Stockton, Calif. — In a move to ensure safer travel for students, the Stockton City Council has approved significant upgrades to pedestrian routes near five local schools. The council ratified a $389,959 contract with Folsom-based R.E.Y. Engineers, Inc. for the design of a new Safe Routes to School construction project.
Targeting Fillmore Elementary, Victory Elementary, Delta Sierra Middle School, Montezuma Elementary, and Jane Frederick High School, this initiative aims to enhance the safety of students who walk or bike to school. Planned improvements include new curbs, gutters, and sidewalks, as well as the repair and installation of curb ramps, crosswalks, traffic control markings, asphalt roadways, and drainage systems.
Councilman Dan Wright, reflecting on his time as principal at Harrison Elementary, stressed the urgency of the project due to rising construction costs and the current hazards students face, such as walking in streets or wet ditches. "We're not going to finish them all unless we get them in," Wright emphasized during the June 18 council meeting.
The total estimated cost for the project is $4.1 million, with nearly $2.7 million funded by the state’s Active Transportation Program. The design phase is scheduled to be expedited, with completion targeted for November 2024.
The Safe Routes to School project is part of a national initiative focused on creating safer and more accessible paths for children traveling to school, aimed at reducing vehicle trips, improving air quality, and decreasing traffic congestion. Stockton first developed its Safe Routes to School plan in December 2017, documenting existing routes and recommending enhancements.
The city has not yet announced specific construction start dates but is committed to progressing quickly to benefit its young residents.
