Town Officials Seek State Grant to Improve Wilcoxson School Area Walkways

Town officials want to create a safer and more walker-friendly environment at and around Wilcoxson Elementary School.

"It's messy," town planner David Killeen said of the traffic congestion caused by buses and cars dropping off students at the school.

So in a move to clean up the mess, next week the Planning Commission will apply to the state Department of Transportation for a Safe Routes to School Program grant in the amount of $304,000.

The funding would go toward conceptual infrastructure improvements drawn up by town engineers that includes raising crosswalks at the intersection of Wilcoxson Avenue and Beacon Street, and creating a new U-shaped drop-off zone for buses and cars off Wilcoxson Avenue. [See attached photo of blueprint]

"I think it's a great idea," said commissioner Ann Baker at the Planning Commission's meeting Tuesday night. She said the raised crosswalks -- and the proposed newly textured pavement uniting them -- would slow down motorists who use Wilcoxson Avenue as a speedy shortcut from Main Street to East Main Street, and vice versa.  

"It will make the school much more visible, too," Baker added.

Killeen said Wilcoxson Elementary School was chosen to be the potential beneficiary of the grant, in part, because of the urban setting the school is located in. He said Wilcoxson students are unique in that several of them are within walking distance of the school.

"Part of the Safe Routes to School planning process is to help motivate parents to let kids walk to school," Killeen said.

The proximity of students to the school prompted the creation of a walk to school program last fall, which boarded students and parents on a "walking bus" to Wilcoxson. The committee that spearheaded the program -- comprised of parents, teachers, town engineers and police officers -- is the same group that's backing the sought after infrastructure improvements, Killeen said.      

The town planner echoed Baker's comments about alerting drivers to the school zone. He said the proposed system of raised crosswalks and sidewalks would establish a "solid recognition that the road is shared."

The total cost of the project is around $380,000, Killeen said. He anticipates that the town would have to pay about $75,000 in engineering fees, but it's possible that the state could foot the entire bill.

Killeen said if the state approves funding in the upcoming fall, construction could start in the second half of 2012.

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