SDOT crews have completed a new school crossing at N 80th St and 1st Ave N that provides a safer way for kids to cross the street to get to Greenwood Elementary School and St John Catholic School. Improvements include a new curb bulb, curb ramps compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), marked crosswalks, and crossing beacons that flash when activated by pedestrians or bicyclists.
The project also included adding an additional 20 MPH school zone flashing beacon on NW 80th St west of 8th Ave NW to slow down people driving through this intersection which is heavily used by Greenwood students.
The benefits of this project include:
- Improves safety on walking and biking route to school
- Shortens crossing distance of N 80th St and 1st Ave N
- Encourages more kids to walk and bike to school, which will reduce congestion at the school
This improved crossing is part of the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program, a national movement to make it easier and safer for students to walk and bike to school. The project also includes education and encouragement programs to get more kids walking and biking safely to school.
The Safe Routes to School program was developed as part of Vision Zero, the City’s plan to end traffic deaths and serious injuries by 2030. Improving safety for school communities means building healthy places where kids can safely walk and bike to school and in their neighborhood.