Routes to School” grant.

Fall City Elementary, Snoqualmie Valley School District – Installed a paved shoulder walkway on Southeast 42nd Street, and filled in another 300 feet of a “missing link” part of the existing walkway.

White Center Elementary, Highline School District – Upgraded the road signs on all approaches to the school, and eliminated some parking on Southwest 100th Street to improve pedestrian visibility.

Sunrise Elementary School, Enumclaw School District – Installed speed limit flashing signs that are solar powered on 244th Avenue Southeast. The district got funding for the project through a state grant.

Northshore School District – King County installed speed limit flashing signs that are solar powered in 12 locations in the district. The district got funding for the project through a state grant.

Dougherty said the work on the roads will make a difference, but it won’t be enough unless students, parents and motorists do their part. She urged everyone to remember basic school-travel-safety rules:

For drivers – Keep to the posted speed limits, so you have enough time to react to the unexpected, such as a child darting out from behind a parked car or a bus. And, be sure to yield to pedestrians. Pedestrians have the right-of-way at intersections whether crosswalks are painted on the street or not.

For walkers/bikers – Pedestrians should always walk on the sidewalk or designated pathway, if there is one. If there is not, then walk on the outside edge of the road on the left side facing oncoming traffic so you can see cars coming. Bikes should travel on the right side, in the same direction as traffic.

For parents – Practice walking or biking the route with your child, and point out areas where they should be especially careful. Make sure your children are wearing helmets when biking. And, when driving to school to deliver or pick up children, be sure to let them off on the correct side of the road.

The Road Services Division encourages parents and residents to call (206) 296-6596, if they have
questions or concerns about pedestrian or driver safety near schools in the unincorporated areas of King County. There is more information about traffic safety online.