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.
School Infrastructure Updates
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.
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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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Whitman Elementary School
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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.
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Summer 2023
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Fall 2023
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City Council (REET); TIB Grant
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Edison Elementary School
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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. Planned improvements.
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Summer 2023
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Fall 2023
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City Council (REET)
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Lincoln High School
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Add raised crossing on S. 37th St. and traffic circle on S Tacoma Ave.
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Summer 2023
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Fall 2023
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City Council (REET)
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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. Planned improvements.
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Summer 2023
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Winter 2024 (Q1)
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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.
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Summer 2023
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Fall 2023
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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.
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Summer 2023
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Fall 2023
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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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City Council (REET)
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Roosevelt Elementary School
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Construct missing link sidewalk along school walking route on E. Roosevelt Ave.
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Spring 2025
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Fall 2025
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City Council (REET)
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The following schools have received City of Tacoma and grant funded Safe Routes to School infrastructure improvements:
| McCarver Elementary |
Pedestrian refuge island, curb ramps, and crossings along J St. |
2016 |
City Council |
| 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 and Department of Ecology grant |
| Lister Elementary |
Bulbouts and curb ramps, and new School Zone flashing beacons along E 44th St. |
2020 |
City Council |
| Sheridan Elementary |
Bulbouts, curb ramps, and sidewalk infill along E. McKinley Ave. and E I St. |
2018 |
City Council |
| First Creek Middle School |
HAWK signal installation and new school crossings along Portland Ave. E. |
2020 |
City Council and WSDOT grant |
| Mary Lyon Elementary |
Accessible Pedestrian Signal (APS) crossing Pacific Ave. and sidewalk infill with curb ramps along S 46th St. |
2021 |
City Council and WSDOT 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 |