A $160,000 grant that was recently awarded to the city of Lompoc will be used to make walking to school safer for local students. Construction on Lompoc’s Sidewalk Infill Project, which includes adding sidewalks and improving crosswalks near schools, started on Nov. 27.
The project is expected to last a little more than a month, according to a Lompoc press release, and is almost entirely funded by the North County Measure A Safe Routes to School Program. The Transportation Development Act, California legislation passed in 1971 that helps fund transit and road projects, will pay for the remainder of the project through its bicycle and pedestrian funding. The Transportation Development Act’s funds are derived from various sales taxes, according to its website.
The Sidewalk Infill Project is an effort to make walking safer for everyone in Lompoc, according to Public Works Director Kevin McCune, especially students who walk to and from school on a daily basis.
“This project is a worthy investment in a safer and more visually appealing Lompoc,” McCune said in the release, “and we expect our community will be happy with the results.”
Construction will include the installation of brightly painted bulb-outsācurb extensions that limit the distance between sidewalks at crossing areas and work to slow vehicle trafficācurb ramps, and flashing signs at a crosswalk at the intersection of West North Avenue and North L Street near La Canada Elementary School. Sidewalks, complete with curbs and ramps, will also be added near Fillmore Elementary School on the 600 block of East Pine Avenue, an area that currently lacks a safe sidewalk for students.
The principal of Fillmore Elementary declined to comment on the construction, and Lisa Wilson, principal of La Canada Elementary, could not be reached for comment before the Sun’s press time. Ī¼
This article appears in Nov 30 – Dec 7, 2017.