Safe Routes to School Program

Keeping Students Safe To and From School Every Day

Background

A Safe Routes to School Task Force was formed in May 2004. The Task Force was co-chaired by then Councilman Ron Morrison and Board Member Alma Graham. The mission of the Task Force was to develop a plan to improve traffic and pedestrian safety around the thirteen schools in National City. The ultimate goal was to develop a grant application to Cal Trans that would fund the needed education, enforcement, traffic engineering, and public awareness to support improved school safety. Members of the Task Force included City engineering staff, police and fire department representatives, community leaders, school representatives from both the National and Sweetwater School Districts, community and service center leaders, parents and representatives from our legislative representatives. The Task Force continued to meet monthly through 2005. The Safe Routes to School grant application was submitted to Cal Trans in June 2005. State budget challenges resulted in a delay in funding projects, but the City was finally awarded the grant in July 2006. The City was awarded $465,000 to install the traffic calming and safety equipment outlined in the grant as well as to support the student and parent education and outreach activities planned.

Current Information

The City Engineering Department is overseeing the installation of all components of the Safe Routes to School grant in March and April. The new traffic calming and safety equipment include new sidewalks, speed limit feedback signs, in-ground lighting for crosswalks, new crosswalks, new solar-powered signs around school sites, one-way street installations, and other In addition, City staff are working with the Educational and Public Outreach subcommittee to develop and implement the educational components of the grant. The target schools for the first round of Safe Routes to Schools funds are:

• Central School
• Kimball School
• Las Palmas School
• Olivewood School
• Otis School
• National City Middle School
• Sweetwater High School

What Parents Can Do to Help

Each of the target schools will be recruiting parents to join the Parent Patrol to help implement our new safety standards at each school. Talk with your school office staff if you can help at least one morning or afternoon a week for 20-30 minutes. You can also help by discussing safe routes to school with your child. Practice the best routes to school and make sure that students are using the crosswalks, waiting for “Walk” signals at intersections, and using other safety features. The most important thing that you can do is to walk with your child to school every day – it will be safe, it will be healthy and it will be good for the environment!

Who to Contact for More Information:

• Maryam Babaki, City Engineer (619) 336-4380
• Steve Manganiello, City Traffic Engineer (619) 336-4380
• Katie Filzenger, Director of Student Support Services (619) 336-7743

Click here to read an article on SignOn San Diego

NSD  >  Top News Story

February 8, 2010