• City of Tacoma QA
  • City of Tacoma OpenData




Engineering

SRTS Engineering efforts include construction improvements, school zones and crosswalk striping, and school zone beacons. 

 

SRTS Infrastructure Improvements

The City of Tacoma uses the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Action Plan’s school prioritization analysis to make physical improvements in order of priority and based on available funding. The school prioritization analysis uses safety and equity data to determine school priority and locations for investments. This analysis is updated every five years, with the latest update occuring in 2023. 

 

Find the SRTS construction projects that are planned, underway, or completed using the drop down options below. Learn more about Capital Projects on the Department of Public Works' Capital Projects webpage. 

 

 

SRTS Construction Projects in Progress

We are happy to announce the following projects have received funding through the Safe Routes to School Program, or through partnership with other City of Tacoma departments' efforts.

 

School

Project Description

Estimated Start

Estimated Completion

Funding Source

Boze Elementary School

Construct sidewalk along E L St between E 64th St and E 65th St, connecting the school to the improved E 64th St Phase 2 improvements. 

Summer 2024

Winter 2025

City Council (REET)

Roosevelt Elementary School

Construct new sidewalk and curb ramps along the westside of E Roosevelt Ave from E 38th St to E Gregory St. 

Spring 2025

Winter 2026

City Council (REET)

Baker Middle School

Improve artertial crossings and access to transit stops,  construct bulbouts, infill missing sidewalk, install new school zone, and implement the bicycle boulevard along S J St and S 80th St. See the planned improvements and learn more on the Capital Projects webpage. 

Summer 2025

Winter 2026

WSDOT SRTS Grant, Streets Initiative

Stewart Middle School

Improvements are in the planning phase with the school students, staff, and families. The City has applied for a grant to support school crossing improvements and traffic calming around the school. 

  2027 2028 City Council (REET), pending WSDOT SRTS Grant
Giaudrone Middle School
 Improvements are in the planning phase with the school students, staff, and families. Anticipated 2027-28 Anticipated 2027-28  
Fern Hill Elementary School Improvements are in the planning phase with the school students, staff, and families. Anticipated 2027-28 Anticipated 2027-28  

 

Completed SRTS Construction Projects

The following schools have received City of Tacoma and grant funded Safe Routes to School infrastructure improvements: 

School

Completed Improvements

Year Completed

Funding

Edna Travis Elementary

Pedestrian refuge island, curb ramps, and crossings along J St. 

 2016

City Council (REET)

Sheridan Elementary

Bulbouts, curb ramps, and sidewalk infill along E. McKinley Ave. and E I St.

 2018

City council (REET)

Lister Elementary

Bulbouts and curb ramps, and new School Zone flashing beacons along E 44th St.

 2020

City Council (REET)

Blix Elementary


Bulbouts, curb ramps, and RRFBs along E 38th St; raised crossing and bulbouts along E 40th St (in partnership with Environmental Services).

 2020

City Council (REET); Department of Ecology grant

First Creek Middle School

HAWK signal installation and new school crossings along Portland Ave. E.

 2020

City Council (REET); WSDOT SRTS grant

Stanley Elementary

New school crossing, bulbouts, and RRFBs at S. 15th St. and Grant. Curb ramps at S. 17th St. and S. Ridgewood Ave.

 2020

City Council (REET)

Mary Lyon Elementary

Accessible Pedestrian Signal (APS) crossing Pacific Ave. and sidewalk infill with curb ramps along S 46th St.

 2021

City Council (REET); WSDOT SRTS grant

Whitman Elementary

 Add bulbouts and pedestrian flashing beacons (RRFBs) at S. 40th and M St. Install raised crosswalks at the schools crossings on S. 39th St and S. 40th St. View planned improvements. 

 2023

City Council (REET); TIB grant

Edison Elementary

Improve school crossings and infill sidewalk along S. 60th St. Add bulbouts and pedestrian flashing beacons (RRFBs) at S. 60th St and Oakes. Install speed hump on S. Pine St. View planned improvements.

 2023

City Council (REET)

Lincoln High School

Add raised crossing on S. 37th St. with accessible curb ramps and traffic circle on S Tacoma Ave.  View planned improvements. 

 2023

City Council (REET); TIB grant

Larchmont Elementary School*

Green infrastructure project adding continuous sidewalks and traffic calming along A St and E B St. 

 2024

Dept. of Ecology Grant*

Manitou Elementary School

Installed raised crosswalk and pedestrian flashing beacons at school crossing on S. 66th St. Add protected bike lane from Tyler St. to Cheyenne St. View planned improvements and learn more on the Capital Projects webpage.

 2024

WSDOT SRTS Grant, City Council (REET), Streets Initiative 

Birney Elementary School

Constructed bulbouts and installed pedestrian flashing beacons (RRFBs) at S Yakima Ave  and S 76th St. View planned improvements. 

 2024

City Council (REET)

iDEA High School*

Infill missing sidewalk, construct bulbouts, and add pedestrian flashing beacons (RRFBs) at S Yakima Ave and S 68th St. View planned improvements.

 2024

 TIB Grant

*These projects were not funded or organized through the Safe Routes to School program, but provide significant Safe Routes to School benefits for the school listed. 

School Zones and Flashing Beacons

A School Zone is determined by several factors, including a legal maximum distance from the designated school crossing or the school property line. The maximum distance a school zone may be is determined by Washington State law (RCW 46.61.440).

The City of Tacoma operates school zone flashing beacons at various public and private schools to indicate to drivers that the 20 MPH school zone speed limit is in effect. School zone beacons are installed on arterial roads only and operate during pre-determined arrival and dismissal times. Some flashing beacon locations are associated with automated traffic enforcement cameras, sometimes referred to as school zone speed cameras. These cameras are active when the school zone flashing beacons are active.

City of Tacoma established a new school zone beacon policy in 2022 that extends the school zone flashing beacon times to 40 minutes each morning and afternoon when schools are in session. Learn more about these schedules and factors in the School Zone Flashing Beacons policy.


]]>