Salem Area Looks to Win Six Grants for Safe Routes to Schools Projects

Without real transportation news, we've been hitting the history more, but here's some real news. 

Six Salem-area projects
recommended for funding (ODOT map)

ODOT and its Safe Routes to Schools program announced today it was recommending funding six Salem-area projects to the OTC in December for final approval.

We are excited to share that the Safe Routes to School Advisory Committee recommends funding 43 projects totaling $28.3 million for ODOT’s Safe Routes to School Competitive Construction Grant Program. These funds will focus on under-resourced communities and safety.

In August 2020, ODOT received 99 applications from across the state for the SRTS Competitive Construction Grant Program totaling $73 million in needed safety improvements

Thc successful City project applications were:

• Broadway Street NE @ Locust Avenue NE: Install median island in the north leg of the intersection to accommodate an improved pedestrian crosswalk and ADA ramps. Estimated project cost is $141,000; City would be requesting $112,800 and providing $28,200 in matching funds. Serves Highland Elementary School.
• Macleay Road SE @ Caplinger Road SE: Install sidewalk on south side of Caplinger Road SE and west side of Macleay Road SE. Install median island with crosswalk on Macleay Road SE at Caplinger Road SE. Estimated project cost is $2.3 million; City would be requesting $1,840,000 and providing $460,000 in matching funds. Serves Mary Eyre Elementary School.
• Sunnyview Road NE @ Hollywood Drive NE: Install median island in the east leg of the intersection to accommodate an improved pedestrian crosswalk, ADA ramps, and street lighting. Estimated project cost is $155,000; City would be requesting $124,000 and providing $31,000 in matching funds. Serves Swegle Elementary School.

Projects near Morningside and Pringle Elementary Schools were not recommended for funding. It's likely they didn't meet the equity tests as strongly.

All three of the County project applications were recommended:

• Auburn Elementary – A new crosswalk with Rapid Rectangular Flashing Beacons (RRFB) on Center Street located between Tierra Drive NE and Citation Drive NE. Auburn Elementary is one of the five pilot schools in the Salem Area SRTS program.
• Four Corners Elementary – A new crosswalk with RRFB on State Street at Elma Avenue SE, a separated and improved walkway on the east side of Elma Avenue SE filling walkway gaps between State Street and Craig Lane, an enhanced crosswalk at Mahrt Avenue and Elma Avenue SE, and traffic calming measures near the school.
• Mary Eyre Elementary – A new crosswalk and school zone flashers crossing Pennsylvania Avenue at Shenandoah Drive SE, additional school zone signage on Pennsylvania Avenue, new ADA ramps on Shenandoah Drive SE, new ADA ramps on Shawnee Drive SE.

The City and County had a very good batting average here on this round. (See previously here and here.)