New safety projects will support children walking & biking to school this year

Students walk to school during a Walk and Bike to School Day in Seattle. Photo: SDOT

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At-a-glance:

Fall is here, bringing the start of a new school year. That means we need your help to keep kids safe as they travel to and from school each day.
Please remember to drive at slow, safe speeds in school zones. The speed limit is 20 miles per hour whenever children are present and when yellow flashing lights are active.
About a third of Seattle K-5 students walk, roll, or bike to school! We’re continuing to improve city streets and sidewalks near schools to make this an easier, more comfortable option for all students.
Our Safe Routes to School Program has completed safety upgrades at every public school in Seattle – and we’re not done! Last year, we completed 30 of the over 70 projects included in the voter-approved Seattle Transportation Levy.
The Safe Routes to School program is just one of our programs dedicated to improving safety. You can learn more about Mayor Wilson’s recent Executive Order to strengthen our ongoing commitment to Vision Zero and speed up safety projects where they are needed most.
Want to get involved? Use the links below to learn more:

More students get to school by walking, biking, or school busing than driving

In Seattle, about 1 in 3 elementary students walk or bike to get to school and more than half of students get to school in a way other than driving. We work hard to make walking and biking an option for more people and it’s working. Walking and biking to school has doubled since 2005!

If you drive, please be mindful. Seattle Public Schools has over 50,000 students and with classes resuming this fall, more kids will be out on our streets as they head to school. Please travel at safe speeds – up to 20 mph in school zones – and always stay alert for children crossing the street. As the weather starts to change and the days grow shorter, your attention to this matter becomes even more important. Thank you.

We also want to encourage all students biking and scooting to school to be careful, stay aware of your surroundings, and wear a helmet. Riding distraction-free and going slow and steady helps you stay safe on your way into school and again when you head home. To help students build their bike skills and confidence, we helped create and fund the Let’s Go Walk and Bike Education Program, which has given students hands-on training and time to practice at Seattle schools since 2015.

Safe Routes to School project highlights

Watch this short video to learn about our Safe Routes to School work. Video: SDOT

We work year-round to build safer streets near schools. Every new crosswalk, wider sidewalk, calmer intersection, and safer route helps children get to school confidently and allows families to feel more at ease during those busy morning and afternoon hours.

This year, we’ve built more projects for the start of school including new all-way stops with marked crosswalks at 20 more schools, protected bike lane upgrades at 4 schools, and School Street upgrades at 3 middle schools (coming soon).

You can visit our Safe Routes to School website for a full list of current projects and major completed projects throughout the city, or read about the improvements coming to Maple Leaf and Northgate near Hazel Wolf K-8 (over 600 students) and Olympic View Elementary (around 300 students).

We also build capital projects across the city to improve travel safety for students and all people, such as the RapidRide J Line project near TOPS K-8 School in Eastlake and the Greenwood Ave N Sidewalk Improvements project which helps students walking to school at Broadview Thomson K-8.

Here’s a recap of several projects we’ve recently completed or currently underway.

1) Washington Middle School (Central District)

We upgraded the School Street outside Washington Middle School (attended by nearly 600 students). Crews completed an expansion of the sidewalks next to the school in time for the new school year.
The new sidewalk opens up what used to be a constrained space for easier walking, biking, and socializing. This also creates a walking and biking connection between the new Judkins Park Link Light Rail Station and Dr. Blanche Lavizzo Park.
We also added an all-way stop, new marked crosswalks, and no turn on red signs leading to the school.

