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.


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.


Most of SISD is located within Precinct 4, but 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.




County works with Spring ISD to improve sidewalk safety Sidewalk work is due to begin in August.[/caption]

The roads leading to those schools need sidewalk repairs or construction, SISD Chief Operations Officer Mark Miranda said.


“Once I was informed that some children did not have safe routes to school and 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.


Work on the sidewalks is expected to begin in August.


“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.”


Locke said the project was part of an initiative in Precinct 1 to improve safety and quality of life for residents.


“If I feel my office can help improve any other safety issues, we will certainly try to,” Locke said.