Seaside and Marina have both been identified as high priority cities due to the high rates of youth biking and walking collisions and childhood obesity. To address these concerns, TAMC and Ecology Action, in partnership with the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District, the cities of Seaside and Marina, and the Monterey County Health Department applied for state funding.
The Safe Routes to School Plan builds on the goals of the Measure X Program to ensure children across Monterey County have access to safe, healthy and affordable transportation options.The Plan identifies barriers to safe access to all K-12 public schools in Seaside and Marina and includes recommended infrastructure and non-infrastructure improvements.
The planning effort launched in late August 2018. In Fall 2018 the project team conducted walking audits around each of the schools with members of the school community and public. The project team developed a list of recommended infrastructure and non-infrastructure improvements to reduce barriers to walking and biking to school and reduce traffic congestion in front of schools during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up. The team also identified a series of streets that together would create a citywide network of slower safer routes to schools. These streets are referred to as "Safe Routes to School Corridors" which are the primary routes connecting to schools and "Safe Routes to School Connectors" which are streets that connect to the Safe Routes to School Corridors.
Seaside Safe Routes to School Corridors & Connectors:
- Yosemite Street
- Noche Buena (portions near schools)
- Broadway Avenue
- LaSalle Avenue
- Sonoma Avenue
- Kimball Avenue
- Waring Street & Flores Street (between Plumas Avenue and Military Avenue)
- Military Avenue
- Ord Grove Avenue & Hacienda Street
- Mingo Avenue (between Noche Buena Street & Yosemite Street)
Marina Safe Routes to School Corridors & Connectors:
- Carmel Avenue
- Cordoza Avenue
- Melanie Road
- DeForest Road
- Crescent Avenue
- Crescent Street
- Zanetta Drive
- Vaughn Avenue
- California Avenue
- Lynscott Drive
- Reindollar Avenue & Bostick Avenue & Bayer Street
The draft recommendations are categorized by their expected implementation time frame "short" "medium" and "long". Short-term projects are those that are inexpensive and relatively easy to install, such as bulb-outs and restriping; medium-term projects require more funding and design work, such as bike lanes; and long-term projects are those that require even more funding, design and coordination, such as new paths. These categories do not affect project prioritization. For example, if a city determines a long-term project to be high-priority and are successful in obtaining grant funding, the project may be implemented sooner than a lower priority short-term project.
In May 2019 the project team installed temporary safe routes to school demonstrations on Broadway Avenue in front of MLK Jr School of the Arts in Seaside, and along Carmel Avenue in front of Crumpton and Marina Vista Elementary Schools in Marina. The on-street demonstrations allowed community members of Seaside and Marina to physically walk and bike through some of the proposed improvements and provide input on whether or not the projects should be made permanent. The results of public opinion surveys collected during the demonstration conclude that the majority of people liked the new street designs and want them to be made permanent.
The planning team has thus far received input on the draft recommendations from: each school community, the School District, city committees and City Councils. This presentation provides an opportunity for the Bicycle & Pedestrian Facilities Advisory Committee to review and comment on the draft Plan before it is taken to the TAMC Board for review.
The full draft list of infrastructure recommendations and non-infrastructure recommendations are included as web attachments.