Safe Routes to Schools program nearly complete

The Department of Transportation (DOT) recently announced that improvements at the city’s 135 “priority schools” are nearly complete through the Safe Routes to Schools program, implemented in 2006. Thirty-three of the schools are located in Queens.
“Every child deserves a safe route to school,” said DOT Commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan. “And thanks to the Safe Routes to School program the streets around more than one-hundred of the city’s most accident prone schools have been upgraded.”
The work, which DOT officials is 98 percent done in the borough, includes new traffic and pedestrian signals, exclusive pedestrian crossing lanes, and new parking regulations.
According to the DOT, three new signals, two speed boards, 671 new crossing-warning signs, 16 yield signs, nine pedestrian information signs, 83 ladder-style school crosswalks, 28 pedestrian crosswalks, 12 speed bumps, and one bike lane were added in Queens. In addition, four traffic signals were re-timed, traffic-calming measures - like painted medians and buffers - were added on three streets, and parking regulations were changed in 36 locations.
In addition, capital construction has begun or will start shortly at 12 schools, including I.S. 192 in St. Albans.
At I.S. 192, pedestrian signs, school crossing signs, ladder style crosswalks and a new traffic signal at the intersection of Hollis Avenue and 205th Street were added. Long-term plans include the installation of curb extensions at two intersections.
Citywide long-term improvements will involve neck downs - sidewalk extensions that slow turning vehicles and narrow the crossing distance for pedestrians - pedestrian islands, raised medians and sidewalk-widening projects.
The DOT also upgraded school crosswalk signs around all 1,471 schools and created traffic safety maps for kids to walk home safely. The maps include information about traffic signals and signs in the area, and can be accessed at www.nyc.gov/saferoutes.
In the winter, the next 135 “priority” public, private and parochial elementary and middle schools will be identified, and the DOT will also look at 40 high schools to improve safety.