A photo of expanded sidewalks with a large building and tree and dumpsters in the background. An informational yard sign says that trees are coming soon and welcomes Washington Huskies. — *New wider sidewalks around Washington Middle School. Photo: SDOT*

Marked crosswalks along a street with buildings and trees and people in the background. — *New wider sidewalks around Washington Middle School. Photo: SDOT*

2) South Shore PreK-8 and Rainier Beach High School (Rainier Beach)

We’re currently putting the finishing touches on a 2-way protected bike lane along the north side of S Henderson St in Rainier Beach.
This project includes longer pedestrian head starts at signals, audible pedestrian push buttons, speed cushions, concrete median islands, and bike/bus islands to slow speeds and help make crossing Rainier Ave S easier.
Over 1,500 students attend schools within a block of S Henderson St including South Shore PreK-8, Rainier Beach High School, Dunlap Elementary, and Alan T Sugiyama High School

A protected bike lane in front of a large school. Green paint marks where the bike lane travels in front of an entrance to the school. A large tree is in the background as well as a parking lot. — *New protected bike lane markings at S Henderson St in Rainier Beach. Photo: SDOT*

3) Ingraham High School (Haller Lake)

Our Vision Zero program has added new protected bike lanes to N 130th St leading to Ingraham High School near Haller Lake in north Seattle.
This work builds on other upgrades completed in recent years, including improved crossings, and school zone flashing beacons, near the school where nearly 1,400 students attend.
Another upcoming project in this area is the 1st Ave NE shared use path for safer, easier connections to James Baldwin Elementary School, Northacres Park, the Pinehurst Station, and other mobility and transit improvements around NE 130th St.

A person bikes in a protected bike lane with cars traveling to the left and right. School buses are in the background. — *A person bikes in a protected bike lane near Ingraham High School. Two school buses are visible in the background. Photo: SDOT*

4) Cleveland STEM High School (Beacon Hill)

We’re nearly finished installing new crosswalk flashing beacons, curb ramps, sidewalk repairs, and marked crosswalks at 13th Ave S and S Lucile St.
This is a key connection to Cleveland STEM High School, attended by around 900 students.

Two people cross the street. A work truck and other parked vehicles are in the image, as well as a light blue building and blue skies above. — *Two people cross the street next to expanded sidewalks with ADA-accessible curb ramps at 13th Ave S and S Lucile St. Photo: SDOT*

5) St Joseph School, Stevens Elementary School, and Lowell Elementary School (Capitol Hill)

To make it safer and easier for students to walk and bike to nearby schools, we’re improving two crossings of E Aloha St.
The improvements include new flashing crosswalk beacons and speed cushions at 11th Ave E and E Aloha St, as well as a Neighborhood Greenway crossing with flashing beacons at 18th Ave E and E Aloha St.
Over 1,000 students attend schools in this area, including St Joseph School, Stevens Elementary, and Lowell Elementary.

Two people cross the street at a marked crosswalk with their dog. Sidewalks, curb ramps, parked cars, and trees are in the image as well. — *People cross the street at 18th Ave E and E Aloha St, where we recently added a concrete sidewalk extension to help shorten crossing distances. Flashing crosswalk beacons are coming soon. Photo: SDOT*

6) Bailey Gatzert Elementary (Central District)

We extended a protected bike lane along E Yesler Way, heading east toward Bailey Gatzert Elementary, where over 400 students go to school.
The new concrete buffer helps ensure people biking to school are protected from cars and trucks on the street. It also slows drivers’ right turns as kids are crossing the street.

A view of the street and buildings, trees, shrubs, and a sign that reads Right Lane Must Turn Right, Except Bicycles. — *View before (left) and after (right) showing a new protected bike lane at E Yesler Way and Boren Ave, looking east. Photo: SDOT*

A protected bike lane in the middle of the image with cars and a work truck in the background, as well as trees, shrubs, and buildings. — *View before (left) and after (right) showing a new protected bike lane at E Yesler Way and Boren Ave, looking east. Photo: SDOT*

7) All-way stops at 20 more schools

We’re continuing to install marked crosswalks and all-way stops next to schools, including 20 more schools this year.

