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Engineering

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. 

 

School

Project Description

Estimated Start

Estimated Completion

Funding Source

Larchmont Elementary School*

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

Winter 2023 (Q1)

Winter 2024 (Q1)

Dept. of Ecology Grant* 

Whitman Elementary School

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. 

Summer 2023

Fall 2023

City Council (REET); TIB Grant

Edison Elementary School

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.

Summer 2023

Fall 2023

City Council (REET)

Lincoln High School

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

Summer 2023

Fall 2023

City Council (REET); TIB Grant

Manitou Elementary School

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. 

Summer 2023

Spring 2024

WSDOT SRTS Grant

Birney Elementary School

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

Fall 2023

Winter 2023

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. 

Fall 2023

Winter 2023

TIB Grant*

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 2024

 City Council (REET)

Roosevelt Elementary School

Construct missing link sidewalk along school walking route on E Roosevelt Ave.

Spring 2025

Fall 2025

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. Summer 2025 Winter 2026 WSDOT SRTS Grant

*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. 

 

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

 

School

Completed Improvements

Year Completed

Funding

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


 



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