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Making a safer route to school for pedestrians
Construction is underway for a project to make sidewalk and pedestrian improvements near two local public elementary schools.
In June, workers with Marbery Concrete of Fort Scott began work on the Safe Routes to School project, which is being funded by a matching grant through the Kansas Department of Transportation.
City officials said the project will create new sidewalks, curbs, and ADA-accessible ramps, as well as fix drainage issues and other infrastructure around and near the schools.
Public Works Director Chad Brown said Wednesday work around Eugene Ware Elementary School is “about 90 percent complete,” with work scheduled to begin near Winfield Scott School soon after. He said the goal is to have the project complete by the time school starts in late August.
“A majority of the work is there (Eugene Ware),” Brown said. “They’ve started some survey work around Winfield Scott. It’s a 40-day contract. The start date was June 15.”
City Manager Dave Martin said the project is a partnership between the city and KDOT, with input coming from the USD 234 school district.
“USD 234 had some input along with the engineer,” he said. “We looked at the best ways to do it.”
USD 234 Superintendent Bob Beckham said in 2014 the district’s role for the project would be “encouragement, education and evaluation” and the district would have “little financial obligation.” He said one goal will be teaching kids the benefits of walking or biking to school. The district will also provide encouragement and possible incentives, and will be involved in the evaluation process, which will include surveys.
He said the grant project will address some safety concerns due to deteriorating sidewalks, and hopefully result in more youth walking or biking to school.
Beckham said there are five components to the grant; engineering, education, enforcement, encouragement and evaluation. A Safe Routes to School plan must address all five “E’s.”
Parents and students in the district were surveyed to determine why students were not walking or riding bikes to school rather than traveling in cars. The results indicated that safety and distance were major concerns.
Martin said the project is about “having safer sidewalks” and improving infrastructure throughout the city. He said the improvements fit in well with district-wide improvements and upgrades made as part of the two-year USD 234 school bond projects which are being completed this summer.
“We’re trying to get all through town fixing sidewalks and bike trails, and getting people to realize they can walk and bike through town,” he said. “It’s also about a safer way to get to schools.”
Other program goals include decreasing traffic congestion and pollution around schools and funding the construction of safe pathways to school.
Director of Finance Jon Garrison said the total cost of the project is about $338,000, with $200,000 in federal funds coming through the state, and $138,000 in city funds. Construction costs total $308,020 with the remainder of the funds going toward engineering, easements and other preliminary costs.
In late 2014, the city and USD 234 were awarded a Safe Routes to School grant through KDOT. The aim of the national program is to increase the health and safety of youngsters and the community by encouraging children to walk or bike to school.
Fort Scott was one of six Kansas cities to receive Phase II funding for infrastructure improvements. Cities were eligible to receive up to $200,000. Projects can include sidewalk improvements or construction, pavement markings and signage. The city and USD 234 applied for the grant in July 2014.
The city had applied for Phase II funding in past years but did not receive a grant.