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PEDESTRIAN AND BIKER SAFETY AT PARKVIEW ELEMENTARY

LINDSAY POYNTER – FALL 2021

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PARKVIEW ELEMENTARY

% of students who ride the bus: 16-20%

% who either, walk, bike, or get a ride: 80-84%

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BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY HISTORY:

Prior to Fall 2018 – A multiple year push to improve biker/pedestrian safety occurred which included petitions, neighborhood meetings, meetings with the city. Parents were frustrated/apathetic? Was told when the new school is built then the needs of bikers and pedestrians will improve.

Fall 2021 – New school beautiful – Pedestrian/Biker use secondary to drivers.

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CURRENT STATUS:

Information from Chris Comeau, City of Bellingham, Transportation Planner

WSDOT awarded the City of Bellingham a $1.6 million dollar Safe Route to School grant with the Bellingham School District contributing $150,000 toward the local match funding requirements.

The scope of the project is described in the:

https://cob.org/wp-content/uploads/Adopted_2022-2027_TIP.pdf

There is a project web page titled Parkview ES Safe Route to School Improvements:

https://cob.org/project/Parkview-Elementary-Safe-Route-to-School-Improvements

Illinois/West Illinois Safety Improvements:

https://cob.org/project/West-Illinois-Street-Pedestrian--Bicycle-Safety-Improvements

Scheduled start for summer 2023.

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WHAT ABOUT BETWEEN NOW AND 2023/2024?

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IDEAS…

Crossing Guards: Currently not a Bellingham School District practice. Post – covid don’t currently have a committee looking at Safe Routes to school– Bellingham School District Contact Jessica Sankey - 360-676-6470, Jessica.Sankey@bellinghamschools.org
Walking school bus
School Zone?
Whatcom Smart trips event?
Etc?

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�CONTACTS AND RESOURCES:

Bellingham School District: Jessica Sankey, Executive Director of Operations – 360-676-6470, Jessica.Sankey@bellinghamschools.org

Lindsay Poynter – Parkview Parent – lindsaypoynter@gmail.com – 360-410-6315