SRTS Engineering efforts include construction improvements, school zones and crosswalk striping, and school zone beacons.
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.
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. We are happy to announce the following schools have received funding through the Safe Routes to School Program, or through partnership with other City of Tacoma departments' efforts.
Projects in Process
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Larchmont Elementary School*
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Green infrastructure project adding continuous sidewalks and traffic calming along A St and E B St.
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Winter 2023 (Q1)
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Winter 2024 (Q1)
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Dept. of Ecology Grant*
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Manitou Elementary School
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Install 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.
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Fall 2023
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Summer 2024
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WSDOT SRTS Grant
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Birney Elementary School
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Add bulbouts and pedestrian flashing beacons (RRFBs) at S Yakima Ave and S 76th St. View planned improvements.
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Fall 2023
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Summer 2024
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City Council (REET)
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iDEA High School*
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Infill missing sidewalk, construct bulbouts, and add pedestrian flashing beacons (RRFBs) at S Yakima Ave and S 68th St. View planned improvements.
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Fall 2023
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Summer 2024
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TIB Grant*
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Boze Elementary School
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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.
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Summer 2024
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Winter 2025
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City Council (REET)
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Roosevelt Elementary School
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Construct new sidewalk and curb ramps along the westside of E Roosevelt Ave from E 38th St to E Gregory St.
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Spring 2025
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Fall 2025
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City Council (REET)
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| 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. |
Summer 2025 |
Winter 2026 |
WSDOT SRTS Grant |
| Stewart Middle School |
Improvements are in the planning phase with the school students, staff, and families. |
2027 |
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*These projects are not funded or organized through the Safe Routes to School program, but provide significant Safe Routes to School benefits for the school listed.
Completed SRTS Improvements
The following schools have received City of Tacoma and grant funded Safe Routes to School infrastructure improvements:
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Edna Travis Elementary
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Pedestrian refuge island, curb ramps, and crossings along J St.
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2016
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City Council (REET)
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Sheridan Elementary
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Bulbouts, curb ramps, and sidewalk infill along E. McKinley Ave. and E I St.
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2018
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City council (REET) |
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Lister Elementary
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Bulbouts and curb ramps, and new School Zone flashing beacons along E 44th St.
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2020
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City Council (REET)
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| Blix Elementary
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Bulbouts, curb ramps, and RRFBs along E 38th St; raised crossing and bulbouts along E 40th St (in partnership with Environmental Services).
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2020
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City Council (REET); Department of Ecology grant |
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First Creek Middle School
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HAWK signal installation and new school crossings along Portland Ave. E.
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2020
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City Council (REET); WSDOT SRTS grant
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Stanley Elementary
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New school crossing, bulbouts, and RRFBs at S. 15th St. and Grant. Curb ramps at S. 17th St. and S. Ridgewood Ave.
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2020
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City Council (REET)
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| 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 |