Safe kids at Midvale Elementary

Midvale City was recently awarded a $25,000 grant to address pedestrian safety at Midvale Elementary from Safe Kids USA and its program sponsor, FedEx.

The grant was announced at the school’s celebration of International Walk to School Day on October 5. Mayor JoAnn Seghini and other city officials were on hand to walk to school with students. An outdoor assembly was held where students were told about the grant and reminded of the school’s motto to be “safe, kind and responsible,” especially when it comes to walking to school.

“We’re excited to be a part of this program,” Principal Shad DeMill said. “Our boundaries are such that we don’t use buses. Because of that, we have a very high percentage of children who walk to school.”

From 2005 to 2009, more than 1,800 Salt Lake County residents visited an emergency room for pedestrian-related injuries. Midvale alone has had approximately 15 pedestrian-related injuries involving children, ages 5-14, during this time period. “We are very excited to be a recipient of these funds and are looking forward to what we can learn to improve pedestrian safety for our residents,” Seghini said.

The money was given specifically to address how children living in the new developments at Bingham Junction can get to school safely, especially when the new school across Center Street (7800 South) is finished.

A task force was formed comprised of city officials, a Safe Kids coalition member, a FedEx employee and a traffic safety engineer. They held a two day workshop in October to decide on the safest route and how they could use the grant money to make the route even safer.

The group decided the best pedestrian route for children was along Holden Street and then up Center Street to the school. “This will require the construction of sidewalk from Bingham Junction Boulevard to Holden Street and the reconfiguration of the intersection at Holden Street,” said Phillip Hill, assistant city manager. “It will also require upgrades to the pedestrian crossings at these intersections and new signage.”

These improvements are estimated to cost roughly $65,000. Since the grant money will not fully cover that, the city will have to fund the rest of the project through next year’s budget. “The intent is to install these improvements during the Summer 2012 construction season following approval of the fiscal year 2013 city budget,” Hill said.