A young person crosses the street in front of a large school building at a marked crosswalk. A red stop sign, a one-way sign, and a street sign reading Cheryl Chow Blvd are in the image, as well as trees and parked cars. — *A kid crosses the street via new marked crosswalks and all-way stop at Franklin High School in Mount Baker neighborhood. Photo: SDOT*

School Streets

Have you ever seen a block next to school that says, “Street closed?” That’s a School Street. They’re open for school buses and people walking/biking and closed to through traffic (including school drop-off and pick-up).

School Streets disperse the car traffic around a school so walking and biking to school is more welcoming with cleaner air and more comfortable crossings.

We now have 21 School Streets across the city. Learn more about how you can add a School Street next to your school.

A School Street sign notes that the street is closed and local access only. A sign below says that vehicles yield to pedestrians and bicycles. A large group of people are in the background along with trees and parked cars. — *A School Street sign at Olympic Hills Elementary in Seattle. Photo: SDOT*

Mural painting!

Students, school staff, and SDOT staff recently came together to add color and creativity to the street next to Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth High School (located in the Delridge neighborhood in southwest Seattle).

A group of people paint a large colorful mural on the street. — *Families painting the street with a mural of salmon and assorted colors during a Safe Routes to School painting event. Photo: SDOT*

Two people paint on the street. — *Families painting the street with a mural of salmon and assorted colors during a Safe Routes to School painting event. Photo: SDOT*

Bike to Books: Concord International School

We worked with students at Concord International Elementary School to add pavement art along the walking and biking route between the school and the South Park Branch Public Library. This includes the Duwamish Trail, S Henderson St, and 8th Ave S.

The pavement art improves safety by visually reminding drivers to slow down and watch for people walking or riding bikes near this school with attendance of around 250 students.

A map graphic showing student-designed pavement art on parts of the street near the South Park Library and Concord International School. The pink dotted lines go along the Duwamish River Train, 8th Ave S, and S Henderson St. — *Map (left) and example (right) of new student-designed pavement art near Concord International School. Images: SDOT*

A yellow star with rainbow colors behind it is painted on the street in a neighborhood with cars parked to the right and trees in the background. — *Map (left) and example (right) of new student-designed pavement art near Concord International School. Images: SDOT*

How to get involved

Supporting kids to walk and bike to school is a community effort. We offer these resources to allow school communities to run with their own ideas.

Walking and Biking Packages

Schools, families, or community groups can complete our simple online form to request Walking and Biking packages.
Supplies include items like lights, vests, and flags for walking school buses; locks, helmets and lights for bike buses; reflective keychains and stickers for walk and bike to school events; and more!
Check out this video to hear a student and parent share their experience with the walking school bus to Dunlap Elementary.

Mini Grants

Apply for a Safe Routes to School Mini Grant!
We offer up to $1,500 for Parent-Teacher Associations (PTAs), schools, and community groups to help support projects like painted intersection murals and bike rodeos.
Grant applications are reviewed on an ongoing, rolling basis, so consider applying today!

Free yard signs

Want to encourage your community to travel safely? We provide yard signs for you to place by your school and in your neighborhood.
We have 11 different designs to choose from that you can pick up at community centers or Seattle Customer Service Centers across the city.

Example of a yard sign available for you to place in your community. Graphic: SDOT

Use transit to get to school (for free!)

All youth, 18 and under can ride transit for free under the Free Youth Transit Pass!
Parents and guardians who want to accompany students may qualify for reduced fare ORCA cards depending on income level.
Check out the available ORCA card programs here.

Looking ahead – more upgrades on the way

The voter-approved Seattle Transportation Levy includes funding for at least 70 Safe Routes to School projects through 2032.

And more SDOT programs in addition to Safe Routes to School support kids getting to school. The levy will fund safety improvements on streets with a history of crashes, including Aurora Ave N and Rainier Ave S. As planning and design work continues, look for more opportunities to share your thoughts and stay informed.

The Seattle Transportation Levy funds vital Safe Routes to School improvements. Graphic: SDOT

Thank you

We wish everyone a positive 2026-2027 school year.

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