ODOT to give funds for local Safe Routes to School program

By Meghan McCormick

The Oklahoma Department of Transportation has selected a Norman project as one of a handful to receive funds during the 2007-2009 Safe Routes to School funding cycle.

Michael Rayburn, City of Norman assistant traffic engineer, said the Longfellow Middle School -- Jefferson Elementary School proposal was chosen to receive the $198,900 in infrastructure improvements and $4,990 in non-infrastructure improvements.

"On Dec. 8, we found out that we had a successful project," Rayburn said.

He said two proposals were made in June 2008 to ODOT, which is administering the federal project. One application was for Longfellow Middle School ? Jefferson Elementary.

"The other one was for Truman Elementary School," Rayburn said.

The Truman Elementary proposal wasn't selected, but more projects could be considered later, he said.

Rayburn said ODOT selected about $3 million worth of proposals statewide in the first year of the funding cycle. Each year afterward, $1 million in projects will be awarded.

ODOT hasn't yet scheduled a start date for the Longfellow Middle School -- Jefferson Elementary project.

"We are waiting on ODOT for a kickoff meeting in Oklahoma City," he said. "We are just waiting for them to announce that."

Rayburn said he anticipates some improvements can get started as soon as this summer.

"We had invited all of the schools when we first learned about the grant money to come up for a meeting," he said. "The steering committee selected these two sites."

Rayburn said residents can expect infrastructure improvements such as sidewalk replacements, sidewalk ramps, mast arm flashers and 11 calming speed tables placed on East Gray Street and Findlay and Ponca avenues. An in-ground lighted crosswalk will be installed at East Main Street and Cockrel Avenue.

"The schools themselves will be doing some things to motivate the kids to walk and bike to school," Rayburn said.

Longfellow principal Darien Moore said she's excited about improving student safety. Some students walk and ride bikes to LMS.

"We do have neighborhood students and that's their way of transportation," she said.

Students also will notice more bike racks at Longfellow.

Moore said the school would like to put emphasis on bicycle safety and traffic etiquette.

"I have a lot of parent concerns about Porter (Avenue)," Moore said. "It has a lighted crosswalk, but you have to stand in the street to get the light to come on. I want to take students to the crosswalk and practice how to be alert for traffic and how to cross safely."

Moore said LMS faculty and staff look forward to working with Jefferson Elementary.

Jefferson principal Dr. Kathy Taber said students are the focus of this grant.

"We're going to look at ways students can get to school and be safe," she said.

Taber said one idea is to create a "walking school bus," a group of students who walk together every morning with adult supervision. Vehicle traffic along East Main Street causes parents to worry about their children crossing the street.

She said the partnership with Longfellow Middle School made sense to her.

"That's where our students go next, and it will be helpful with a family," Taber said. "If you have students at both schools, you know the same procedures will be in place for students to get to school."

Kristine Butler's daughter attends fourth grade at Jefferson. The family lives within walking distance of the school.

Butler said she supports the ODOT project and likes what Taber wants to do with students.

"I think it's a wonderful idea," she said. "I was really excited about that concept."

She said walking and biking to school will encourage children to exercise.

Butler said she walked to school as a child. On occasion, Butler makes the short trip to Jefferson on foot, meets her daughter after school and walks home with her.

By the time Butler's daughter reaches middle school, the mother said she would like for her daughter to walk to school with safety measures in place.

Meghan McCormick 366-3539 mmccormick@normantranscript.com

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