Before School Starts, Mercer Island Installs Crosswalk For Kids

From the city of Mercer Island

MERCER ISLAND, WA - City staff have become experts in stretching limited taxpayer dollars to meet the growing needs of Island residents. A safer crossing at SE 42nd Street for Northwood Elementary students needed to be in place before school begins, even though it was not originally in the City budget or workplan. A creative partnership with the MI School District (MISD) used existing resources to get the job done.

When the new Elementary opened near the High School last year, parents immediately had concerns about the busy mix of elementary kids on foot, teen drivers, and carpools. The absence of marked crosswalks, and no sidewalk on the south side of SE 42nd made matters worse.

The School District drew up plans and provided the dollars to make necessary walkway and crossing improvements along the two-block stretch of SE 42nd Street. Meanwhile, the City's Public Works staff worked with neighbors to remove private improvements that were encroaching on the public right-of-way, while relocating fire hydrants and trees out of the work area.

"This was a great partnership project -- City dollars are always tight and we had no funds for a new mid-year project, but we could bring other resources to the table," said Anne Tonella-Howe, Assistant City Engineer for Public Works. "Together with the Public Works Department we were able to accomplish much more than the School District would have been able to do alone," said Brandy Fox, MISD Capital Projects Manager.

Image via City of Mercer Island