Safe Routes to School
The city of Milpitas has been awarded $2.9 million to enhance pedestrian safety at intersections near local schools and reduce crashes along the city’s school route network through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) Grant Program.
Milpitas’ grant application centered on the Safe Routes to School program for 13 public schools in the city, with a focus on enhancing pedestrian and bicycle safety within school zones. The project will prioritize intersections with known safety issues.
Key components of the project include enhancing visibility, signage and pedestrian crossings at intersections near schools; expanding the Safe Routes to School program; and addressing both known and potential safety concerns along the entire school route network.
The city’s public works department has applied for additional funding to improve Safe Routes to School within disadvantaged communities. These applications seek $3.8 million from the statewide Active Transportation Program (ATP) grant program and $4.3 million from the regional ATP grant. Local awards for the ATP grant programs are due to be announced in December.
Sales tax measure
Voters in Milpitas will decide in November whether to continue the city’s existing 1/4-cent sales for another eight years, and the city is holding a series of community meetings ahead of the election to discuss Measure J’s implications.
By law, Measure J funding is locally controlled, cannot be taken by Sacramento and is required to be spent to benefit Milpitas residents.
The meetings, which include a Q&A session with City Manager Ned Thomas and Assistant City Manager Matt Cano, are set for Sept. 30, 1-2 p.m., at the Barbara Lee Senior Center, 40 N. Milpitas Blvd., and Oct. 9, 6-7 p.m., in the Milpitas Police Department’s community conference room, 1275 N. Milpitas Blvd.
