Harris County Precinct 1 could begin installing and repairing sidewalks near seven Spring ISD elementary schools by the end of the summer.[/caption]
Harris County Precinct 1 could begin installing and repairing sidewalks near seven Spring ISD elementary schools by the end of the summer, officials said.
“We have heard concerns expressed by the school district about students walking in the streets,” Precinct 1 Project Manager Lawrence Bell said. “There are some [schools] in high traffic areas and on major streets.”
The precinct’s Safe Route to School project aims to address sidewalk needs near school buildings in Spring and Houston ISDs. The budget for the project is $800,000, Bell said.
Although most of Spring ISD is located within Precinct 4, several of its schools are within Precinct 1’s jurisdiction.
Booker, Cooper, Eickenroht, Hoyland, Lewis, Major and Thompson elementary schools are the first schools to be included in the project. Clark Primary and Intermediate schools, Claughton Middle School and Dekaney and Westfield high schools are also within Precinct 1 and have been identified as needing sidewalks, SISD Chief Operations Officer Mark Miranda said.
“Once I was informed that some children did not have safe routes to school and they had to walk in the street and dodge traffic, I committed to working with local school districts to help improve the situation,” Precinct 1 Commissioner Gene Locke said.
The project is in the design stage, and work on the sidewalks is expected to begin in August.
The first day of school in SISD is Aug. 22.
“There’s a possibility that some areas may start [construction] before the school year, but the majority will be after it begins,” Bell said.
Street light installation could also be provided at schools in need of lighting and safety features if budget funds are available, he said.
The district is not able to build sidewalks in areas located off school property.
“The safety that neighborhood sidewalks will provide our students would be invaluable,” Miranda said. “We appreciate Precinct 1 for considering our schools for this project and are working with them to prioritize the order in which the work is done.”
Harris County Precinct 1 could begin installing and repairing sidewalks near seven Spring ISD elementary schools by the end of the summer.[/caption]
Harris County Precinct 1 could begin installing and repairing sidewalks near seven Spring ISD elementary schools by the end of the summer, officials said.
“We have heard concerns expressed by the school district about students walking in the streets,” Precinct 1 Project Manager Lawrence Bell said. “There are some [schools] in high traffic areas and on major streets.”
The precinct’s Safe Route to School project aims to address sidewalk needs near school buildings in Spring and Houston ISDs. The budget for the project is $800,000, Bell said.
Although most of Spring ISD is located within Precinct 4, several of its schools are within Precinct 1’s jurisdiction.
Booker, Cooper, Eickenroht, Hoyland, Lewis, Major and Thompson elementary schools are the first schools to be included in the project. Clark Primary and Intermediate schools, Claughton Middle School and Dekaney and Westfield high schools are also within Precinct 1 and have been identified as needing sidewalks, SISD Chief Operations Officer Mark Miranda said.
“Once I was informed that some children did not have safe routes to school and they had to walk in the street and dodge traffic, I committed to working with local school districts to help improve the situation,” Precinct 1 Commissioner Gene Locke said.
The project is in the design stage, and work on the sidewalks is expected to begin in August.
The first day of school in SISD is Aug. 22.
“There’s a possibility that some areas may start [construction] before the school year, but the majority will be after it begins,” Bell said.
Street light installation could also be provided at schools in need of lighting and safety features if budget funds are available, he said.
The district is not able to build sidewalks in areas located off school property.
“The safety that neighborhood sidewalks will provide our students would be invaluable,” Miranda said. “We appreciate Precinct 1 for considering our schools for this project and are working with them to prioritize the order in which the work is done.”
