District of Squamish will improve lighting at two locations and construct a new path as part of ‘Safe Routes to School’ project.
These two are among several infrastructure projects the district has undertaken since 2015 to create safer school routes.
By the fall of 2020, district intends to improve lighting and crosswalks locations at the Guilford Drive and Clarke Drive intersection.
The project will cost $300,000.
Another local ‘Safe Routes to School’ project expected to complete this fall is lighting the Discovery Trail in Dentville, between Squamish Elementary and Howe Sound Secondary School.
The district also plans to construct a three-metre bi-directional multi-use path on the east side of Government Road between Depot and Axen Road for a safe school route for Brackendale Elementary School.
This project is expected to be complete by September this year.
Widening the south shoulder of Judd Road and Guildford Drive, and better trail connections in Dentville and Valleycliffe for students who walk or bike to school are also some of the other ‘Safe Routes to School’ projects the district has completed.
Better signs, merging school zones in Valleycliffe, an increase in RCMP and bylaw enforcement in school zones, speed reader boards in school zones, and changing school times are some of the other projects the district says it has completed to make it safer for kids to go to school.
The district says this year it plans to update the existing ‘Safe Routes to School’ map and will begin school travel planning with the Waldorf and Montessori schools. It also plans to improve the intersection of Tantalus Road and Garibaldi Way this year.
Meanwhile, the district plans to consult with the public on traffic calming on Highlands Way North this year. Staff will also soon begin to plan active transportation capital projects for 2021, including selection of new safe routes to school projects.
In September this year, the #SlowDownSquamish communication campaign will be run again.
